{"id":282664,"date":"2022-12-21T12:15:36","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T12:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.natgeokids.com\/uk\/?post_type=parent-hub&p=173879"},"modified":"2025-11-06T16:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:40:15","slug":"creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds","status":"publish","type":"parents","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/parents\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative kids: how to inspire their growing minds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research shows that children are naturally creative from a young age – and scientists<\/a> agree that kids who remain creative prove to be better problem-solvers and innovators. These creative kids also tend to be less anxious and more resilient, with a greater ability to express their feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more a child believes in their powers of creativity, the more they believe that whatever happens to them, they can overcome it because they can figure out a way to survive,\u201d says Angus Fletcher, professor of story science at Ohio State University\u2019s Project Narrative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"boy<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But the creativity that young children exhibit doesn\u2019t necessarily last. A well-known study<\/a> of 1,600 four- and five-year-olds found that 98% of the children scored in the \u201ccreative genius\u201d range on a NASA creativity test. But after five years, 30% of those kids maintained the score – and five years later, only 12% hit creative genius levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One reason is neurological. Researchers from the University of California found<\/a> that by age three, a child\u2019s brain is twice as active as an adult\u2019s. But as the children get older, some neural connections are strengthened while others are pruned, transforming the brain from flexible and sensitive to more effective and controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another major factor is how children learn in structured school environments. \u201cStandardised testing, for example, encourages kids to think that there are right answers and <\/em>wrong ones.\u201d Fletcher says. \u201cThat way of thinking negatively impacts creativity, because creativity depends on the brain thinking that there are multiple possible answers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting your creative kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, those creative attributes that many young children display don\u2019t have<\/em> to disappear as they grow older. The UC Berkeley researchers theorised that a playful protected environment could lead to more flexible, exploratory, and childlike learning\u2014even in adulthood. \u201cCreativity is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time,\u201d Fletcher says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be difficult to know where to start, so don’t be afraid to use things your kid <\/em>already loves to help inspire joyful, imaginative play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you could look through books they love, and imagine yourselves in the worlds of their favourite characters. Or you might nurture their creativity with a subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine<\/a>. Each issue is packed with brain-boosting puzzles, games and things to do, and with pages full of wonders from around the natural world, it will help inspire their imagination too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the rest of this article, we’ve tapped into four creative skills that almost all kids exhibit. Here\u2019s how to help them continue to exercise those creative muscles throughout their lives\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative skill #1: Playing \u2014 all the time.<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From stacking blocks to kneading clay to climbing trees, creative kids can be engrossed in imaginative play for hours, with friends or by themselves. \u201cCreativity is something innate in humans, and it\u2019s fostered naturally through play,\u201d says Nancy Carlsson-Paige, author of Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Play is often just for fun, but it can also help resolve upset feelings, conflict or trauma. \u201cIt\u2019s giving them an opportunity to re-enact things they\u2019ve experienced that they still need to work through,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to encourage more creative play<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike board games or sports with rules and goals, free play is meant to be unstructured with no real purpose. Carlsson-Paige encourages parents to allow children to play on their own, even if it seems unproductive. If they want you to join them, let them take the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also recommends setting up a dedicated play area, even if it\u2019s just a corner in a room. Stock the space with open-ended materials, such as hats, scarves, and costume jewellery from the thrift store; recycled materials like refrigerator boxes and old newspapers and building materials, art supplies, or sets of wooden blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny of these open-ended materials will allow for children to make up their own stories and decide from their own creative impulse and needs,\u201d Carlsson-Paige says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative skill #2: Imagining all the things. <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Children are uninhibited and have a talent for dreaming up stories in the world of make-believe, excitedly regaling tales of powerful wizards and dancing bears. That can serve them well as adults – after all, who imagined 30 years ago that a tiny, magical device would make phone calls, send messages, stream shows and take photos?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to inspire imagination in creative kids<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Teach children to think of all scenarios, even the far-fetched ones. \u201cRather than being fact givers and repeating information, parents should provide children with the skills to be problem-solvers and risk takers,\u201d says Rebecca Isbell, author of Nurturing Creativity: An Essential Mindset for Young Children\u2019s Learning<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start by asking kids open-ended questions. For example, \u201cWhat if the rain came from the ground to the clouds, instead of the clouds to the ground? How would the world be different?\u201d The child will then have to come up with an alternative to an umbrella or suggest different ideas to capture rain. Or, when you\u2019re out on an errand to the grocery store, ask your child, \u201cIf you could invent a brand-new food, what would it be? What would that taste like?