The Benefits of Kids Using Their Own Creative Imagination: Making Something Out Of Anything

Sometimes, I like to plan my kids crafts and art. But whether I plan arts and crafts or not,  it still happens in this house, and all over this house, every day! The kids sure don’t need me, to come up with creative ideas. The kids use their own imagination, and it’s awesome!  In fact, I’d go so far as to say, that their wild imagination tends to venture further than mine does.  And frankly, their are great benefits of kids using their own creative imagination.

While a child following directions (such as to make someone else’s craft idea) is crucial skill to their development, the benefits of a child completely using their very own imagination, far outweighs it. In thinking of and creating their own ideas/crafts/creations, they are:
– developing brainstorming skills
– learning how to think outside of the box
– developing planning skills
– learning how to problem-solve
– developing the abilities of an inventor!
– developing great personal character
– increasing their own self-confidence
– . . . . and so-much-more.

So, I try to keep the school room stocked with art supplies at all times, so that the kids can get creating any time it strikes their fancy to.  But to tell you the truth, they often end up using lots of materials I didn’t supply, or would have never even thought of! Every time I turn around in this house, there is some new creation sitting there, or they are playing with one, or someone is suddenly at my side saying, “Mama, look what I made!“.   I’m always surprised, over and over, by their creativity.  But really, I shouldn’t be anymore.

Here are just a very few things our young triplets have made lately, that I have found around the house, and happened to get photographed.

A robot, made by {JM}.  Materials used:  a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup, paint, marker, and a toy car.  You should see it travel across the floor.

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Pistachio Shell Art, made by {A}.
Materials used:  Pistachio shells, and markers.
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A Tissue Paper Doll, made by {O}.
Materials used:  Tissue paper, glue, wooden screw cover buttons, and pencil.

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A Pop-Up Card made by {JM}.
Materials used:  Paper, marker, black pen, scissors, and glue.

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A Deck Hang-Out 2-Dimensional Art Piece, made by {JM}.  Materials used:  Rubber material (the scraps from a kit), ribbon, tape, glue,  a pencil, a cupcake tin, and firewood.

*Note:  {JM} made this creation for someone we really care about, who suffers from frequent migraines.

The hammock, which is my favorite part, is so she can lie there and relax until she feels better.  Since the project is so big and heavy, we decided to just send her photos, which she really appreciated.  She used one of the photos, in a blog post of her own, about migraines.
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A Watercolor Painting, made by {S}.  Materials used:  Paper, Crayola watercolors, pencil, brush and water.

I think I can let go of the guilt I feel sometimes, when I haven’t planned a craft project in awhile.  I don’t think they even need me.
And leaving the kids to figure out all of their own creative activities, is a gift of some time to us parents!  More time to do what we need or want to do, while they are busy making awesome things!

I encourage you, to encourage your children’s very own imagination! On the next rainy day, or a day they say they are ‘bored’, challenge them to find different kind of materials around the house, or even from outdoors, and make something creative and really unique! And when they do, and show you, make them feel really good about what they created! Because it is their very own imagination and efforts on display, and it has grown them in more positive ways than can meet the eye. And that is something to celebrate!
They may just inspire you too, as my own kids creations inspire me.
Please consider sharing, and spreading the creative inspiration.

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