Creative Activities are Essential for Healthy Youth Development

"Creative Activities" is one of the 40 Assets that people don't think about. Why would creativity be one of the essential building blocks for youth?

Think about the skills that stem from a creative mind. Here are a few examples:

• The ability to resist peer pressure and remove yourself from dangerous situations (you are creative enough to think of another alternative)
• The art of creative problem-solving - whether searching for the best way to write a paper or solve a mathematical equation or solve a puzzle or designing a robot. (your mind is trained to search for solutions beyond the information that is immediately at hand)
• The practice of frugal living (You don't have to buy the most expensive products, because you can imagine other ways to make-do)
• Skills for negotiating conflict (Creative thinkers are more adept at thinking beyond egocentricism to consider other points of view, and find a compromise to please all parties)

I just stumbled upon a little article with lots of easy ideas to foster creative play in young children. Check out these inexpensive ideas for using music and pretend play to inspire creativity.

If you want to explore creativity more, check out our new book, "Building Character from the Start: 201 Activities to Foster Creativity, Literacy, and Play in K-3" which will be available at your favorite bookstore this month.