\u201d These can be great for breaking up the boredom on a long drive<\/a>, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a hands-on activity, suggest that instead of buying a birthday present for a family member, the child can create a time machine using only things they can find in the garden. Or maybe come up with a new outfit from materials they can find in a kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative skill #3: Seeing things differently\u2014really<\/em> differently.<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ask a child how many ways they could use a cup, and their answers might surprise you: a hat, a hammer, a scoop, a shovel, a drum, etc. \u201cOne of the key components of creativity is looking at things from a new perspective and connecting disparate things that might not otherwise connect to come up with a unique or original idea or invention,\u201d says Catherine Thimmesh, author of Girls Solve Everything<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How to encourage kids to develop new perspectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Challenge your child to look at things from a different angle or viewpoint. For example, if your child normally walks from the living room into the kitchen, ask them up come up with a new pathway. Add in fun obstacles like, \u201cwithout your feet touching the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave them think and problem-solve,\u201d Thimmesh says. \u201cMaybe they can get their sibling to roll them into the kitchen, or maybe they\u2019ll put pillows on the floor like stepping-stones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or, if a child likes to picture themselves as a superhero, you can help build their skills by asking them to imagine themselves as the nemesis. What\u2019s different about that person\u2019s mind or how they think? How would this character defeat the hero?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative skill #4: Super-strong curiosity.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYoung children have not been inhibited by the world yet,\u201d Isbell says. \u201cThey\u2019re very curious about everything, and they want to know how things work and fit together.\u201d The problem, she adds, is when society\u2019s rules make children afraid of failure and get in the way of that curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to inspire curiosity in creative kids<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Show interest in your child\u2019s idea or exploration efforts. \u201cIt can help build their creative confidence as they learn that their thinking is valued and encouraged,\u201d Isbell says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encourage your kids to channel their inner explorer and think creatively while they’re outside.<\/a> For example, if your child is looking at a stone on the ground at the zoo instead of the elephants, allow the child to investigate the thing that piqued their interest \u2013 and ask them about it, too.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Another way a parent can help is to model how to deal with mistakes. Making mistakes is part of the creative process, and the fear of failure can impede curiosity and innovation. So, ask your child to \u201cteach\u201d you a game or about a project they\u2019re working on. \u201cThen the parent should deliberately make a mistake and patiently let the child try to help them,\u201d says Thimmesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two things happen. The child becomes the expert and feels empowered. Plus, they see that the grownup, who\u2019s supposed to know everything, is still trying and asking questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or you can try the improvisational comedy technique \u201cYes, and \u2026\u201d in which a stated answer is accepted (\u201cyes\u201d) and the line of thinking can be extended (\u201cand\u201d). Fletcher says this encourages children to gently expand their conclusion or identify a hidden success in what seems like a failure. By not passing judgments on their answers, you\u2019ll create confidence in your child and encourage them to stay curious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you inspire your creative kids? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by Rachel NG. Image credits: kids in cardboard car (c) Alistair Berg \/ Getty Images; all others (c) Adobe Stock.<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research shows that children are naturally creative from a young age – and scientists agree that kids who remain creative prove to be better problem-solvers and innovators. These creative kids also tend to be less anxious and more resilient, with a greater ability to express their feelings. \u201cThe more a child believes in their powers of … Continue reading Creative kids: how to inspire their growing minds<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":282792,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":["post-282664","parents","type-parents","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","countries-australia","countries-ireland","countries-new-zealand","countries-south-africa","countries-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nInspire your creative kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Help your creative kids develop problem-solving skills, improve resilience and more, through the power of creation\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/parents\/282664\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inspire your creative kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Help your creative kids develop problem-solving skills, improve resilience and more, through the power of creation\u2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/parents\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"National Geographic Kids\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ngkids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-06T16:40:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/01\/CreativeKids-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"635\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"404\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@NGKidsUK\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/\",\"name\":\"Inspire your creative kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/CreativeKids-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-12-21T12:15:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-06T16:40:15+00:00\",\"description\":\"Help your creative kids develop problem-solving skills, improve resilience and more, through the power of creation\u2026\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.natgeokids.com\\\/uk\\\/parents\\\/creative-kids-how-to-inspire-their-growing-minds\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/CreativeKids-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/01\\\/CreativeKids-1.jpg\",\"width\":635,\"height\":404,\"caption\":\"Four children play outside with a homemade cardboard car; three sit inside laughing while one pushes from behind. 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