<![CDATA[Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity?]]>Hello! I need some help/suggestions!


All this while, I've been trying to get my child and nephew/nieces to focus on academics, but at the moment I think I want to encourage them to use more of their 'right side' of the brain and improve on their creativity. Any suggestions on what kind of creative activities I could do with them, well besides the usual painting/drawing etc?

:thankyou:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/51058/suggestions-to-improve-your-kids-creativityRSS for NodeTue, 21 Apr 2026 13:16:58 GMTThu, 07 Feb 2013 10:48:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:27:39 GMT]]>For me, language exposure (careful selection of word over "learning) trumps all as a creativity-boosting activity. Based on personal experience, how creative you become is a function of how much novelty you are receiving. Language exposure (through whatever means best suited and liked by your child, watching shows or playing games in a foreign language etc.) is that activity which gives you the greatest amount of novelty as you are constantly being exposed to the new and unfamiliar, especially when it comes to vocabulary.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2105448https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2105448Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:27:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:51:00 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
We did more puppets than scrapbooking when my kids were small (preschool). They would draw the characters on paper/card and colour them in and I would cut them out and paste them on chopsticks, leaving enough sticking out for them to hold. They would perform by going behind the sofa and sticking the puppets above sofa back. We also tried using old socks for sock puppets, but they were harder to design and required too much sewing.


For scrapbooks, ours were really 'scraps'. My kids would collect leaves and twigs, keep bits of wrappers etc, and just paste them on paper to make pictures or whatever, and then we would paste them on doors which served as their 'gallery'. They had a lot of fun although my mum was always trying to stop my kids keeping all that 'rubbish'!
I do that too! It was really fun...

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/995233https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/995233Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:51:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:55:28 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
channie:

[quote=\"anderaaa\"]I really like the puppet shows idea by simkhoo! encourage designing, narrative writing, imagination and confidence in speaking! Speaking of scrapbooking, I have an idea that I've got by browsing through other sites, why not make a photo book? like, make it a theme, of their journey, collect pictures from when they're born till now, it gives them a view of who they are? you can let them decorate/design/write captions it themselves. If you want to publish it professionally for keeping/memory sake, you can do so with P;log (http://myplog.co/#)/(or visit their Facebook) Browsed through their website, and some of their concepts are really good, you can browse through to get some ideas!


Other than that, you can try googling easy crafty activities, I'm sure there are tons of ideas out there!

This seems quite nice eehhhh! Have you tried it yourself??? :goodpost:

Which are ou referring to - puppet shows or scrapbooking?[/quote]
I love the idea of the stage... it is a bit of Speech & Drama and also art too.. very interesting..! maybe I'll build a stage with my girl one of these days hehe..

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/979751https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/979751Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:55:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:04:42 GMT]]>Hi,


I would suggest that you bring your child to do different things and activities that he has never tried. I believe getting a child out their comfort zone will ultimately expound their creativity overall.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/968966https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/968966Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:04:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:36:14 GMT]]>

em83:
I agree with the lego idea! I've never know my son could build tons of different small buildings from his mind to the actual thing! Recently, he showed me his 'small little town'. IS STILL PROUD OF HIM!


And anderaaa, I've heard about p;log, cool concept that they have and something new that I've come across. Am still considering to do one, just the matter about finding time for the whole family hahaha!
I'm an adult and I still love LEGO 😉 Recently built a lego tape dispenser because mine broke 😉 It's really amazing because you can literally build anything out of it. These days I'm into using LEGO bricks for art work - I think that's surely one way to improve kids' creativity in a non traditional way 🙂

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/538291_482779875091781_1058582935_n.jpg

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/966761https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/966761Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:36:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:09:07 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
We did more puppets than scrapbooking when my kids were small (preschool). They would draw the characters on paper/card and colour them in and I would cut them out and paste them on chopsticks, leaving enough sticking out for them to hold. They would perform by going behind the sofa and sticking the puppets above sofa back. We also tried using old socks for sock puppets, but they were harder to design and required too much sewing.


