What parents can do to cultivate kids' creativity

Kids love to play, and moms and dads know that watching children have fun is one of the true joys of parenting. Play time might be all about fun for youngsters, but it's also vital to their development.

A recently reaffirmed clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics originally released in 2018 noted that developmentally appropriate play promoted social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills in children's brains. The authors of the report noted that play promotes executive function, allowing children to pursue goals and ignore distractions.

Kids indeed have much to gain from creative play, and parents can do much to encourage youngsters to cultivate their creative side.

· Offer a creative space at home. Whether you live in an apartment or a single-family home, designating a space inside for creative pursuits ensures kids always have a place to go when the mood to be creative strikes. Outfit the designated creative space with a table and comfortable chair (to keep kids from leaving a project due to discomfort) and an assortment of toys and supplies that encourage kids to use their imaginations.

· Allow children to pick their own projects. Parents might be inclined to urge children to engage in particular creative pursuits, but kids are more likely to embrace and enjoy creative play time if they're allowed to pick their own projects and hobbies. Some children may be partial to drawing and coloring, while others may be natural born builders. Parents should resist any urge to direct kids toward projects and instead allow kids to identify their own ways to be creative.

· Don't hesitate to participate. While kids should be allowed to pick their own projects, parents can still get involved. In fact, studies have found that children benefit in myriad ways when their parents play with them. Such interactions help to build children's self-esteem and help kids learn about the world. Children also learn new skills and strengthen bonds with their parents through play. Kids who are encouraged to direct play sessions also learn and sharpen their decision-making skills. Participation also can extend to asking questions about kids' creative pursuits, including what drove their decision-making during a given project and what they hope to do next.

· Take creativity on the road. Kids' creativity can be cultivated anywhere, including outside the house. Let kids plan trips to a museum, nature preserve or another local attraction that encourages them to get in touch with their creativity in a fun and unique way.

Time to be creative benefits kids in numerous ways, and parents can do much to encourage kids to use their imaginations.