I am a firm believer (and a perfect example) that you don’t have to be “artistic” to enjoy creating art with your kids. When you focus on experimenting and enjoying the process, art time becomes much less intimidating.

That being said, creativity is more than making art. It’s experimenting, problem solving, and thinking outside the box. Through creative exploration, children can take risks, make mistakes, and practice perseverance.

Here are 8 activities to exercise those creative-thinking skills, with no crayons or paints in sight:

1. Play with toys in unusual ways. Try building with Legos in a tub filled with water, or underwater building in the bathtub.

2. Create your own game, or combine two games into one. Make up your own rules and have a bucket of extra game pieces (dice, spinners, timers, pawns, etc.) for on-the-fly game creation.

3. Have a create-your-own-sandwich bar, with an assortment of breads, spreads, and toppings. Take photos and create unique names for your creations.

4. Use the dress-up bin and everyone’s closets to create crazy super-hero costumes. What is your super power?

5. Build ramps with things around the house – blocks, cardboard, couch cushions, etc. Experiment with ways to make your toy cars go faster or farther.

6. Perform a puppet show or act out a favorite story.

7. Make up a song or dance and perform it for your family. Record your performance, too, if you like.

8. Redecorate or rearrange a room (or part of a room). Carve out a reading corner, hang some new artwork, gather items for a nature table, or set-up a bird-watching station.

And a bonus one: Allow for generous amounts of unstructured, child-directed play time. As the wonderful Fred Rogers said, “Play is not trivial. When children play, they’re doing important work.”

Extra Reading:

Everyday Art :: Greater Good

How to…Invent a Recipe with Kids :: Tinker Lab

10 Simple Ways to Raise Creative Kids :: Kiwi Crate

Creativity Matters (Free eBook) :: Not Just Cute

How do you or your kids like to be creative? What activity makes you stretch and take risks?

Burn off some energy this Leap Day with a jumping, hopping, leaping obstacle course.

I’m sure your kids can think of many different ways to move by jumping. Here are the ones we thought of, to get you started:

• Play hopscotch. Draw with chalk outside, or make with masking tape inside.

• Try a long jump. Tape a measuring tape along the jumping area (or mark measurements with chalk) so you can see how far you jumped.

• Jump as high as you can.

• Hop on one foot. How many times can you hop on each foot?

• Jump rope

• Do some frog jumps.

• Run and leap over a stick, broom, pool noodle, etc.

• Hop like a bunny around cones or other obstacles.

• Jump in and out of a hula hoop.

• Lay pillows or couch cushions on the floor and jump from cushion to cushion.

• Jump off something, like a tree stump, small stool, or sidewalk curb.

P.S. Have you ever taken photos of your kids jumping? It’s a lot of fun and the outtakes are great for a laugh.

Have any jumping activities to add? Have anything fun planned for Leap Day this week?

I’ve been reorganizing my bookshelves, so I thought I would share some of my favorite early childhood resource books with you.  These are the ones I turn to when my own creativity is not flowing — they are filled with simple, play-based activities that encourage creativity and exploration.

In this post, I’ll share some of my most-used general resource books, to be followed with posts about my favorite art, science + nature, math, literacy, and parenting books. {Updated January 2012}

Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun. by Bobbi Conner

Love this book! It’s divided into Toddler Play, Preschool Play, and Grade School Play and is FULL of games, crafts, pretend play, party ideas and more! There are many familiar ideas with new twists, as well as little tidbits on parenting, stocking an art cabinet, etc.  One of my favorite and most-used books.

Everyday Opportunities for Extraordinary Parenting: Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Your Child’s Life by Bobbi Conner

Another great book by the same author.  This one reminds me that to find those special moments of connection as we go about our day together.

Thinking Games for Preschoolers by Susan Baltrus

This book has tons of easy games to play at home, outside, in the car, at the grocery store, waiting in line, etc.  The games are even indexed in the back by skills like visual observation, problem solving, imagination, memory, and more. (This book appears to be out-of-print – I recommend tracking down a used copy!)

Fun on the Run!: 324 Instant Family Activities by Cynthia Copeland

This is a little book that you can stash in your purse, diaper bag, or glove box and use when things are getting crazy.  Ideas for doctor’s office visits, long car rides, shopping trips, etc.

Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children by Ginger Carlson

This book is another treasure-filled resource for setting-up a creative environment and encouraging creative thinking. There are oodles of play ideas, too! It’s geared toward preschoolers, but families of school-age kids will find many activities to enjoy, too.

Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder by Mariah Bruehl

My favorite aspect of this book is the experience philosophy. Rather than just a collection of activities, the experiences in this book truly provide opportunities for conversation, connection, and discovery. It is a wonderful book to enjoy side-by-side with your kids, following their interests and having fun learning together. (Read more about this book in my detailed review.)

Happy Reading!

Care to share a favorite from your bookshelf?