creativity

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Word Inventing Activity

Readers love Willy Wonka’s (of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) mouth-watering sweet inventions. The author, Roald Dahl, emphasizes invention in this story and not just with savory candies; he also invents delicious words. Words such as scrumdiddlyumptious, hornswogglers, snozzwangers, and whangdoodles. They’re silly, absurd, wacky and 100% invented words! We’ve been inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to […]

The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children

Are you a fan of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron? Because, if so, you’ll be thrilled that Cameron just released, The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children, with co-writer, Emma Lively. Why does our creative spirit matter as parents? Well, Cameron writes (and I underlined and starred!,) “Isolation as a parent takes two […]

5 Steps to Raising a Creative Child

Just kidding. There isn’t a five step process for raising a creative child. It’s is not linear, not black and white, or right or wrong. (What a relief!) In fact, your child is already creative. (So are you!) Today, I can’t give you steps but I can give you ideas to help your child’s creativity blossom […]

Toys That Require Imagination . . . Cardboard

Kids are naturally wired to play and imagine. But when we (I’m guilty of this myself) give them tons of toys that do everything, they don’t need to imagine anything. So give your kids a cardboard challenge – to find the hidden objects in the boxes like Michelangelo did with blocks of granite. The boxes […]

Make Your Playful Life Easier: Kiwi Crate

If you’re a family that loves creative play and learning, you’ll love Kiwi Crate. Hours of fun per dollar spent, it’s an investment that really is worth your money. I love it because of . . . clear, kid-friendly directions. engaging and interesting to my kids of different ages. plenty of supplies –you can do the […]

The Difference Between Convergent and Divergent Thinking

Kids need to be creative. To understand how creativity works in the brain, we must first understand the difference between convergent and divergent thinking. Then, we must address the lack of divergent thinking in education. Divergent and Convergent Thinking Convergent (Stickman) Thinking Linear Convergent Thinking Worksheet-Heavy Early Academic Push Skill & Drill Right Answers So many schools […]

Creativity 101 What Parents Need to Know

Parents, do you know what creativity is? And why do we desire our children to be creative? What home and school environments promote creativity, — not kill it? What Is Creativity? “The capacity to see connections and possibilities where others do not. The ability to disorganize received ways of thinking and to reorganize them in […]

10 Ways to Nurture Creativity by Peter H. Reynolds

Second guest post from Peter H. Reynolds, author, illustrator, speaker, educator, and creative being. Read his first guest post, Creative Ways to Reach All Learners. Nurture Creativity 1) Model it. Demonstrate and share YOUR creativity and art. 2) Be Proud. Do not denigrate your own art and creativity in front of children. Share it proudly. 3) […]