Lucy and I made stuff together this week and I marveled and sat back and watched and learned. Kids love to make stuff. You get them going with something they are interested in and they will run with it and it is amazing to watch. They are driven by the pure fun and joy of the process. There is a lot to learn from them in our own creative pursuits.
She’s not the only one that likes to make stuff around here. She is number 4 in the family so I’ve seen creativity spark in different ways with each child. I love to make stuff with the rest of them and creativity needs to be fostered, encouraged and nurtured in all of us to bloom and grow.
I love that spark, I’m passionate about that spark. That spark is learning, it is growing, it is part of figuring out who we are. I don’t believe for one minute that some of us are creative and some of us are not. We are creative in infinite ways. The reach of creativity is so fundamental and vast I think it is at the heart of our passions and dreams.
So today I want to encourage you to create. I have some tips to help you along the way as you encourage creativity in yourself and those around you. Some of these tips are practical, some are more specific to helping kids create, and some are the secrets to unlocking creativity in yourself and others.
14 ways to encourage creativity in others and yourself.
1. Try Something New- If you usually get out the paints then try a gluing project. Use a supply or technique that is different from your go-to projects. Trying new things expands your horizons. It doesn’t mean you will always love it but you will always learn something from it and that builds your store of ideas and in turn, your creativity.
2. Keep it Small- I am a messy crafter, but for those of you who don’t even want to get the project out because all you can see is the ensuing mess then take this advice, keep it small. Make something but don’t let it take over your world. Only get out what you can put away. Then you will enjoy the project without feeling overwhelmed by the mess and the daunting clean up.
3. Ask– Have two projects to pick from. There is empowerment in choice.
4. One Thing at a Time- Try the same thing in different ways. If you like to tie dye then try it on different types of projects. Become familiar with one thing, get curious, think outside the box and try to come up with a new way to use it. That is when creativity will blossom.
5. Keep it Fun- Have fun, enjoy the moment, enjoy the process and creativity comes to life! Remember there is no right or wrong way to make stuff.
6. Let Them Lead You– Follow the interests and spark of creativity in a child or yourself. One of my daughters loves to cook and bake. She is very creative with it, so I try to keep basics in my pantry, so when the creativity strikes she can create wonderful things in the kitchen.
7. Expand Upon What They Like- When you build on what you are interested in you open new possibilities for creativity. Using the same cooking/baking example our daughter loves to make cakes. We got her the basics to make her own fondant frosting for cakes. In the same way take what they are interested in and expand out.
8. Keep it Simple-Many times simple is the very best. Look for ways to simplify. It leaves more to the imagination and creativity.
9. Control the Mess- Decide what you need beforehand to keep the mess manageable so you don’t get overwhelmed and stressed. One summer we tie dyed outside several times. It was so much easier to relax and enjoy this potentially messy project outside on the lawn. When the dye spilled and dripped I was still stress free.
10. Less is More- Work with what you have, often creativity blossoms when there are fewer choices.
11. Roll With It– Setting expectations can kill creativity. Roll with the changes and bumps in the process.
12. Take a break- Coming back to a project with fresh eyes can mean more ideas. Don’t feel pressure to finish, take a break if you need to.
13. It’s a Process– Enjoy the process of creating. The joy is not at the end it is all along the way.
14. Meet Them in the Middle- Find things you both like to do. I hate to iron pearler beads. I know, no biggie, but it is for me, because the pearler bead creations at our house don’t get finished. I rebel and drop the ball and just don’t get to it. Pearler beads aren’t my thing and that is 100% okay because there are plenty of other projects that my kids like and I like too. Find the place where you can meet in the middle.
Creativity truly is a joy waiting to be discovered!
I want to hear how you encourage creativity in yourself and others!
Anna