Five Activities That Encourage Creativity in Preschoolers

Want to nurture your child’s budding creativity? Here are five fun activities you can do with your preschooler that will bring out their inner artiste and create some great memories!

1. Write and Illustrate a Storybook

Grab some paper and a pen. Ask your child to tell you a story. If she isn’t sure how to start, you can suggest that she tell you about a character from her favorite book or cartoon. Ask her to describe what she thinks that character would do in a certain situation. For example, if your child is a big Dora the Explorer fan, you might ask her what she thinks Dora would do if she couldn’t find Boots the Monkey. Write down what she says verbatim and then read it back to her. This sometimes encourages little Hemingways to tell you more!
You can use inexpensive materials or go all out in creating the actual book. For example, sheets of blank computer or writing tablet paper stapled together along the left edge could be transformed into your child’s masterpiece! Write the story on the bottom of each page and then have your child draw an accompanying picture above your words. What a treasure that would be for the scrapbook! You can also purchase a “Make Your Own Story” kit by Illustory. The kit comes with story pages that you fill in and illustrate. You send them the pages and they turn it into a professionally typeset and hardbound book! They also have an online option where you can do everything via computer.

2. Design and Maintain an “Art Gallery” Space

Find an area of your home where you can display your child’s artwork. You can string a piece of clothesline or thin rope along the top of a wall and hang the artwork with clothespins. You could also designate a certain section of wall in a room as the artwork space. Tape artwork to the wall. Personalize the section by making a sign out of cardstock or paper that states “Artwork by (child’s name)”. You can go further and make paper frames to showcase the work. Let your child help you set up the area and decide which pieces he would like to display first. Make a weekly routine of “retiring” old pieces and displaying new creations.

3. Make Music

Start a band! Design your own musical instruments from items found around the house. Get out a few pots and pans and a big spoon…voila….drums! Wrap a few large rubber bands around an empty toilet paper roll lengthwise to create a homemade guitar! Make maracas by filling 2 empty plastic water bottles with some uncooked rice! The possibilities are endless!

4. Venture Outside

Experiencing nature’s creations is bound to inspire your little ones! Take your child on a mini field trip around the neighborhood. Notice the bugs, flowers, dirt, trees, etc. Talk about them. Make up silly stories and songs about them! You can even bring mini notepads and pencils along for them to sketch what they see…..great additions to the art gallery!

5. Read To Your Child

The best activity you can do to nurture your child’s creativity is also the simplest. Reading requires only your time, a good book, and a quiet room. When you share a book with your child, you open up his mind to new worlds, possibilities and dreams. Read to your child as often as you can!

These are just a few of the many fun ways you can help to encourage creativity in your preschooler. The activities don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Quality time spent with a loving and supportive parent is really all a child needs to feel inspired and secure enough to let his imagination soar!