The good news for childcare center teachers is that kids are inherently creative, but there are ways you can nurture these skills as they learn and play. In this blog, we’ll go over 5 ways to nurture your children’s creativity and we can guarantee both you and your children will have fun in the process.
There are inherent benefits to a child’s creativity by simply letting them listen to a piece of music. Ask your children how it makes them feel and model the behavior you want from them. For example, “this music makes me happy. It makes me think of being on a beach with my feet in the sand.” This shows them how to let their imagination run free. If your children aren’t old enough to speak, just play music and sing along. Eventually, they’ll follow along and be happy about being creative while learning a new skill.
Learning new types of arts or crafts can enhance any child’s creativity. If some of the children aren’t particularly interested in a specific art form, don’t try to force them to comply or try to change their minds. Don’t worry about children not using the arts and crafts in the way they are intended – if a child wants to paint their hand instead of hand painting, let them! If they want to take a ball of wool or yarn and wrap it around a book or toy, let them! The simple act of playing artistically can help children to explore the world creatively. No matter how they may express themselves, they’ll be using their imagination. This will enhance their creativity and appreciation of the fine arts, no matter how basic they seem.
If your children are old enough to go on a field trip to a forest or park, or even just a walk around your neighborhood, make a list of things that you can find in nature such as a flower, a rock, or a bird. Psychologists say that for children, noticing or recognizing a new type of flower or leaf or unfamiliar bird in the sky can itself be a creative affair. For extra fun, bring a sand bucket or a basket and have them help fill it with some of the items you find on your scavenger hunt.
Use your children’s favorite toys to put on a play. Each toy can have a different character acting out a simple scenario. Even if it’s just Mr. Bear going to a sleepover at Barbie’s house, your children will start to use their imaginations. An important benefit of this type of play is that it encourages empathy. Plus, you’ll most likely have a good laugh at whatever they come up with.
Many working parents don’t have the time or are just not interested in having their child help them in the kitchen. But when it comes to creativity in children, even trying a new food can spark the use of their imagination. Think small; maybe it’s as simple as cutting their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into new shapes with the help of your little sous chef.
At Kindertales, we believe in cultivating creativity and encouraging imagination within your center. By streamlining your operations, we enable you to spend more time where it counts – with your children.