It’s funny what inspires people. I was thinking today that I didn’t feel like leaving the house. It would be sooooo easy to stay in pjs all day and build legos with the kids. But then I started thinking about the stuff that inspired them recently. Pretty amazing things…

1. A popsicle stick mansion at our local library - so inspiring! We left the library and drove right to the dollar store. An hour and $70 later, each child had his/her glue gun ready to go. The boys spent over an hour creating. Maria has worked on her building on and off for over a month! See what amazing creations they made?

2. Thomas Edison’s lab - Jack came home from our trip to The Henry Ford and set up his desk as a scientist station. He conducted home-made experiments, including dipping his night light in water and then plugging it in. OMG. More grey hairs!

3. Little House on the Prairie -Once Maria realized she could sew DOLLS, she set up her sewing machine and got to work. She’s made three dolls now (with a little help), and just this morning she wondered what other kinds of creatures she could sew.

4. Moss that covered a bunch of rocks in the forest. Danny had never noticed moss before, and created a wildly imaginative story about how it got on the rocks.

So yes, we could stay home and snuggle in. And technically #3 is from a book, which means staying home and snuggling in :) But isn’t it my job to show them all I can? To inspire them to think and create? You never know what will inspire children, and so much of the world is brand new to them.

HOW TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY

The next time you’re tempted to stay home and let them languish in front of screens for hours, go for a walk. Yes… it’s really that simple. I know. It can be a total PITA to talk a walk. You may need snow pants and a million other pieces of snow gear. You may need a gallon of water and hear, “It’s SO hot” every 2 steps. You will definitely hear complaining. Not gonna lie. They will complain.

Depending on your children, either tell them before the walk that you’re all looking for inspiration for an art project when you get home, OR keep this info to yourself (for one of my guys this would make him cry before we even left the house if it’s been too long since his last meal).

And then, head out, look around, and get inspired!

When you get home, ask them to create something based on what they saw, heard, smelled, or imagined. It can be anything! Make it fun, not a chore!

TIPS:

1. Remember that it often doesn’t take much to inspire children. They are hoping, waiting, looking to be inspired! A simple walk around the block is often enough, but a walk in nature is even better if possible.

2. Notice what they’re interested in and talk about it. Notice what they’re missing, and point it out. I often point out foot/animal prints in snow, signs of changing seasons, things high up & overhead, and don’t forget about other senses like hearing and smelling!

3. Create something when you get back from your walk/trip/adventure. It could be as easy as a list of words (your child(ren) can even dictate them to you), a drawing, a painting, a fort, a block/lego building, or something like the houses we made avove.

4. We’re big loose parts play people. If you’ve never heard of loose parts, a quick online search will give you lots of info. Technically gluing loose parts together is not encouraged, but breaking the rules every now and then is ok by me. Sometimes art is about product, not process :)

5. There doesn’t always have to be an art project attached. Sometimes it’s fun to just go out and be inspired, get some fresh air, and call it done!

6. Crafting safety: as always, review the proper ways to use craft tools and supervise for safety as necessary.

   1. All of our children have personal low-temp hot glue guns and have been skilled in using them since about age four. If your children don’t have them, I would highly recommend adding these to your craft supplies. Hot glue is immediate; it wins out over Elmer’s every time in our house. Yes, they do still get burned occasionally, but they have been taught and are repeatedly reminded of best safety practices.

   2. Maria has a real, grown up sewing machine, not a toy. She (and her brothers) know how to safely use it. After many hours of side-by-side instruction, she is now allowed to sew independently.