Creativity and imagination are skills children do not have to learn however they are skills that can decrease without use. Activities and games that increase creative thought, flexible thinking and imagination can be simple and many are free and can be played anywhere. Have your child make up their own activities and games or try the ones listed here.
Pretend with your child.
Pretending and fantasy play are fuel for creativity and imagination. Children are constantly saying, "Pretend this is...," and "Pretend I am..." Play dress-up, house, cops and robbers, etc. Think back to when you were a child and what you pretended to be.
Read to your child.
When children hear stories, they create images in their mind. The ability to form images in one's mind is an important skill in creativity. Make up your own stories and include your child in them. Children love when they are part of a story.
Create a "Round the Table Story."
Everyone joins in with this activity. One person starts the story then the next person adds more to the story and it goes around until the story is done.
"What else could it be?"
Take everyday objects and ask the question, "What else could it be?" Do not be practical or logical. Be silly and imaginative.
"What if...?" Game
Ask questions that start with "What if...?" "What would you do if...?" "What would you say if...? "What if you woke up and found you were..." For example, "What would you do if your dog could talk?" "What if you woke up and found you were able to fly?"
"I Spy."
One person says, "I spy, with my little eye, something..." then gives a short description of the object. The other person must "spy" the object which is nearby.
"If I were a _____ I would be."
Imagine you are someone or something else then describe who you are, what you do, what you think and so on.
Puppet show
Create sock or finger puppets. Create a "stage" from cardboard and put on plays that are made up as you go. Don't complicate the process with scripts or direction. For directions on making sock puppets, see the link at the end of this article.
What am I thinking about?
Think about an object and give clues one at a time until someone guesses what it is. Start simple with younger kids and increase the difficulty for older children. For example, "I am thinking of something that is round. It is white and black. It is something you kick." Those playing will answer with, "You are thinking of a..." until someone gets it right.
Craft Free-For-All
Load the table up with craft supplies, items from the recycle bin, items from nature, and whatever else you can find and watch the burst of creativity and imagination.
Shape Pictures
Cut different shapes out of felt in different sizes including squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, and so on. Make the rectangles in different widths and lengths. Place a large piece of felt on the table. Create pictures from the shapes.
The benefit of using felt is that it "grabs" the shapes and holds them where they are placed. You can also use card stock however the pieces will move easily.
The possibilities for creative and imaginative activities and games are endless. The less "imagination included" in the game and activity will increase the creativity and imagination required from the child. Do not complicate the process. Keep it simple and the fun will follow.
Pretend with your child.
Pretending and fantasy play are fuel for creativity and imagination. Children are constantly saying, "Pretend this is...," and "Pretend I am..." Play dress-up, house, cops and robbers, etc. Think back to when you were a child and what you pretended to be.
Read to your child.
When children hear stories, they create images in their mind. The ability to form images in one's mind is an important skill in creativity. Make up your own stories and include your child in them. Children love when they are part of a story.
Create a "Round the Table Story."
Everyone joins in with this activity. One person starts the story then the next person adds more to the story and it goes around until the story is done.
"What else could it be?"
Take everyday objects and ask the question, "What else could it be?" Do not be practical or logical. Be silly and imaginative.
"What if...?" Game
Ask questions that start with "What if...?" "What would you do if...?" "What would you say if...? "What if you woke up and found you were..." For example, "What would you do if your dog could talk?" "What if you woke up and found you were able to fly?"
"I Spy."
One person says, "I spy, with my little eye, something..." then gives a short description of the object. The other person must "spy" the object which is nearby.
"If I were a _____ I would be."
Imagine you are someone or something else then describe who you are, what you do, what you think and so on.
Puppet show
Create sock or finger puppets. Create a "stage" from cardboard and put on plays that are made up as you go. Don't complicate the process with scripts or direction. For directions on making sock puppets, see the link at the end of this article.
What am I thinking about?
Think about an object and give clues one at a time until someone guesses what it is. Start simple with younger kids and increase the difficulty for older children. For example, "I am thinking of something that is round. It is white and black. It is something you kick." Those playing will answer with, "You are thinking of a..." until someone gets it right.
Craft Free-For-All
Load the table up with craft supplies, items from the recycle bin, items from nature, and whatever else you can find and watch the burst of creativity and imagination.
Shape Pictures
Cut different shapes out of felt in different sizes including squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, and so on. Make the rectangles in different widths and lengths. Place a large piece of felt on the table. Create pictures from the shapes.
The benefit of using felt is that it "grabs" the shapes and holds them where they are placed. You can also use card stock however the pieces will move easily.
The possibilities for creative and imaginative activities and games are endless. The less "imagination included" in the game and activity will increase the creativity and imagination required from the child. Do not complicate the process. Keep it simple and the fun will follow.
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