By Lesley Chacha
Have you been wondering how to keep the little ones actively engaged and (honestly) away from the gadgets with fun activities they would love?
Engaging children in creative activities is an excellent way to stimulate their imagination and help them develop their skills. Creative activities help children express themselves, learn about the world around them, and explore new ideas.
Here is a list of some activities you could explore based on your child’s age. Do take your time trying something suggested in another age group too. Children can surprise you!
Age 2-4
Children are developing their fine motor skills at this age and are curious about the world around them. Creative activities for this age group should be simple, fun, and engaging. Here are some activities to try out:
- Finger painting: This is an excellent activity for children It allows them to explore colours and textures and is a great way to develop fine motor skills.
- Drawing: This is a simple yet effective way to help children develop their creativity. Give them crayons, pencils, or markers and let them draw whatever they want. Colouring books can also help them develop their hand-eye coordination.
Age 5-7
The children are developing their creativity and are starting to understand cause and effect. They are also growing their social skills and are learning to work with others.
Here are some creative activities to do:
- Storytelling: This is a fantastic way to encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. You can give them prompts or let them come up with their own stories.
- Building: Using blocks or Legos, or any other locally available materials is a fun way to assist children with developing their creativity and problem-solving skills. They can work together with friends or family members to build structures and explore different designs.
Age 8-10
Children are becoming more independent and developing their critical thinking skills at this age. They are also becoming more interested in learning new things and exploring different subjects. At this crucial stage in their development, consider these activities:
- Writing: This is an excellent way to help children express themselves and develop their critical thinking skills. You can give them writing prompts or let them build their own ideas.
At Fanisi Creations, we work with children to help them develop content and publish their own books, becoming young authors! Get in touch with us!
- Cooking: This is a fun and creative activity that helps children develop cooking skills and learn about different foods and cultures. Allow them to experiment with different recipes and ingredients to create their own dishes.
Age 11-13
Children are learning about their independence and are starting to explore their own interests. They are also becoming more interested in technology and are learning how to use it to express themselves. Let them engage in more challenging activities.
- Coding: This nifty and creative activity can help children hone their problem-solving skills through creativity, research and collaboration. It will help boost their decision-making and computational thinking while increasing their digital literacy. Coding encourages persistence and is a career-building skill. Children learn different programming languages through coding tutorials or exploring various coding platforms.
- Music: Playing an instrument or creating music is a great way to help children express themselves and develop their creativity. Give them access to musical instruments or music software and watch them create magic.
There is ALWAYS something for EVERY child to explore and enjoy. Try as many activities as possible to allow children to develop interest and find those they genuinely have fun with and reap the benefits of. Encourage children to engage in creative activities and help them unleash their full potential.
