Creative babies

Babies are naturally creative, too!

Creativity, in its infancy, comes in the form of learning how things sound, look, smell, taste, feel, and what they do.

"What will happen if I smoosh this... or hit that - with this? Stretch this?"

Stimulate your little one's imagination at a tender age!

Some "toys" that encourage exploration and yield satisfying results for the infant artist:

~ wooden spoons and metal bowls and pans, for music-making
~ small boxes, for stacking (and toppling)
~ mealtimes, for "finger-painting" and a variety of textures and tastes
~ hiding-and-finding games with mama or siblings, for problem-solving
~ a mirror, for self-study
~ someone to read brightly illustrated stories, for literary development
~ the family's piano, lullabies, and recorded music, for singing, dancing, and composing
~ people who laugh and cheer at baby-antics, for performance

No need for expensive computerized learning toys and posh private pre-schools. Everything your prodigy needs is right there at home already.

Leaf Prints -- a simple project for creatively hesitant kids

Sometimes the best way to encourage creativity in our children is to give them a project that doesn't require too much creativity.

That doesn't seem to make sense, does it?

Let's face it. Some kids (and adults) are hesitant about getting creative. If you give a hesitant child a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, he might give up before he even starts. The pressure of having to think of something on his own might stress him out.

In my opinion, the best thing to do in that situation is to ease the child into creativity one step at a time. Begin with "art" projects that have very specific instructions and predictable outcomes.

One such project is the leaf print, like this one:

This leaf print was done with radish leaves, but you can use any leaves you find growing outside. You will also need paper, poster paint and paint brushes. Here's what you do:

• Pick the leaves right before you do this project, so that they are fresh and not dry or wilted. Maple or oak leaves work very well.
• Use a paintbrush to lightly paint the back of the leaf (the veiny side). 
• Set the leaf paint-side down on the paper and gently press the leaf against the paper. 
• Lift the leaf off the paper to reveal a lovely leaf print that any child would be proud of. 

The coolest thing about projects like these is that there is always room for kids to be creative, but without feeling like they have to be creative. Encourage your children to try different colors, different shaped leaves, etc. Ask questions to get them thinking of variations for this project, or other things to make prints with.  If they are having fun, and not feeling pressured, creativity just might sneak up on them. 

And remember: kids love it when parents do this stuff with them rather than just telling them what to do. So make sure you have your own paper and paintbrush handy!

Have you done leaf prints or similar projects with your kids? We'd love to hear about them!

Great idea!

Sometimes good ideas never see the light of day because of our own preconceptions and misgivings.

"I don't have talent in this area."
"I never come up with cool ideas."
"I'm not artistic/creative/talented."
"Last time I tried to be artsy, it was a disaster."
"I'll look/feel like an idiot if this doesn't work."

Oh, baloney.  :)   If you've ever figured out dinner when there was no time to get to the grocery store, successfully entertained a toddler in the line at the bank, decorated your home, or worked within a budget, then there is some kind of a creative person hiding in you somewhere....

Our children are quite in touch with their creative side, but it's important to keep that connection open and prevent them from falling into that same self-doubt that plagues many adults. How do we do that?

•  encouraging them to try their ideas (even the ones you are sure won't work!)
•  being willing to advise.
•  praising a good effort.
•  offering alternative suggestions if they hit a wall.
•  encouraging practice. (Artists have a God-given talent, but they aren't usually born with a paint brush in their hands.)

But the one I think is most important:

•  spurring them on past their "failures." When something doesn't work, use it as a learning experience rather than a stumbling block. Edison is credited as saying, "I have not failed at making a light bulb. I have discovered 1000 ways to NOT make a light bulb!"