Encouraging your child’s creativity might seem tricky nowadays. Kids can be so absorbed by screens now that there is no option other than technology to entertain them. But, to your delight, there are plenty of simple ways to engage your children in other activities that have many advantages.
Arts and crafts activities are a fun way to improve children’s creativity, and doing so can increase their productivity – a skill that will help them in day-to-day life. There are so many different tasks that you can be certain of, so there is bound to be something for the whole family.
Here are just some of the benefits of arts and crafts for boosting your children’s creativity and productivity.
Allowing self-expression and improving fine motor skills
For younger children, it can be tricky for them to express themselves in the same way adults do. Despite this, art allows the little ones to be as creative as they can be through different colours, shapes, drawings, or wherever their mind wanders. Finished products are of no concern, as creativity truly develops through their freedom of putting their thoughts through art and having some fun with it.
There are plenty of arts and crafts activities out there that can be done using resources already in your own home. Make it a family night and do something simple. You could pull names of famous people out of a hat and paint the person. You could add a bit more fun and make it a competition where the best painting wins. These tasks allow your children to develop their fine motor skills as they are using their hands to be precise.
A bonus of these activities is that you can allow your children to develop their social skills. Whether it’s just with family or inviting some of their friends around to help them bond, arts and crafts can help. Learning to be patient and communicative will benefit them in the future, so setting up a craft station for the day is a great opportunity for them to do this.
Positive feelings increase creativity
Art is subjective, so this is a great way for your kids to discover their creative side and be proud of what they produce. During family time, you could start by praising your child for the art that they produce. A 2019 study from the United Kingdom Millennium Cohort found that children who participated in more arts activities had higher levels of self-esteem, particularly in areas involving painting or drawing.
The chance to explore different colours and textures can help to increase their confidence. When your children associate these positive feelings with a creative activity, they will feel encouraged to engage with this creative side more often – even if it’s a quick drawing session once a week.
Productivity increases through breaks
Performance throughout the day can be improved by taking regular breaks. Therefore, having a bit of fun with the family on a school night might just make them work that little bit harder. Homework on an evening can sometimes be stressful, especially after a long day, and a break can provide some relief whilst increasing productivity.
Why not have a short break from the homework, get the little ones in their kids’ pyjamas, and get some paints out. You could even do something like make your very own board game. If you want to be extra creative, take a quick trip to the shop to get some UV glow paint, paper plates, and yarn to make some DIY jellyfish.
Crafty activities will really engage your children whilst also improving their wellbeing. By regularly participating in these activities, you can show your kids that they can have fun whilst being creative and productive – not to mention that it can involve family and friends so that they can socialise too.
Whether it’s painting, designing, or drawing, it’s worth having a look around your house to see what you can get creative with. You can encourage your children’s creative side and see the benefits for yourself.
