Kids are naturally curious, but sometimes they need a little extra push to spark their creativity. At Fitness at the Sea, our campers participate in many of the activities found here to help foster their creativity. Here are 10 ways to stimulate their minds and encourage them to create!
Make Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts remain one of the most tried and true activities to help kids stay creative. There are so many great ideas, take our “30 Summer Crafts for Kids” for example, that there’s bound to be something for everyone. Through creating their own art, kids learn design skills and hone their creativity by adding in their own unique twists. To make this even better, you’ll even get a cute piece of art to display in your home!
Sing or Dance
Whether it’s your kid’s favorite song or one they made up on their own, singing or dancing is a great way to get them involved with music. Exploring new music allows them to expand their musical taste, while singing helps them learn the words and maybe even discover new talent. Not only is dancing fun, but it also doubles as exercise! Create a fun routine and teach your kid some new moves.
Play an Instrument
Learning an instrument as a child not only enhances their love of music, it also helps them develop their music skills at a young age! The benefits of learning to play an instrument have been widely documented, so in addition to sparking their creativity, they’re also going to benefit from the long-term effects including improved neural processing. Teaching your child basic notes or scales can lead to learning songs or even making their own!
Learn Magic Tricks
The great thing about teaching your kid a magic trick is that you probably already have the materials you need at home. Use a deck of cards, a hat, or a coin and you already have all you need! If you’d like, you can even buy a kit at the store that comes complete with instructions and the necessary components. Teaching your kid a magic trick encourages them to learn even more to impress their friends and family.
Create a Science Experiment
Who says science experiments are only for school? Not only can your kid creatively customize their own creation, but they’ll also learn a bit more about science. A fair amount of science projects you find online are safe, which means as long as you’re supervising, your kid can safely have some fun learning about something new. A lot of the classics still hold up today, so break out those baking soda volcanos or make some rock candy!
Explore Nature
Getting your kids out of the house and into nature is great for exercise and its calming effect on people. Providing your kid with some time to explore nature, away from electronics, allows them to relax and think more clearly. If you want to take it one step further, you can teach your child about flowers and plants or encourage them to start their own garden in your backyard. Camps like Fitness at the Sea have the added benefit of constantly surrounding our campers with nature.
Teach them Basic Cooking
Does your kid know how to make their favorite lunch? How about their weekend breakfast? Even if they’re not old enough to make the whole thing, teaching them the recipe is a fun bonding experience that can lead to a love of cooking. Read through a cookbook with them and if they point anything out, make it together! Cooking is often overlooked as a creative activity, but it’s an essential skill for when they grow up.
Perform Theatre
Kids love to play pretend and act things out, so why not get them excited about theatre? Play some acting games or act out a scene from their favorite movie. Not only is this fun, it improves their reading and speech skills. If they enjoy it enough, they might even start writing their own plays. Teaching kids about theatre also prepares them for youth theatre programs, camps, and more!
Go to a Museum
Museums of all types and sizes will give kids creative ideas. If there’s a children’s museum near you, explore it with your kid and see what they’re drawn to. This might give you ideas for what other activities they can channel their creativity into. For instance, if they’re drawn to art, give them the resources they need to create their own.
Read Books
Reading books with your kid is a great way to get them thinking creatively. Not only is this a healthy hobby to have, but reading books with your kid strengthens their development. Books spark curiosity and prepare kids for reading in school and beyond. It may even inspire them to write their own stories.
At Fitness by the Sea, we offer many creative activities that your child will love to participate in, including arts and crafts, and face painting. Interested in having your kid participate in our camps? Choose your location and register or learn more!
