Creativity for kids matters now more than ever! Find out why and explore ideas for creative games & art resources to try at home.
Updated March 2025
While core courses such as math and language arts are improving in many districts, other subjects and skills are being ignored. Sadly, creativity for kids is sometimes one of the skills being left on the side of the virtual learning road.
Why does creativity matter? Creativity creates confidence for both children and adults. It fuels exploration and innovation. It energizes and connects us.
Creativity—and art in particular—can make other academic subjects more engaging. Even for kids who don’t think they like science, math or social studies.
This is why leading educators started using the STEAM acronym, adding Art to the usual STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses needed for success in the 21st Century economy.
But whatever the term, the life-long concept is about dreaming up alternatives, solving problems, stimulating learning, and generating innovation.
So, how do we teach creativity for kids? Here are five ideas for parents to incorporate art and creativity at home.
5 Ideas to Encourage Creativity for Kids at Home
1. Creative Curiosity Jar
Brainstorm as a family to come up with ways to explore creatively. Be curious: what materials, mediums, and explorations sound fun?
Together, write all of the ideas on one big piece of paper. Then, transfer these ideas on small pieces of scrap paper. Fold them up and put them in a jar to pull from any time. Now you have a collection of creative launching pads for super fun, hands-on making anytime!
Need some ideas? Check out our favorite kids’ art ideas.
2. Pass the Drawing Game
Sit around a table together. Make sure everyone has one piece of paper and a drawing tool in front of them.
Set a timer for 1 minute. Everyone will draw anything they would like on the paper. When the timer goes off, pass all the papers to the right or left (just make sure it’s the same direction). Continue the pattern until the drawing returns to the original starting place.
You can also try any of these 12 drawing games for creative fun!
3. Found Object Stamping
Create a search party and look all over the house for objects that would be okay to use with paint and would be fun to try to stamp with!
Begin to stamp these objects on the paper. Next, see what patterns can be made with this new collection of stamps. Can you create a circle pattern? Could you cover the entire paper?
Want more stamping ideas? Here are 10 ways to make your own stamp sets.
4. Collaboration Maps
Use a flattened cardboard box and gather some creative materials for drawing, painting, collage. Together, begin to plan a bird’s eye view map of a known or invented land.
Ask questions about the type of landscape, buildings, roads, parks, etc. and watch it unfold.
You can also try making a DIY play mat for kids.
5. Painting with Water
This one is for the great outdoors! Grab a cup of water and some objects you can use with water: sticks, paint brushes, toothpicks, corks, etc.
Then find a wall, concrete patio, fence or even a few bricks and use the tools to paint. If it is super hot, you’ll see that the water evaporates quickly, leaving kids with a never ending ‘canvas’ to work with all day long!
And check out some ways to make your own art materials for kids.
Creative Resources for Kids
If you need more help introducing creativity into your home, the Kids Art Spot is an online art club for kids that makes it easy for families to foster creativity at home. Purchase a monthly or annual membership and get instant access to our library full of guided art videos and drawing prompts online or in the app.
You can also check out our founder, Jean’s books, The Artful Parent, The Artful Year, and Invitation to Draw, which are full of creative activities and ideas.
Head to the Artful Parent Amazon shop for an amazing collection of books about children’s art & creativity.
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