For scrapbooks, ours were really 'scraps'. My kids would collect leaves and twigs, keep bits of wrappers etc, and just paste them on paper to make pictures or whatever, and then we would paste them on doors which served as their 'gallery'. They had a lot of fun although my mum was always trying to stop my kids keeping all that 'rubbish'!
Hahahha! I really am intrigued with the 'scraps' idea, I remembered doing pressed dried flowers scrapbook when we were little. I understand how it may be considered 'rubbish' hahaha! I really love all the ideas on these thread, just that finding time to do it...is really difficult :slapshead: :lightrod:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959943https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959943Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:09:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:44:09 GMT]]>We did more puppets than scrapbooking when my kids were small (preschool). They would draw the characters on paper/card and colour them in and I would cut them out and paste them on chopsticks, leaving enough sticking out for them to hold. They would perform by going behind the sofa and sticking the puppets above sofa back. We also tried using old socks for sock puppets, but they were harder to design and required too much sewing.


For scrapbooks, ours were really ‘scraps’. My kids would collect leaves and twigs, keep bits of wrappers etc, and just paste them on paper to make pictures or whatever, and then we would paste them on doors which served as their ‘gallery’. They had a lot of fun although my mum was always trying to stop my kids keeping all that ‘rubbish’!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959395https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959395Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:44:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:09:00 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
channie:

[quote=\"anderaaa\"]I really like the puppet shows idea by simkhoo! encourage designing, narrative writing, imagination and confidence in speaking! Speaking of scrapbooking, I have an idea that I've got by browsing through other sites, why not make a photo book? like, make it a theme, of their journey, collect pictures from when they're born till now, it gives them a view of who they are? you can let them decorate/design/write captions it themselves. If you want to publish it professionally for keeping/memory sake, you can do so with P;log (http://myplog.co/#)/(or visit their Facebook) Browsed through their website, and some of their concepts are really good, you can browse through to get some ideas!


Other than that, you can try googling easy crafty activities, I'm sure there are tons of ideas out there!

This seems quite nice eehhhh! Have you tried it yourself??? :goodpost:

Which are ou referring to - puppet shows or scrapbooking?[/quote]Both actually! I like that these activities really will indeed stimulate the kids' creativity and their imagination, great suggestions!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959363https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/959363Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:09:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:09:42 GMT]]>

anderaaa:
I really like the puppet shows idea by simkhoo! encourage designing, narrative writing, imagination and confidence in speaking! Speaking of scrapbooking, I have an idea that I've got by browsing through other sites, why not make a photo book? like, make it a theme, of their journey, collect pictures from when they're born till now, it gives them a view of who they are? you can let them decorate/design/write captions it themselves. If you want to publish it professionally for keeping/memory sake, you can do so with P;log (http://myplog.co/#)/(or visit their Facebook) Browsed through their website, and some of their concepts are really good, you can browse through to get some ideas!


Other than that, you can try googling easy crafty activities, I'm sure there are tons of ideas out there!
This seems quite nice eehhhh! Have you tried it yourself??? :goodpost:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/958154https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/958154Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:09:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:05:14 GMT]]>

toddles:
slmkhoo:

[quote=\"toddles\"]Free play?


Play for play's sake and not \"learning through play\" per se?

I find that free play sparks off the imagination best.

Except that some kids may need help getting started, especially if they have not experienced free play before. Even for my kids who have a lot of free play time, sometimes I would still get the \"I've nothing to do ...\" grumbles, so I made a practice of having a few ideas or extra materials up my sleeve, so to speak. My 'rainy day' cabinet had things like art and craft materials, odds and ends (tissue boxes, toilet roll cores, margarine tubs, yogurt cups etc), beads, wool, and I would let them rummage around when needed.

Another good toy is Lego, not the kits intended to build one particular thing, but the boxes of mixed pieces for kids to make anything they like.

Ah I guess it depends on the age. the younger ones are quite happy with a kitchen play set... or some paper to cut up...

some props definitely help. I love kenten clay![/quote]
Yes I agree with the kitchen play set, oh memories lol! I think to explore or to improve their imagination, you can play with them, by being the 'customer'. I think from there, you can really see how they think and how their imagination work! :boogie:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/958147https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/958147Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:05:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:57:01 GMT]]>

slmkhoo:
toddles:

Free play?


