5 Ways to Spark A Child's Creativity

​Video games, electronics and television seem to have taken over the interest of kids these days.  Why not have some electronic-free down time and get kids to use their imagination and creativity?

​Here are 5 ways to spark your child’s CREATIVITY:

1. Set up an art table. When my son was younger, I always had art supplies set up on our dining room table. Find an area for a craft table or an area where they can create art projects any time. Set up construction paper, glue, scissors, markers, tape, crayons and let them use their creative imaginations! 
2. Get creative in the kitchen. Ignite creativity in the kitchen by playing your own version of Chopped, a Food Network television series where chefs are given a mystery basket of ingredients that they need to create a dish with. Supply all the ingredients and tools and see what your kids can cook up.
3. Boxes make the best toys. You can have tons of toys in the playroom, but put out a few cardboard boxes, and kids will play with them for hours. From creating forts and hideouts, trains, rocket ships, robots, time machines, it will be fun to see what they will create!
4. Start a garden. A garden brings all sorts of creative projects for kids. Paint rocks, pavers or planters to beautify the garden, or paint sign markers for the plants and vegetables. Bird feeders, fairy gardens and wind chimes are also great additions to a garden that the kids can help create.
5. Create an Activity Jar. Is your child complaining that they are bored? Have them start an activity/idea jar. Write down about 20 different ideas (outdoor and indoor activities) on slips of paper and drop them into the jar. When they are bored, let them choose an activity from the jar. Keep filling the jar with new ideas.

​I hope these ideas help spark the creativity in your children, and maybe instead of turning on their electronics, they will head straight to their creative projects first.