How to Raise Creative Kids

We live in a world where children are often forced into square boxes from a very young age. Creativity is no longer a valued trait in schools and this is having a negative impact on young people. But as a parent, there are plenty of things you can do to raise creative kids. 

The Benefits of Raising Creative Humans

Raising children is tough work. It’s mentally draining, physically exhausting, and can even be emotionally exasperating. But it’s good work – the kind of fulfilling work that we were made to do. 

Children are your chance to impart something on the next generation. It’s the only real mark we can leave on this earth. And while there are plenty of factors that are outside of your control, you can significantly help the cause of leaving a positive impact by raising young people who are creative. 

We often think of creativity as something that’s “nice to have” – a bonus you get in addition to having some hard, technical skills, strengths, or good looks. But that’s really just a modern way of thinking that’s cropped up over the last half a century. 

For many centuries, creativity was actually considered one of the most important and valuable traits a person could have. The perception of creativity may have changed in recent years, but the reality of it hasn’t.

Creative people are generally happier and more successful in every area of life. Creativity boasts an abundance of benefits, including:

• Lower stress. Creative people tend to have an easier time de-stressing. That’s because it takes just 45 minutes of creative activity to significantly lower cortisol levels. If you have a child who enjoys flexing their creative muscles, they’ll have an easier time coping with challenging circumstances in life. 

• Better problem-solving skills. Employers look for a lot of different things when hiring an employee, but do you know what they value above all else? It’s not experience, good looks, or impressive connections. They want someone who is a good problem-solver and independent thinker. Creative people exhibit these characteristics in spades. 

• Increased confidence. Creative people are sometimes a little quieter and more thoughtful than the average person, but they also have a greater sense of confidence and freedom. They know their worth and don’t need anyone else to tell them.  

Those are just a few isolated benefits. Truth be told, we could add dozens of additional benefits to this list. But the point remains: Raising creative kids gives you an opportunity to better their lives and leave a mark on future generations.

Ideas for Raising Creative Kids

You can’t force someone to be creative, but there are things you can do to set them up for success in this area. Here are a few ideas:

• Back off and give room to create. According to extensive research analyzed by The New York Times’ Adam Grant, the number one key to raising creative children is to step back. In his words, “Creativity may be hard to nurture, but it’s easy to thwart. By limiting rules, parents encourage their children to think for themselves.”

• Provide the right supplies. You don’t want to tell your kids how to be creative, but you can give them supplies to explore the deep realms of their imaginations. One idea is to give them their own hardcover sketchbook. You may also want to create a craft corner in their playroom with lots of craft supplies. And when it comes to toys, try to buy things that encourage imagination and building. (Blocks and Legos are great.)

• Give good ideas. Independent thinking is a requirement for creativity. So while you don’t want to tell your child exactly what to do, you can always give them ideas. For example: Why don’t you use these art supplies to create a picture of our house? Don’t tell them what supplies to use or how to draw the shape of a house – just let them go at it!

• Provide encouragement. Children need encouragement and affirmation. They need to know that their creativity is something to be enjoyed and praised. Do not offer criticism or even suggestions on how to do it better the next time. Build them up every step of the way.

You don’t need to overthink this. Your job isn’t to force your child into some creative bubble. (That will actually have the inverse effect.). Instead, you want to create an environment that’s conducive for creativity to run wild. 

Give Your Kids a Head Start in Life

If you want to set your kids up for success in life, equip them with the skills needed to be highly creative. Not only will they be more grounded and balanced during childhood, but they’ll also turn into more productive and valuable members of society later on in life.