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Part of being the best parent you can be is fostering your child’s creativity. Two weeks ago, I discussed how encouraging kids to have hobbies can strengthen their development and improve their lives. In a similar vein, I’d like to talk today about how integrating free and open creative play into your child’s daily life can prepare them for a better future?
Why is Creativity Important?
Before we answer the question, “Why should I encourage my child in creativity-building play?”, we must determine why creativity is such a valuable trait to incubate in our kids.
Creativity is defined by Miriam Webster as simply, “the ability to create.” One of the things we take for granted in life is just how many things we create every day. Creation is a constant, collaborative process between our surroundings, the materials available to us, and our individual imaginations.
For example, we create meals for ourselves by making decisions about how to utilize the food items available to us in a way that we enjoy. When we dress ourselves every day, we create an outfit from the clothing available to us—arranging it in a way we think looks good.
So, as you can see, the process of creating things is integral to our everyday life. And all these instances where we exercise our creativity daily require the use of certain skills, each building on the other. They include, but aren’t limited to:
• Intuition- The ability to recognize one’s own desires.
• Individuality- Knowledge of and adherence to one’s personal tastes.
• Situational Awareness- The ability to take stock of the resources at one’s disposal.
• Decision Making Skills- The process of creating something is basically a long string of executive decisions. Anything is possible, you just have to decide what to do!
• Outside-the-Box Thinking- Substitutions and adjustments may need to happen along the way. In any creative process there are little roadblocks, and these are nothing more than opportunities to grow your mind’s perception of what is possible!
What is Creative Play?
Nancy Smithner’s chapter on incorporating creative play into K-12 education in the anthology Key Concepts in Theater/Drama Education defines several approaches to creative play. These include:
• Drama and Role-Play
• Visual Art Projects in Various Media
• Music
• Dance
and more.
These make up the “creative” aspects of creative play. But what about the “play” part? It’s very important that creative play remain completely stress-free and open. Don’t put any expectations or pressure on your kid during playtime.
This is the major difference between playing and cultivating a hobby. While both are beneficial to kids, hobbies require commitment and practice over time. Hence, they instill kids with a sense of responsibility and ritual. Creative play has absolutely no strings attached and no specific end goal—it just relieves stress and allows kids to explore the extent of their imaginations!
What Are the Benefits of Creative Play?
Some of the earliest scientific literature on creative play points to its therapeutic effects. Back in 1971, an article by the late, prominent psychiatric occupational therapist, Shirley Michaelman, heralded the benefits of creative play on the flexibility, adaptability, decision-making skills, and general coping abilities of kids.
The truth is, play and learning are inseparable when it comes to creativity. Play is an inherently enriching experience which reinforces the ability to create. Nancy Smithner writes,
“Play teaches adaptability and resilience, and in the rapidly changing technological pace of the 21st century, creativity, which arises from play, is an essential survival skill encompassing the ability to be alert in the moment, have either conscious or unconscious insights, and to continually learn and imagine something new.”
Need further proof that play and the building of creativity are inseparable? In a 2010 study on the effects of play on creativity, children were either given lines to copy on a chalkboard or salt dough to play with. Both groups were then asked to work on a creative project. Surprise, surprise—the kids who played with salt dough excelled more at the creative projects!
4 Types of Creative Play for Kids
Lets focus back in on the 4 main categories of creative play defined by Smithner—Drama, Dance, Music, and Visual Arts. Each comes with their own diverse set of benefits.
Dramatic play helps kids to model social situations and develop empathy. Dance allows kids to get their hearts pumping and strengthens their muscles. Music enhances kids’ mathematical skills. Visual arts develop strong fine motor skills. The list goes on and on for each. If you want to learn more about the perks of enjoying each of these types of play, check out these articles from our Here’s Why That Rocks series.
Your Kid Loves Art, Here’s Why That Rocks
Your Kid Loves Performing, Here’s Why That Rocks
Your Kid Loves Dance, Here’s Why That Rocks
Your Kid Loves Music, Here’s Why That Rocks
Dramatic Play Ideas for Kids
• Playing with dolls or action figures
• Role-playing day-to-day interactions such as shopping, visiting the bank, etc.
• Pretending to be various professionals like doctors, journalists, chefs, etc.
• Re-enacting favorite stories, movies, or TV shows
• Improvising new installments of favorite TV shows or book series
• Writing, directing, and editing short films
• Creating Claymation flipbooks
Musical Play Ideas for Kids
• Pot and pan percussion
• Write an original song and record it on a phone
• Experiment with whatever instruments you have access to
• Try some musical games
Dance Play Ideas for Kids
• Freeze Dance
• Make up a dance to a favorite song and perform it
• Try some improvisation activities
Art Play Ideas for Kids
• Sculpting with clay or salt dough
• Painting
• Drawing
• Coloring
Looking for more ways to keep your little ones engaged in creative play activities in and out of the home? Searching for kids’ activities in Jersey City and Hoboken? Search Wondrfly today to have all the best options at your fingertips. Not in JC or Hoboken? Fear not, Wondrfly is coming soon to a city near you.
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