Play for play's sake and not \"learning through play\" per se?

I find that free play sparks off the imagination best.

Except that some kids may need help getting started, especially if they have not experienced free play before. Even for my kids who have a lot of free play time, sometimes I would still get the \"I've nothing to do ...\" grumbles, so I made a practice of having a few ideas or extra materials up my sleeve, so to speak. My 'rainy day' cabinet had things like art and craft materials, odds and ends (tissue boxes, toilet roll cores, margarine tubs, yogurt cups etc), beads, wool, and I would let them rummage around when needed.

Another good toy is Lego, not the kits intended to build one particular thing, but the boxes of mixed pieces for kids to make anything they like.

Ah I guess it depends on the age. the younger ones are quite happy with a kitchen play set... or some paper to cut up...

some props definitely help. I love kenten clay!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/956869https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/956869Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:57:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 06:22:50 GMT]]>I agree with the lego idea! I’ve never know my son could build tons of different small buildings from his mind to the actual thing! Recently, he showed me his ‘small little town’. IS STILL PROUD OF HIM!


And anderaaa, I’ve heard about p;log, cool concept that they have and something new that I’ve come across. Am still considering to do one, just the matter about finding time for the whole family hahaha!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/956727https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/956727Fri, 15 Feb 2013 06:22:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:52:59 GMT]]>Free play?


Play for play’s sake and not "learning through play" per se?

I find that free play sparks off the imagination best.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954330https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954330Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:52:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:30:24 GMT]]>Here are ways to kill a child’s creativity by Daniel Goleman, Paul Kaufman and Michael Ray:



1.\tSurveillance — Hovering over kids, making them feel that they’re constantly being watched while they are working . . . under constant observation, the risk-taking, creative urge goes underground and hides.

2.\tEvaluation — When we constantly make kids worry about how they are doing, they ignore satisfaction with their accomplishments.

3.\tRewards — The excessive use of prizes . . . deprives a child of the in trinsic pleasure of creative activity.

4.\tCompetition — Putting kids in a win-lose situation, where only one person can come out on top . . . negates the process [that] children progress at their own rates.

5.\tOver-control — Constantly telling kid how to do things . . . often leaves children feeling like their originality is a mistake and any exploration a waste of time.

6.\tRestricting choice — Telling children which activities they should engage in instead of letting them follow where their curiosity and passion lead . . . again restricts active exploration and experimentation that might lead to creative discovery and production.

7.\tPressure — Establishing grandiose expectations for a child’s performance . . . often ends up instilling aversion for a subject or activity. . . . Unreasonably high expectations often pressure children to perform and conform within strictly prescribed guidelines, and, again, deter experimentation, exploration, and innovation. Grandiose expectations are often beyond children’s developmental capabilities.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954277https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954277Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:30:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:51:23 GMT]]>Thanks for the suggestions guys!!


Hey slimkhoo, do you know if there’s any classes to take for writing? I feel like it will be a good idea for my young ones to explore their writing with other children too so as to build their confidence level.

Hey anderaaa, thanks for the link/share! Have you tried their services, any feedbacks? It does look interesting and fun for the kids to design and unleash their own creativity!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954174https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/954174Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:51:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Suggestions to improve your kids' creativity? on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:38:13 GMT]]>I really like the puppet shows idea by simkhoo! encourage designing, narrative writing, imagination and confidence in speaking! Speaking of scrapbooking, I have an idea that I've got by browsing through other sites, why not make a photo book? like, make it a theme, of their journey, collect pictures from when they're born till now, it gives them a view of who they are? you can let them decorate/design/write captions it themselves. If you want to publish it professionally for keeping/memory sake, you can do so with P;log (http://myplog.co/#)/(or visit their Facebook) Browsed through their website, and some of their concepts are really good, you can browse through to get some ideas!


Other than that, you can try googling easy crafty activities, I'm sure there are tons of ideas out there!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/953940https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/953940Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:38:13 GMT