| "Where did he come up with that?" Kids often | | | | Pick up any parenting magazine and you'll |
| amaze us with their imaginative ideas, and we | | | | find lots of ideas to get those creative |
| should give ourselves a pat on the back for | | | | juices flowing in your kids. Search the web |
| playing a role in this development. | | | | and check out craft stores. Keep a journal or |
| Innovative thinking is essential for success | | | | file for magazine clippings and ideas as you |
| in school and in life, and it's our job as | | | | find them. Stockpile so that you'll know how |
| parents to nurture our kids' innate desire to | | | | to answer the whiny "I'm bored" call from |
| be creative. Inventive play fosters original | | | | your kids. |
| thinking, an asset when children are | | | | |
| confronted with new situations. By providing | | | | Give them freedom. |
| activities that use their creativity and | | | | |
| imaginations, we are giving our children an | | | | Once you've given your kids some suggestions |
| important tool to deal with life down the | | | | and supplies, step back and see which they |
| road. | | | | choose and where they go with them. This |
| | | | unstructured play time gives kids an |
| Give them ideas. | | | | opportunity to stretch their creative |
| | | | muscles. Watch as they incorporate your ideas |
| Children come up with things to do on their | | | | and branch out on their own. |
| own, but we also need to provide them with | | | | |
| new ideas of interesting activities. Think | | | | Set an example. |
| back to what you did as a kid. Did you write | | | | |
| a diary, create elaborate puppet shows, or | | | | Chances are, if you are a creative person, |
| sing and dance for relatives? Share ideas | | | | your child will be too. You display |
| from your own childhood experiences. Offer | | | | creativity in your everyday activities like |
| creative writing ideas like writing an | | | | when you reason with a disgruntled child, |
| episode for a favorite television show or | | | | change lyrics to songs, and maybe even do |
| writing a new ending to a favorite story. | | | | some interpretive dancing to entertain a |
| Craft projects offer another outlet for | | | | toddler. Your children see your silliness and |
| inspiring imaginations. Craft kits, | | | | it rubs off on them. You surely use |
| especially those from Curiosity Kits and | | | | creativity to juggle your and your family's |
| ALEX, offer a wide variety of unusual and fun | | | | schedules. It's a great idea to point out to |
| projects. They've brought us a long way from | | | | your kids how you use creativity in your |
| the sock puppets of our youth. These | | | | daily life. |
| manufacturers offer ideas and supplies to | | | | |
| make such things as scrapbooks, powerballs, | | | | As parents, we always try to do the very best |
| soaps, candy, sun catchers, dolls, planes, | | | | for our kids and provide opportunities that |
| dinosaurs, jewelry treasures, and lots of | | | | will help them mature into intelligent, |
| decorative items. Kids can gather ideas from | | | | capable adults. Nurturing their creative |
| the instructions, and then give the projects | | | | spirits helps them along this road. With |
| their own unique touches. | | | | their well-developed imaginations, maybe |
| | | | they'll turn it into a yellow brick, pink |
| Keep ideas fresh. | | | | polka-dotted road with sparkles! |
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