When we talk about creativity, many parents immediately think of arts and crafts. Paint, glue, glitter, and a perfectly planned activity. While crafting is absolutely a part of creativity, it is only one small piece of a much bigger picture (it doesn’t need to involve getting messy with paints or glitter either!) It is about how children think, explore, express themselves, and make sense of the world around them.
Creative activities can be playing shops with items from the kitchen cupboards, building with cardboard boxes or making collages – it all counts! Whatever form it comes in, creativity has huge benefits in terms of a child’s development.
1. Creativity helps develop problem solving skills
When children engage in any kind of creative play, they are adapting and making decisions. What can I use? How do I make this do the thing I want it to? What do I do if it does not work?
These small moments are helping children build problem-solving skills that go far beyond the activity itself, whether they are building a den or doing some drawing.
2. Creativity gives children a way to express emotions
Children do not always have the language or desire to explain how they feel. Creative activities give them a safe outlet to process emotions through drawing, making, building, or role play.
This can be especially helpful during times of change, tiredness, or big feelings.
3. Creativity builds confidence and independence
When children are encouraged to explore their own ideas, they learn to develop trust in their judgement. They learn that their thoughts matter and that they are capable of making decisions and trusted to do so.
4. Creativity supports communication and language development
Creative play naturally encourages children to talk, explain, negotiate, and tell stories. Whether they are building, crafting, or playing imaginatively, they are practising communication skills without even realising it.
5. Creativity helps children develop focus and patience
Creative activities often require children to slow down, concentrate, and manage frustration when things do not go to plan.
Over time, this helps children develop focus, persistence, and emotional regulation, skills that are increasingly important in busy, fast-paced environments.
6. Creativity encourages curiosity, leading to learning
Creativity helps to encourage questioning, experimenting, and exploring ideas without fear of getting things wrong. Creative experiences allow children to follow their interests, make connections, and discover things for themselves. This might look like inventing a game, asking endless “why” questions, or experimenting with different ways to solve a problem. These moments are where real learning happens.
Encouraging creativity
For parents, creative time can feel like another thing to fit in. In reality, it works best when it is simple, low-pressure, and built around what you already have at home. It can also offer families an opportunity to bond without pressure and no expectation to achieve any end result in particular. Short, low-pressure moments are often more effective than long, planned sessions.
Creative moments can happen alongside daily routines. A car journey can become a storytelling game. Bath time can spark imaginative play. Or tidying up can turn into an epic challenge to defeat the mess monster!
Craft activities don’t have to involve expensive supplies either, you can make a whole play town from small boxes and toilet roll tubes. Or children might cut up scrap paper or old leaflets and use the pieces to fill in the letters of their name. Activities like this support creativity, focus, and fine motor skills without requiring a full craft setup.
Supporting creativity does not mean doing more or buying more. It often means stepping back and simplifying. Activities don’t have to be long and things don’t need to be “finished.” When we remove the pressure of having to achieve something tangible and physical we can enjoy the process, alongside our children.
Author bio
Kelly is a Mum from Suffolk with a background in Early Childhood Education. She is the founder of Creative Little Crafters, which is relaunching to support parents who don’t consider themselves to be “crafty”, to nurture their children’s creativity through simple, low-pressure activities using everyday materials. Creative Little Crafters is also a Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday winner.