How to Encourage Creativity at Home
While taking art classes at Fairmount is a wonderful way to nurture creativity, we believe exploration shouldn't end when class is over. We encourage families to continue fostering creativity at home, where children can explore their imagination, build confidence, and create at their own pace. By making space for creativity beyond the studio, children have even more opportunities to grow, experiment, and express themselves.
Designate a Creative Space
Creating a dedicated space for your child to explore their creativity can make a big difference. Whether it's a desk in their bedroom, a corner of the living room, or a spot in the playroom, having a space that's all their own encourages them to express themselves. A comfortable, inviting environment helps make creativity feel like a natural part of their everyday routine.
Go Beyond Paper and Crayons
While it can be easy to reach for familiar art materials like crayons and paper, there are plenty of other options to inspire your child's creativity during their creative time. Go-to materials like paint and clay are easy to use, or you can encourage them to experiment with more unconventional supplies. Recycled materials you already have at home, such as egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, and magazines for collages, can become exciting art projects. You can even make a fun outing by visiting your local craft store to pick out new materials like yarn, string, tissue paper, beads, and fabric.
While it's wonderful to let your child create from scratch, you can also introduce themes to spark their imagination. Some of our favorite camps and classes focus on nature-inspired art using materials that can easily be found outdoors, making it easy to bring that same creative experience home.
Allow Creativity Flow During Free Time
While it's wonderful if your child wants to create every day, it's just as important to let them decide when inspiration strikes. Scheduling creative time can make it feel like another task or chore rather than something they truly enjoy. Giving children the freedom to choose when they create helps creativity develop naturally. This sense of ownership can make creating more enjoyable and encourage a lifelong love of artistic expression.
Get Involved with the Process
While your child can certainly enjoy creative time on their own, don't be afraid to get involved. Creating together is a wonderful way to bond while encouraging their imagination and self-expression. Whether you're painting, building with recycled materials, or working on a themed project, creating side by side gives you the opportunity to make lasting memories while celebrating your child's creativity.
Visit Creative Places Together
To inspire creativity, you don’t have to just sit at home waiting for it to happen. Take time on the weekends to explore creative spaces like museums, libraries and botanical gardens that can spark inspiration and give your child new things to explore in their creative adventures at home.
Put Their Creativity on Display
There’s nothing more satisfying to a child than seeing their artwork hung on the fridge or framed on the wall. Showcasing their work can help build confidence and show you value their creativity.
Fall registration opens on Monday, July 13. If you’re looking to add artistic adventures to your child’s schedule outside the home, make sure to check out our visual arts page on our website. If you’re looking to get ahead of the line, you can browse classes in our fall children’s catalog here.
