Imagination is one of the most spectacular and beautiful things our brain can create. Developing our imagination and creativity from childhood helps us form strong cognitive abilities and is essential for a well-developed mind. It can even go on to help us with careers later on in life. 

While being creatively stimulated is something that not all of us recognise or respect, it’s incredibly valuable to children and adults alike. Best of all, sparking your kids’ creativity doesn’t have to be daunting or time-consuming. These easy and practical tips will help to spark creativity in children. 

Ok, so the weather isn’t great just now BUT there is always something that we can do to either get outside or bring the outdoors in...

Whether you throw a ball in the park, engage in family sports or simply just sit and observe nature in its purest form, spending time outside is great for both you and your child.

Why not collect leaves, twigs and pine cones so that the next time the weather stops you from enjoying being outside, you can create collages that remind you of your favourite places to visit.

And don’t forget...there’s no such thing as bad weather, just being badly prepared for the weather.  

Arts and crafts always encourage creative play in toddlers and above. Dedicate a space to creating – whether that’s a nook in their bedroom or at the dining room table for the afternoon.

Stock up on paper, pencils, pens, watercolours, sequins, and glue to make some art together. Paint, build, draw, cut and stick your way to a stunning end product. This tactile experience is especially important in youngsters as they think outside the box and create something from scratch.

Playtime strikes the perfect balance between stories and exercising. Creativity in child development stems from fun play, whether it’s through toys or games – anything is welcome. To ramp up playtime, try building a fort together or set up a tent in your garden. 

Why not download one of our activity sheets? Designed to keep the kids (and you) entertained whilst still learning key skills, create everything from sock puppets so that you can tell your favourite stories through to your own mosaic.

Remember when your parents used to tell you stories and you would imagine them in your head or when you first started reading to yourself and could imagine every scene? Use this image to create your own fairy tale. 

Describe characters in detail, whether they are a fairy, elf, superhero or animal, and set the stage by detailing a magical place. Better yet, create your own story together by writing it down and decorating the pages with images of the scenes. Don’t worry – you don’t have to be a world-renowned illustrator to enjoy this parent-child bonding experience.

If you’re not confident enough to create your own story, why not create a story sack to help bring your favourite stories to life? Make puppets, use props from around the house and act your favourite stories out. 

Although there are some apps out there that inspire creativity in the early years, kids can always benefit from a bit fewer TVs, phones, tablets and computers. 

Technology can stunt creativity and, as a parent, you cannot control everything your child is going to see or hear. In a world where screen-free time is sacred, you can help your child’s imagination by limiting their use of devices and, instead, directing their focus onto hobbies and ways to express themselves through art.

The best thing about imagination is that it doesn’t require any equipment. That said, you can always spark creativity with some simple arts and craft supplies. At Ryman, we stock a vast range of high-quality supplies for arts, crafts and so much more that can keep your kids’ creativity flourishing for years to come