5 Tips to Awaken your children's creativity

My youngest just turned 3 years old... I remember her smell and the warmth of her skin against mine at her birth; I could swear it was just yesterday. Watching my children grow is truly like watching a flower bloom, with a delicacy and colors that are unique to them. I love observing the curiosity of toddlers when faced with games and moments of creativity that we offer them. So, I had the idea of sharing with you some activities and tips that stimulate creativity in children.

1. Choose simple games.

Those that don't require batteries and are made of wood. We love blocks, animal figurines, simple pieces of natural wood, and even semi-precious stones. My children enjoy building, dismantling, and placing semi-precious stones on their bodies, naturally and intuitively, as if they are giving themselves an energy treatment.

2. Create an art box with a variety of art supplies.

From time to time, I add new things to it, like colorful pom-poms, popsicle sticks, foam straws, felt sheets, and so on. Of course, she (Sky) has her own pair of scissors, glue, and paint. We open the box, and together we create little people, draw cats, cats, and more cats. She imitates me and draws her own animals, takes pride in them, and shows them to everyone. Before tossing a box or a bottle in the recycling bin, try including it in your next art projects with your children. You'll be amazed at how much fun a large cardboard box with a door and a window cut out can provide!

3. Value your children's art and display their masterpieces.

Display yours too. In the children's play area, we've hung drawings and canvases that my husband and I made for them during my pregnancies, as well as their own artwork and creations that they now make. Inspire your children to draw, color, and paint by setting an example and doing it with them.

4. Encourage children's imagination with pretend play and role reversal games.

Louana often likes to pretend that she's my mom and I'm her baby. She wants to breastfeed her dolls (and her little brother) and enjoys having tea with me in her tiny porcelain cups. We pretend; we don't put any water, we just sit with tiny cups, and she pretends to pour and says "hot, mommy." We say "cheers" and drink very slowly. Hours and hours of fun. We encourage her creativity, imagination, and motor skills.

5. Dance and sing with our children.

It's something my mother used to do with us when we were younger. We each had our wooden spoon (our microphone), and suddenly, at an unexpected moment, my mother would put on a song, and then we would start singing and dancing. I truly believe that this activity strengthens bonds because we share a moment of happiness; we are in the present and don't take ourselves seriously. My children love music so much. And it's with their dad that they enjoy dancing; they have the same musical tastes.