Mumsnet users share how they encourage their children to express themselves creatively with Crayola

[JustineBMumsnet]

This discussion is now closed.

Whether your child is a young artist in the making or you sometimes wonder if their creations are even fridge worthy, children can be happiest when they’re expressing themselves through crafts and colouring. With that in mind, Crayola would like to hear about how and why you encourage your children to express their creative ideas using colour..

Here’s what Crayola has to say: “We believe in the power of self-expression via colour! Whether it’s providing tools to put a purple octopus on the moon, or inspiring arts infused projects to bring to life together as a family, Crayola is passionate about raising creatively alive children and unleashing their originality. Via a wide range of innovative colourful tools and crafting activities, especially designed for kids, like washable pens, markers and paint, coloured pencils and twistable crayons that last longer, Crayola gives colourful wings to the imagination that grows in the hearts and minds of the children”.

What are your favourite crafting activities with your children? Which colouring tools do your children like using most? Perhaps your children most enjoy being creative if they’re developing their masterpieces as gifts for others? Or do you have children that love drawing and painting so much any encouragement from you is unnecessary? Do more creative tasks like colouring help your children to be more mindful? Or perhaps you find encouraging your children to be creative or art a great way to get them to open up and share what they’re feeling?

All who share how or why they encourage their children to express themselves and their ideas via colouring on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

I'm not really sure how much we encouraged them, and how much they naturally felt they wanted to be creative. But every avenue should be tried to see what they themselves want to do. We all read a lot, so we were pleased when they started writing stories themselves. Both children even had their stories published, so a little investigation on our part here created a lot of encouragement. Our son even created fictitious maps. They were art materials always available, for painting, drawing, modelling, et cetera, so they could see what they enjoyed and were good at.

I kept boxes of 'stuff' that could be used for making things. Pens and paints through to cardboard loo rolls and boxes, shiny paper, sticky paper, material, string etc! We did a massive variety of things and messy play was positively encouraged!

I live by leading an example as I often take part in the local art competitions.
When my daughters, see my artwork on display, they get inspired to create and achieve. If mummy can do it, so can they.

at the moment its drawing with pens.

We keep all our old cardboard boxes and they like to cut them up to make things with.

Be on the lookout.
Every child is a natural creative born with talents and passions so whatever it is tap into it. What begins as a doodle on a folder, short story in a notebook, passion for performing, love of sports, or academic aptitude can kick-start your child’s incredible journey of creative self-expression. I loved music from an early age so mum and dad encouraged me all the way and I began singing from about 6 years old and playing guitar
from the age of 11 😀🎵🎶🎸

I bought my son an easel and we regularly paint and draw together.

By drawing pictures and making collages

We love making imaginative sculptures from natural materials. We hunt in the garden and on walks and then spend ages putting these found items into sculptures. My son loves finger painting ....so easy to rub out and start again.

We collect and paint rocks together and then leave them in random places for other people to find. My son really enjoys the freedom to paint whatever he likes and loves getting a message letting him know his rock has been found!

My kids all love creativity and from a young age I encouraged this. I bought a great selection of paints for messy play I had there creations on display around the house. Crayons and pencils we used every day encouraging dexterity creativity and colour recognition as well as producing works of art. Two of my children went on to complete fine arts degrees

We get creative in our house in a number of ways, I always encourage my children to use their imagination and creativity by:

• letting them bake cakes, decorate them and of course the best part eat them!
• we have an arts and craft table with loads of bits and pieces for them to draw and paint
• I often let the children rummage through the recycling and they will make junk models.
• but best of all my children love to make dens and hideaways outside in the summer :)

My dd loves crayons, felt-tips and produces very good and colourful drawings of animals and landscapes. I encourage her to keep up the good work

Give them the tools to create, whether it is drawing, painting or crafts & allow them to explore & experiment without trying to change their own vision

we encourage the children to paint by using various colours to express themselves/

I've been collecting empty loo rolls I found a book on amazon which shows you loads of different things you can make from loo rolls, pipe cleaners and other arty bits the children love them. I find doing arts and crafts calms them down because they are so focused on creating something from their own ideas

I have always provided an range of arts and crafts, dressing up, dens and shop stuff etc I have always find that if I provide the basics most children naturally get on with being creative. One of my children was very mathematical and science based and he need encouraging so we used to go on woodland walks and take turns in telling a story together each making up a part of the story for a few minutes each.

It's hard for us as my DS is left handed so has struggled with writing and drawing. His handwriting has improved dramatically in the past year but he's not confident with drawing and will always shy away from it. I encourage him by getting him to do dot-to-dots which helps him to feel like he is achieving something creative.

My daughter loves drawing and i'm always encouraging her to draw things. She draws a lot of things for herself but often draws pictures for me. She used to love colouring books as a child but she's not too fussed on them now and prefers to make the pictures herself

We have singing competitions

I always made sure there were plenty of colouring pens and books around for the DC when he was younger, plus a craft box with lots of old cards and craft bits we collected. As he got older there were always building blocks and lego everywhere for him to get creative with!

Crayons, pens and paper are always available. My children are most creative when I just leave them to it with their art work. By not interfering they really use their own imaginations and produce some lovely pictures.

Let them be as messy and creative as you can - especially outside in the garden! Or just but a plastic tablecloth and let them have fun inside..

let her choose her clothes from 3 options

my youngest isnt actually keen on drawing or writing but does love paints so thats what i usually let her go with ,