Raising Creative Kids On A Budget

In our increasingly structured and media-saturated society, kids often don’t get the time or space to be creative. Many of us think of creativity as only pertaining to the arts. But according to James D Moran III in his article, “Creativity in Young Children,” creativity is also a form of problem solving, requiring flexibility of thought. Creative thinking can help in every area of life from education to personal relationships.

Even if you as a parent feel lost on the subjects of art and theater you can still encourage your kids to explore their creative side. And you can do it in lots of ways that will help you keep your budget in check:

Go for the basics

Kids are very creative about inventing their own games with basic toys like building blocks, dolls and play food. Take the kids along the next time you visit a thrift store and let them pick out a few items of their own.

Dress-up — for every age and gender

Create your own costume box. Collect old jewelry, hats, scarves and shoes. Garage sales and thrift stores are great resources for used Halloween costumes or old prom and wedding dresses. Plastic firefighter or construction hats, super hero capes and costumes are fun additions. Give your child Dad’s old army jacket, or fill a tool belt with plastic tools.

Dustin, age 4, is learning about math and how savings add up.

Keep craft supplies around

Keep a box or bin stocked with art supplies, including items such as colored paper, glue sticks, crayons, markers, safety scissors, punches, stamps, and stickers. If the supplies are there, kids will use them. Recyclables make great crafting supplies as well. Build a city with cereal boxes and margarine tubs, or make telescopes from paper towel tubes. Giving kids an object to repurpose stimulates creative thinking.

Play and make music

Expose kids to different forms of music by playing music in your home.  Little ones can make their own play instruments. For example, create a coffee can drum, or put a few dried beans in a yogurt container and tape the lid shut to make a shaker.

Create stories and read poetry

For older elementary children, try a round robin story. Choose a line from a book and copy it into a notebook. Pass the notebook and pen around the family, and each person adds one line. Read the resulting story out loud, these are often hilarious. This can also be done by leaving  the notebook with one line written in it out on the table. When family members pass by through out the day, they each add a line. The story can then be read around the dinner table. For younger children, reading poetry aloud is a great way to introduce language, rhyming, and rhythm. Shel Silverstein’s humorous poetry is a great jumping-off point.

 Make puppets

Make puppets out of old socks or brown lunch sacks. Encourage children to act out a favorite story.

Get their hands dirty

Children love to get their hands dirty. Play dough, clay, and finger painting are great creative outlets.

No mistakes in art

Remember that there are no mistakes in art. Engage in open discussion about your child’s masterpiece, asking them to tell you about their creation. Refrain from criticism, or trying to tell them the right way to draw or paint. If a child is afraid to make mistakes, they will be less likely to explore, and try new things.

Don’t worry about the mess

If children are worried about making a mess, they will be inhibited and less creative. Keeping a couple of oversized T-shirts, or long sleeved shirts to put on over kid’s clothes during messy projects. Plastic disposable table cloths or even garbage bags make great waterproof table coverings.

Finally, get in there and draw, paint or act with the kids. Not only will you make memories with your child, but you just might discover your own inner artist.