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How Can You Instill a Love of Creativity in Your Child?
Some children are born with a natural curiosity about art, but some require a little push to begin experimenting.
 Being creative is a trait that will help children throughout their lives. Not only will it give them the ability to help them discover solutions to everyday problems, but adults who engaged in creative activities when they were young are more apt to be equipped with the tools that will prepare them for a successful life.
I remember when I was a child...how I loved receiving a new art set or a new box of crayons. I loved opening the box, holding the many different colors, and most of all I loved trying out each and every one. Hey, I still feel that thrill when I open a new box of crayons! Getting back to the present :-) - Have you ever given your child a marker or paint set and watched how excited it made them? How about one of those large craft sets, where there are just so many pieces that there is no end to what they can create? There are many different ways to discover your child's creative abilities, and sometimes it takes just a little help from mom and dad to expose them all.
 Art projects will help to strengthen your child's mind, allow them to get in touch with their inner self, and release their creative energies. Give your child at least one arts & crafts project each day - it's perfect "together time" for you and your child. You may want to begin by trying out a few smaller projects so your child can experiment with the many different types of crafts and mediums. For younger children, provide them with different textures of paint and let them get the feel of using a paintbrush, let them have fun moving fingerpaints across a large piece of paper, and allow them to experience many different craft accessories - providing they're not small enough to pose a safety hazard.
 Before you begin, you should be sure to cover an area with newspaper or a dropcloth so that you won't have to worry about any mess. The Crayola Super Art Activity Desk  by Crayola, is perfect for children ages 4 through 10, since it allows them to have all their art materials close at hand while giving them their own "work space".
Sometimes you'll want to let your child direct the art session, but other times you might want to help them along and give them a project and goal. There are an unlimited number of arts and crafts activities - too many to list here, but you can begin with just a few. Drawing and painting, are among the first activities that young children will encounter.
 One fun activity for children is to give them a mirror and ask them to draw what they see inside. The outcome is usually a very creative and original work of art! This activity teaches concentrating on details and will allow your child to connect with him or herself. You can have your child do this activity in different mediums. One day you can give them pencils to use - but don't limit them to just one color - pencils come in some way cool colors today! Crayola's Coloring Fun Kit will give your child a few different mediums to create with: glitter, markers, crayons and more. Children can draw their own pictures, or color in pre-outlined ones. The Large Junior Paint Caddy kit is perfect for beginner painters - all the containers and brushes come oversized for little fingers, and they all fit neatly inside the caddy :). There are also many different kinds of paint sets -- for ie: the Paint the Wild Sets (this particular one is puppies) . This set is sure to keep your young artist deep in thought -- there are so many ways to paint the puppies!
Your child can even create a masterpiece while taking a bath! Bathtub Finger Painting Kit will bring great fun for children ages 3-9. If your child is itching to try a little of everything at once, you can present them with an all-in-one art activity set such as the Crayola Coloring Fun Kit , which comes with a creative assortment of art materials. If your little one is interested in sand art, they could try the Gelly Sand Art Kit , which comes with colored sand, different shaped bottles and other accessories.
If you're a saver like me, you'll need someplace to store all your child's wonderful artwork, because you won't want to throw any of it out - not even the little piece of scrap paper with the word "MOM" scribbled on it...in glitter glue :-). For these precious pieces you can buy large under-the-bed storage boxes - they're the easiest and the most inexpensive to use (and you may end up storing many of them).
Some activities are meant for your child to explore alone, and some you'll want to supervise or even join in on! You should find the time to share your own creative self with your child. If your child grows up having creative parents, it's more likely that he/she will develop their own creative personality. On occasion, you may not be able to find the time to schedule an art session for your child. On those hectic days, you can also have art time on the go! Be sure to pack some art supplies in a car organizer -- there are many different kinds! I prefer the organizers that attach to the back of the passenger seat :). Other options: Travel toys such as Etch-A-Sketch and Magna Doodle.
Don't forget to tell your child how creative their work of art is (even if they make grass purple or draw their people with four legs!) Clear off a large spot on the refrigerator and hang their latest work there. Or you can just leave the huge collection of refrigerator magnets and hang every single piece of signed artwork on your cabinet fronts like someone I know does (no names mentioned) :-). Children never tire of hearing how wonderful they are :-).
 Another idea - let your children begin their own scrapbook of their artwork. Let them choose what to include, how to decorate it, and what they'd like to write inside. Scrapbooking Moms and Dads - this is where you can lend a hand! Children just love looking at their finished pieces again and again. Although it seems like my child can never finish a work of art, even on works done 2 yrs ago. When looking back at "completed" work, there always seems to be something missing, which is quickly added :-).
Enjoy this special creative time with your children! Besides creating special works of art, you'll be helping to build their minds, and at the same time create special memories for both you and your children!
Below are a few Internet sites that provide many creative activities for your child:
Below are a few wonderful books that have many craft activities for children. Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
 Awakening Your Child's Natural Genius: Enhancing Curiosity, Creativity, and Learning Ability: - Thomas Armstrong, PhD. Find ways to help your child achieve their full potential! Buy it NOW through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
5,001 Things for Kids to Do: - Barbara Ann Kipfer. Your kids won't run out of ideas with this book! Buy it now through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
The Best Holiday Crafts Ever: - Kathy Ross. Get some great ideas from this holiday craft book! Buy it NOW through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
Family Fun Crafts: 500 Creative Activities for You and Your Kids: - Deanna F. Cook (Editor), Editors of FamilyFun Magazine (Editor). This book is full of creative projects for painting, drawing, crafts, homemade toys, and more! Buy it NOW through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Crafts: - Judy Ann Sadler. More than 150 craft ideas - complete with materials list, directions, and illustrations! Buy it NOW through Amazon.com's secure server!
Click HERE or on the image of the books to give this gift to yourself or someone else!
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