Children spend most of their days following rules that tell them how to think, act, and behave. However, to ensure future success, they need to break free from these constraints and engage in creative thinking. The following ideas will help your child explore the boundless realm of creativity.

• Turn off the TV – Watching television and playing video games are passive activities. Although some shows and games have educational value, limiting screen time is essential. Children need to break free from playing in someone else’s imagined world and develop their own creative ideas.
• Think outside the box – While the ‘box’ provides structure, it also limits creative thinking. Encourage kids to think beyond the confines of the ‘box’ and explore new ideas. Every invention, discovery, and new way of doing things came from thinking outside of the ‘box’.
• Play outside the box – Shop for age-appropriate props that inspire original thoughts. Check out art and craft stores, army surplus stores, and scientific shops to find inspiration for new kinds of fun.
• Be curious – Rediscover your sense of adventure and explore new things. Attend the ballet, symphony, or plays. Listen to different kinds of music, take a hike, and be adventurous.
• Listen in new ways – Develop the theater of the mind and let your imagination create visuals. Listen to old radio shows and let your mind create the pictures.
• Put on a show – Encourage kids to lead creative adventures and put on talent shows, bike parades, or hot lava pits in the backyard. Creative play builds teamwork, relationships, and the ability to celebrate each other.
• Be original – Buy items that are not branded by the latest movie or video game. Expose your kids to other artists, t-shirt designs, toys, and play. Being creative starts with having original ideas and letting your child be themselves.
• Sing, dance, act, create – Develop your child’s confidence and creativity by providing lots of materials and opportunities for kids to create on their own and with friends. Sign them up for music, dance, and art classes to develop core skills and competency.
• Play in the junk drawer – Give your kids access to a basket or drawer filled with odds and ends, and let them explore. You never know what they might create.
• Go outside and get messy – Give your kids the freedom to play outside and make a mess. Let them run, catch fireflies, play hide and seek, and build a fort. Creativity knows no bounds, and sometimes all you need is a little bit of dirt, mud, and rain to get the creative juices flowing.

• Take up a new hobby that challenges you to think outside the box, such as painting, photography, or writing.
• Spend time in nature and let its beauty inspire you. Take a hike, go camping, or simply sit outside and observe your surroundings.
• Attend a cultural event or festival to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives.
• Try something new that you’ve always been curious about, such as cooking a new recipe or learning a new language.
• Connect with others who are creative and bounce ideas off each other. Join a writing group, attend an art class, or start a book club.