I can’t draw. I can’t sing. I don’t know the difference between oil paint and acrylic.
And for a long time, I thought that meant I couldn’t raise a creative child.
I thought creativity was only for artists, dancers, and musicians. I thought it was something you were either born with or you weren’t.
I was wrong.
Creativity isn’t just about painting or music. It’s a way of thinking. It’s problem-solving. It’s imagination. It’s trying something new even when you’re not sure it will work.
And the truth is, every child is born with creativity inside them. Our job as parents is to help it grow.
Even if we can’t draw a stick figure.
Here’s how I learned to raise a creative child—without being artsy at all. And why it matters more than I ever thought.
What Creativity Really Means (It’s Not Just Arts and Crafts)
First, I had to understand what creativity really is.
It’s not just painting pictures or writing poems. It’s not about being the best in art class.
Creativity is about thinking differently. It’s about asking “what if” instead of just saying “this is how it’s done.”
A creative child can:
- Solve problems in new ways
- Imagine stories and worlds in their head
- Build cool things out of simple materials
- Come up with fun games no one taught them
- Use mistakes as chances to try again
That’s what I wanted for my child.
Not a perfect artist. Not a famous musician.
But someone who could think with an open mind. Try new things. And not be afraid of looking silly.
That’s real creativity. And that’s something any parent can help grow.
Why Creativity Is More Important Than Ever
In today’s world, creativity isn’t just nice. It’s necessary.
Jobs are changing fast. Kids will grow up in a world we don’t even fully understand yet.
Robots can follow steps. Computers can repeat tasks.
But creativity? That’s something only humans can do.
Schools don’t always teach it. Tests don’t always reward it.
So it has to start at home.
And it’s not as hard as you think. Here’s what worked for me.
Step 1: Stop Worrying About Being Artsy
I used to think I needed to know how to draw to raise a creative kid.
But then I realized—my job wasn’t to teach art. My job was to make space for it.
I didn’t need to be an artist. I just needed to support their ideas.
So I stopped judging myself. I didn’t say “I’m bad at this” in front of my kid. I just joined in with whatever they were doing.
Sometimes I looked silly. Sometimes I messed up.
But that taught my child something even more important than coloring inside the lines.
It taught them that creativity is messy. That trying matters more than being perfect.
Step 2: Make Room for Boredom
This one surprised me.
I used to rush in every time my kid said “I’m bored.” I’d turn on a show. Hand over a device. Plan an activity.
But then I read something that changed my mind:
Boredom is the door to creativity.
When kids have nothing to do, their brains start making things up.
That’s when cardboard boxes become castles. When spoons become microphones. When a stick becomes a magic wand.
So I started saying, “It’s okay to be bored.”
I kept screens off for certain hours. I left open time in our day.
At first it was hard. But slowly, my kid started coming up with their own fun.
That’s when I knew—boredom wasn’t the problem. It was the spark.
Step 3: Keep Basic Supplies Around (Nothing Fancy Needed)
I didn’t buy fancy craft kits or expensive tools.
I just made a little corner in our house where my child could make things.
It had:
- Paper
- Tape and glue
- Crayons and markers
- Old magazines
- Boxes and toilet paper rolls
- Fabric scraps
- Beads and string
- A notebook just for drawing or writing
I called it the “create zone.”
It wasn’t always clean. But it was always open.
My kid knew that whenever they had an idea, they had a place to try it.
I didn’t need to lead. I just needed to make space.
Step 4: Say “Tell Me More” Instead of “That’s Weird”
There were times my child showed me something and I had no clue what it was.
A crumpled drawing. A messy sculpture. A game with rules that made no sense.
I used to say, “What is that supposed to be?” or “Why’d you do it like that?”
But that crushed the joy right out of it.
Now I say, “Tell me more about this.” Or “What gave you the idea?”
That simple change made my kid feel proud of their ideas—even the strange ones.
And guess what? I started seeing the world through their eyes.
Creativity is not about what I see. It’s about what they imagine.
Step 5: Ask Open-Ended Questions
When I wanted to help build my child’s creativity without pushing too hard, I started using open-ended questions.
These are some of my favorites:
- “What would happen if…?”
- “How else could we do this?”
- “What do you think it needs?”
- “Can you come up with a new way to play this?”
- “What would you do differently next time?”
These questions don’t have right answers.
They invite thinking. They stretch the brain. They show that creativity is about the journey, not the result.
Step 6: Make Mistakes on Purpose
One day, I drew a stick person with two left feet. On purpose.
My child laughed.
Then they said, “Let me fix it.”
So I started doing that more. Making silly mistakes. Saying things like, “Oops, this story makes no sense. Can you help me fix it?”
That gave my kid the chance to solve problems. To take charge.
Creativity is not about getting things right the first time.
It’s about trying, failing, and trying again.
So I let them see me do that too.
Step 7: Tell Stories Together
One of our favorite games now is “story swap.”
Here’s how we play:
- I say the first line of a story
- My kid says the next
- We take turns until the story ends
It’s silly. It’s fun. And it builds creative thinking in a big way.
We’ve made stories about talking cats, space robots, and time-traveling socks.
No writing skills needed. Just imagination.
Sometimes we even act the stories out.
Creativity isn’t just about crafts. It’s about building worlds out of words.
Step 8: Celebrate Effort, Not Just Talent
This one was big.
I used to say, “You’re so good at drawing.” But I learned that’s not the best way to grow creativity.
Now I say things like:
- “You really focused on that.”
- “I can tell you worked hard.”
- “You kept going even when it was tricky.”
- “That’s a cool idea you came up with.”
This kind of praise helps kids see that creativity is a skill you build, not just something you’re born with.
It shows them that their brain is growing when they try hard things.
And it makes them want to keep going—even when it gets tough.
Step 9: Try New Things Together (Even If You’re Not Good at Them)
I started doing things with my kid that I never thought I’d enjoy.
We baked weird recipes. We painted rocks. We made up dances. We built things with Legos and no directions.
I didn’t do any of it well. But I did it with joy.
And that’s what mattered.
I showed my child that trying new things isn’t scary. That being bad at something is normal.
That play is for everyone, not just kids.
We laughed a lot. And we learned even more.
Step 10: Let Them Lead Sometimes
Creativity blooms when kids feel in charge.
So sometimes, I let my kid plan a project. Or lead a game. Or design a dinner menu.
I follow their ideas. Even if they seem wild.
When kids feel trusted with their ideas, they get bolder. They try more. They grow.
It’s not about me leading them. It’s about letting them take the wheel once in a while.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be Artsy to Raise a Creative Child
I’m still not great at drawing. I still can’t sing.
But my child is growing into someone who thinks big, tries new things, and doesn’t give up when something feels hard.
That’s what creativity looks like.
And I helped build that.
Not by being an artist. But by being open. Supportive. Curious.
You can do the same.
You don’t need fancy supplies. You don’t need art school.
You just need to say yes to imagination. Make room for mess. And believe that creativity belongs to everyone.
Even you.
Even your child.
Even now.
