DiscussionIs there such a thing as too much imaginative play?
Pretend and imaginative play are crucial to a child's development. Research shows clear benefits of children's engagement in imaginative play, especially between the ages two and seven years. Pretend play encompass a host of cognitive and creative activities such as make-believe, storytelling, acting, divergent thinking and the use of ...
Creativity & Life Skills
Any advice on picking an instrument for my daughter?
The piano and string instruments (such as a violin and guitar) are great choices because they give your child a solid foundation in reading music and music theory that will help with learning different instruments as she get older. Many string instruments also come in smaller sizes making them easier for young children to play. Larger ...
Creativity & Life Skills
I'm looking for toy suggestions to encourage my daughter's creativity
Look for toys that do not have one specific purpose, but can be used in a variety of ways. For example, toys like Lego, Magna-Tiles, and Citiblocs have the potential to be used differently each time you play with them and give your daughter the opportunity to be creative and use her imagination. In general, toys that encourage children...
Creativity & Life Skills
My son can't hold a tune. Does this mean he'll be bad at music?
Even if your child cannot hold a turn, the fact that he loves to sing and is showing an interest in music is wonderful! You can foster his love of music by exposing him to a variety of music and musicians, and allowing him to experiment with different instruments. You can also sign him up for music or movement classes or take him to a ...
Creativity & Life Skills
My son is interested in learning how to cook, how can I get him involved in the kitchen?
Not only is cooking a fun way to spend time together, it is a great opportunity to get children interested (and even excited) about eating healthy foods. As children follow recipes and measure ingredients, they also learn important math and reading skills. Start by choosing something fun and easy to make that includes some simple steps...
Creativity & Life Skills
Is it safe to let my son use scissors?
As a parent, the thought of handing your small child a pair of scissors can be nerve-racking! But by 4 years of age, children are old enough to use scissors, and it is a great way for them to practice fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The most important thing is to teach your son how to use them safely and keep them out of r...
Creativity & Life Skills
Do you have any fun ideas to celebrate the Fourth of July with my children?
You can celebrate the Fourth of July fun with patriotic activities, decorations, treats, and crafts. Organize a bike/trike parade with your neighbors and have all the children decorate their rides with streamers. Decorate your house and yard with red, white, and blue balloons and garland, or have a 4th of July picnic with red, white,...
Creativity & Life Skills
How can I encourage creativity in my child?
The best way to encourage creativity in young children is to provide them with lots of opportunities to be creative. Give children lots of different experiences (visiting farms, looking at art, talking with relatives, listening to music) from which they may pull ideas. Provide materials and time for open-ended exploration, such as free...
Creativity & Life Skills
Is it really important for my child to learn analog time?
Knowing how to tell time is an important skill. There is a lot of debate over whether children need to learn analog time, especially since mobile phones have taken the place of analog watches for many people.
Creativity & Life Skills
What's the best age for my daughter to start learning an instrument?
While it is never too early to enroll your daughter in a music class, many instruments require fine motor skills (like the dexterity required to press clarinet keys) that aren’t yet developed until later in life. However, some instruments, like pianos and guitars, are made in child-appropriate sizes making the instruments accessible to...
Creativity & Life Skills
Is there a "right" way to hold a paintbrush?
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to hold a paintbrush. Different ways of holding a paintbrush produce different effects. For example, using a pencil grip helps with painting fine details, but holding a brush like a tennis racket might make long, sweeping lines. Between the ages of 2-3 years, most children are able to hold and contro...
Creativity & Life Skills
What are some Halloween activities for kids?
For many parents, the idea of using sharp knives and candles to prepare decorative pumpkins makes Halloween decorating a task only for adults and older children. If you feel that your child is not quite ready to carve his own pumpkin, you can provide paints or markers for him to draw a creative face on his pumpkin.
Creativity & Life Skills