7 Smart Ways to Inspire Creativity in Children

They say people are either born creative or they simply learn to become one as they get older. But think about it - regardless if your child is naturally creative, there are tons of benefits to be gained when children are regularly trained to hone their creative faculties and realize them in the form of a painting or a craft project. 

Inspiring creativity in children is one of the sure ways to keep them creating, always thinking of novel ways to fix a problem or simply thinking outside of the box! Here are seven smart ways to inspire creativity in children and we hope you can share some of your own. 

​​Always promote curiosity

How curious is your child? Curiosity is the strong eagerness to know or learn something new. When kids are always excited to discover and figure new things out, they learn more about the world they live in and how to deal with it in clever ways. 

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How can you spark curiosity in your child? Introduce them to new situations or unique experiences! Have them join you in your travels whether it is an excursion abroad or just a weekend family time in the city. Give them opportunities to wonder and discover the world around them. Instead of always giving them the right answer, train them to think of the answers themselves. "I wonder..." and "What if..." statements are the sentences of the curious mind. 
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Tap into their imaginations

They say a good imagination will help develop your child's creative skills and arm them with a lifelong source of entertainment. Kids who have a fun and creative imagination grow up to be interesting adults with sharp minds and an incredible wit. 

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​Tap into your child's imagination by always giving them a reason to think past the expected and accepted answers and encourage them to come up with their own. Let them make sense out of an orange sky or a violet puppy and let their imagination run wild with it. 
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Create maker spaces in your home

It is a room, a dedicated spot in your home or even an assigned table where your kids can create intellectual and physical materials using arts and crafts materials. Encourage creativity by providing a dedicated space for it. 

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Need ideas for your child's maker space?

​Stock it up with bottles of paint, brushes, an easel, colorful blank papers, glue, scissors, glitters, fabric scraps and many other things that can spark their imagination. Have some modelling clay, sponges, washable markers, crayons, a blackboard and set of chalks available too. You can also stock it up with toys that will encourage educational play. It's amazing how productive children can be if they are not always so hooked to their phones and computer tablets. Try it!
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Avoid giving direction

While parental guidance is crucial in molding kids as they get older, ​telling your children what to make or how things should be done may get in the way of their creative juices. It can be a bit tricky, but always give your child the creative freedom instead of giving them rules and directions they should follow. 

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Instead of telling them to make a rainbow, let them experiment with different colors using all sorts of brushes or paper they want to use. Instead of having paint-by-the-numbers art activities, given them the liberty to use any color they have in mind. Once they are finished with their creative work, engage on a casual conversation with them and try to get them explain their reasons behind their work. It's amazing to hear kids reason out too as they stand by their own projects. 
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Give them the license to get messy

Encourage creativity in your kids by letting them get messy! This is also one of the good reasons why it is essential to dedicate a maker's space in your home. What may look like a product of chaos and disorder may actually be a creative genius in the making! 

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​Always give opportunities for open-ended play, discovery and creation. It's a great exercise to make all senses engaged and stimulated. When this happens, it is easier for kids to make connections with what they know, see and do. 
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Make mistakes as learning opportunities

They say that mistakes are the best ways to learn and win at life. If kids are not prepared to be wrong, they won't be able to come up with something original on their own. Facilitating the wonder of exploration, discovery and experimentation enables kids to think of original ideas and brand new solutions. If they accept that it will be inevitable to commit mistakes along the way, then they won't be afraid to be creative at all. 

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It's amazing how fearless and strong kids can become when they are not afraid to commit mistakes. Mastering the art of not being afraid to fail will come in very handy once they turn into adults. The reason behind the great wonders and success stories of the world are committed by people who weren't afraid to fail.
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Let it be

Once your child finishes an art project or an art piece, try not to suggest improvements or changes. Let your child own their work and make them feel that what they created is more than enough. 

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Of course, parents' responsibility to be a mentor to their child's creativity adjusts once the kid gets older. Children will definitely be more accepting of constructive criticisms once they get to establish during their younger years a solid foundation of confidence and belief in oneself. 

Let us help you inspire creativity in your children here at Art Smart. We will teach your kids how to draw, paint, do crafts, and hone their skills in grid drawing, free-hand drawing, shading, oil pastel painting, and so much more. Check out our rates and schedules at this link and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to message us here by leaving a comment or messaging us over at our Facebook account.