How to be an artful parent. Here are 11 ways to be the artful parent you want to be, lay a strong creative foundation for your family, and raise creative kids.
Updated January 2025
The thought of being an artful parent can sometimes feel overwhelming – some days just regular old parenting can be hard! Between managing daily routines, keeping up with responsibilities, and making time for yourself, adding creativity to the mix might seem like an extra challenge.
But being an artful parent doesn’t have to feel that way, in fact you are probably already doing lots of things that foster creativity in your children and enrich your family’s creative foundation without even realizing it!
The good news is that you don’t need to be an artist or have a Pinterest-perfect setup to nurture creativity in your home. Here are 11 tips to encourage you to be the best Artful Parent you can be!
11 Ways to Raise Creative Kids
1. Encourage open-ended exploration period
Of everything, not just art. This includes exploration of ideas, using open-ended toys, art activities, science experimentation and pretend play.
2. Assume your children are highly creative (they are) and treat them as such
Talk to them as creative beings and offer creative activities and opportunities, both those that they love and those that stretch them.
3. Model creativity
And if you don’t feel creative, you know the saying – “Fake it till you make it.”
4. Connection is key
Set your phone down and put away your to-do list as much as possible when you are with your kids. If you’re addicted to either or both, pick up a copy of Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford.
5. Look at the world in new ways together
Try a new lens for viewing the details around you, such as a loupe, binoculars, a microscope, or a telescope. Experience different viewpoints, through museums, books, travel, hands-on activities, and interaction with others.
6. Let them be bored
Or at least don’t always jump in with an activity or screen time just because the kids say they are bored. Sometimes the best creativity is on the other side of boredom.
7. Offer creative activities, materials, and opportunities regularly
This can include art invitations, strewing, projects to do together, child-led art in their own art space, open-ended toys to play with, and more.
8. Artful parenting and living encompasses all aspects of life
It’s not just about doing art activities. It’s cooking together, gardening together, reading beautiful books, conversing, playing games, going on nature walks, holding hands and connecting.
9. Celebrate the seasons and holidays throughout the year
Notice the changes in the world around you day to day, week to week, month to month. Pay attention to the little things – the bird song in the morning, the patterns of light and shadow in the newly-leafed out trees, the scent of the flowers.
10. See each child as a unique being with his or her own interests, learning style, and personality
Nurture the individuality, rather than expecting your child to conform to who you are or who society expects him or her to be.
11. Be the best parent you can be
And don’t beat yourself up when you fall short of your ideal. Every day, every moment, is a fresh opportunity to parent the way you want to.
Okay, my friends. This artful parenting business is a work in progress, even for me. You and I both know that we don’t need to do all that all the time. The last tip there—be the best parent you can be—is the most important.
Want help fostering your children’s creativity? Check out our master class for parents who want to raise creative kids. Click here to buy now or learn more.
More Ideas for Fostering Kids’ Creativity!
- The Benefits of Art
- Embrace the Mess: Why Messy Art is Important for Kids
- What is Process Art? (Here’s Why It’s Important for Kids)
- The Best Kids Art Ideas
- 13 Simple Art Activities for Kids During Transitions
- 10 Invitations to Create to Bring Out Kids Natural Creativity
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