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.
- Encourage open-ended exploration period
Of everything, not just art. This includes ideas, construction, toys, art activities, and pretend play.
- 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.
- Model creativity
And if you don’t feel creative, you know the saying—“Fake it till you make it.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- See each child as a unique being with his own interests, learning style, and personality
Nurture the individuality, rather than expecting him to conform to who you are or who society expects him to be.
- 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? I have three online courses for parents who want to raise creative kids. Click here to buy now or learn more.
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3 Comments
Darren Scott
May 31, 2016 at 9:51 amThis is a great idea to spend quality time with your kids. Art enhances the creativity of your child, and books will surely improve their knowledge. For parents, it is an ideal to accompany and spend time with your kids while reading books. You can start by reading bedtime stories every night. There is actually a lot of customized story books online from Alice in Wonderland, Peter and Wendy, The Jungle Book, and a lot more. They’re classic books, but still entertaining for kids.
Rachel
July 26, 2016 at 4:58 pmNot only will you be able to encourage creativity in your kids, but you will also have a ton of ways to hang out with them and get to know them as the little people that they are. This is what I love about my niece coming to visit; whenever we do art projects together I learn a ton about her. Thanks for sharing!
Haddie
May 10, 2018 at 7:15 pmGreat ideas and reminder, thank you for sharing! Trying to incorporate a few of these today (and everyday;)