Does your child seem like they have endless energy? Or, do they have the wiggles, and you aren’t sure how to help them get it all out? It could be that your child has some unbridled creativity, and they need an outlet to unleash it.

And quite frankly, this is a beautiful problem, as there isn’t much more satisfying for a child than the opportunity to express themselves openly and free of judgment. So if you have a child that needs some space to be creative or loves to learn, we have some tips to help them let that creativity run wild without driving you bonkers right here in Plano, Texas!

Children benefit from creative play and creative thinking.

Kids need to have space to be creative. As kids are still figuring out who they are and developing their personalities, creativity is their purest form of self-expression. Not only that, but kids are naturally creative and learn through creativity, whether it be an art project they come up with on their own or a more structured project with a specific end goal. Further, children enjoy the freedom to be creative, and allowing them to do so can also help calm and redirect those uncontrollable wiggles.

If you have a child who loves making things, pretending, inventing, and problem-solving, you will want to nurture that, and we have created some tips below to help nurture that childhood creativity.

Tip # 1: Provide your child with a dedicated space to let them be creative, and give them the tools to do the job.

Start by finding a space in your room that your child can use to nurture that creativity. Maybe it’s a dedicated table in the corner of the living room, a space set aside in their playroom, or a place at the kitchen counter. Whatever it is, make it an area that is primarily free from rules so that your child can express their creativity in their way (of course, keep rules such as not drawing on the walls, not cutting their sister’s hair, etc.). Then, help your child prepare a toolkit with everything they need. Consider a painting easel, some kids’ safe paints, crayons, colored pencils, stain-free markers, construction paper, kids’ scissors, etc. You get the picture. Now let your child get to work.

Tip # 2: Plan a day trip and help your child experience something new.

Creativity doesn’t only need to happen at home. Your child might gain some inspiration for their projects after a little field trip. Consider visiting the Play Street Museum in Plano, Texas. Or why not visit the kids’ section at local bookstores, such as Interabang Books or Lucky Dog Books so your child can pick out a new book (maybe a project or sticker book)? Try the Crayola Experience and let your child explore and enjoy all the ready-to-go experiences. Whatever you do, ask your child for their ideas and see what you can do to make their ideas come to life.

Tip # 3: Discourage perfectionism

Many people believe that perfection is key, but when it comes to kids’ creativity, perfectionism can be stifling. So try not to put too much pressure on your child and try not to be involved in every project that your child does (remind yourself of tip #1). Kids deserve some independence too. If you want to be involved, consider doing your own project alongside your child. Making something of your own is a great creative outlet, and your child might think it is fun to create similar projects.

Tip # 4: Don’t limit creativity to paper projects.

Though the toolbox we recommended earlier included items intended for paper projects, that doesn’t mean those are the only projects you should encourage your child to engage in. Think outside the box and encourage your child to do the same. Some kids aren’t interested in drawing, painting, or coloring. Consider ideas such as sculpting or woodworking. Make a simple cardinal house together and let your child be responsible for as many of the tasks as possible. Or, if your kid is into gaming and technology, why not let them create a video on your iPhone or suggest they create a village on Minecraft? For budding writers, encourage them to write a song or a story.

Share your child’s creative ideas with us at your children’s dentist near Plano, Texas.

We love hearing about the great projects that our young patients are working on. So, we’d love to hear about your child’s favorite creative project at their next dentist’s appointment. Not only do we want to hear about it, but sharing with us is a great way for your child to learn how to talk to adults and develop a healthy relationship with their dentist. We look forward to seeing you.