Letting your child’s imagination run wild and get creative has amazing development benefits! Find out everything you need to know about creative play. Creativity is something children are naturally good at! Their heightened imagination and curiosity mean it’s something they really enjoy, and there’s plenty of ways you can encourage creative play in your home. From painting to playing with cardboard boxes, you don’t need any expensive equipment. All a child needs is a few bits and bobs and free reign to let their imagination run wild! There are also developmental benefits to creative play; it helps build their confidence and learn valuable life skills. So, why wouldn’t you want to encourage imaginative play? Let’s discuss the topic in more detail!
The Ways Creative Play Can Boost Development
Creative play is sometimes seen differently from more structured learning, but the reality is that creative activities still have many developmental benefits! These benefits include:
- Problem-solving
- Sensory perception
- Verbal skills
- Attention span
- Hand-eye coordination
- Curiosity
The 4 Main Benefits of Encouraging Creative Play
1. Practising Physical Movement
Creative play will put your child’s fine motor skills into practice! Painting, drawing, cutting, sticking- these all involve hand-eye coordination. Practising these skills can help when your child reaches writing age. It may seem silly to think about learning to write at a young age, but it can never be too early to start preparing! Think of it this way; your child goes from not being aware they have hands to having the ability to hold a pencil. Then, they realise they can make a mark on some paper, amazing! Each one of these milestones is a colossal development accomplishment to them.
2. Developing Communication Skills
Learning can be intimidating for both you and your child; creativity makes it a lot more enjoyable! When taking part in creative play, encourage your child to describe things they touch. Is it soft? Fluffy? This increases understanding of their surroundings, alongside building their vocabulary. Creative play also encourages children to interact with others, helping them out and understanding the needs of others.
3. Working On Attention Span
It’s no secret that children often struggle with their attention span, but creative play can make a huge difference! Having ongoing projects means you can encourage your child to go back to the task to finish it off. These intentional projects allow children to use their imagination whilst practising concentration skills.
4. Increasing Knowledge
From a young age, creative play can help develop maths and literacy skills. If you ask a toddler to sit own and count on their fingers, they probably have better things to do! But ask them to count something fun, like colourful pom-poms, which may keep them entertained for longer. Alongside all this, asking themselves fundamental questions helps to understand their surroundings. Questions like, will this stick? Will these scissors cut this material?
What Equipment Do I Need For Creative Play?
Encouraging creativity does not need to cost the earth! Just a few bits should be enough to keep them entertained for a while, and these items are often really easy to get hold of. Here are some excellent materials for you to introduce during creative play:
- Paint
- Pencils
- Clay
- Felt
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Cardboard
- Ribbon
- Pom poms
- Buttons
Ready to start your child’s creative play journey? Check out Singer Outlet; they stock a vast selection of items perfect for bringing out your child’s creative side! Whether you are searching for pom poms or paint, fabric or scissors suitable for children- they have it all and at excellent prices. Time to make the most of that imagination and have some fun!
Luciana joined our team as a mum blogger in 2020. A dedicated mum to a lively daughter and a dog, Luna, Luciana brings authenticity and passion to every post. Her expertise in parenting and lifestyle topics offers practical, relatable advice for real-life situations.
Hey Anna and Luciana,
Thanks for publishing such a wonderful piece of article on encouraging kids. That’s really matters alot and it works in promoting kid’s mindset. Encouraging kids bring innovation in drawings as well.
I might be very far from being a mother, but I have enjoyed this article very much. I’ve come across you guys’ blog when I was looking for ways to implement more creativity in my life. I do think your tips apply also to adults, and I am very grateful for that! Thank you for sharing your experience!
amazing learning for kids
Amazing idea for children to be creative and innovative.
Encouraging creative play is indeed a wonderful way to nurture a child’s imagination and development. Your insights on the benefits of creative play and the minimal equipment needed are fantastic. Thank you for providing practical tips and suggesting Singer Outlet as a resource for creative materials. Let the creativity flow!