Shop UK Site 
Benefits of Creative Thinking
- Learning Resources Posted On Jan 4, 2022 | Reading
Is your child a daydreamer? A constant question asker? An outside-of-the-lines colorer? Don’t despair! While learning to follow directions and mastering basic foundational skills is an important part of early learning, so is learning to think outside the box, aka creative thinking. Creative thinking, or the ability to find multiple, creative solutions to a problem, is just as important (maybe even more important!) as critical thinking or the ability to solve problems using a single solution.
Why? As our world continues to grow and change, we create new problems that require new solutions. Solving these new problems requires a fresh perspective and the ability to see beyond the obvious, existing answers. That’s where creative thinking comes in. And that’s why creativity was the most desired soft skill in the workplace in 2020* and not just in creative fields, either! Industries from software design and biomedicine to telecom and robotics require creative thinking to identify new problems and discover innovative solutions.
Bonus: besides making your kids ultra-desirable employees of the future, creative thinkers are generally more resilient, confident, and optimistic, better communicators; and even physically healthier than their less creative counterparts. That all sounds good, right? So how do you encourage your kids to think creatively?
Luckily, most kids are born creative thinkers. They ask questions, make up their own rules, use tools in new ways, and generally play their way. But there are several ways you can cultivate and encourage your kids’ natural creative thinking, things you can do at home to help your kids to come up with and try new ideas, see situations in new ways, find alternative explanations, and make new connections including:
-
Providing Time for Open-Ended Play - Building time into your child’s schedule for unstructured play or playtime with no rules and direction is a great way to foster creative thinking. Supply the props, like toy vehicles, action figures, dolls, dress-up clothes, and building blocks, then let your child loose to imagine their own scenarios, dialogues, problems, and solutions. Your child can play solo, with a sibling or friend, or with you, but don’t correct them, intervene in their process, or offer your own ideas; just observe, encourage, and support.
-
Offering New Experiences - New experiences build kids’ brains! It’s true – each new experience creates a new connection, or synapse, in the brain. These connections are used for high-order thinking like problem-solving, logic, reasoning, and organization. So set out some new art materials and musical instruments, take a nature walk in a new part of town, or try new food at a new restaurant.
-
Indulging Curiosity - The endless questions can drive you crazy, but they’re a sure sign of a creative thinker at work. Before you answer, ask your child what THEY think and applaud their effort to use what they do know to sort out a solution. Then answer the best you can, but if you don’t know the answer, brainstorm a bit together before looking it up.
-
Shaking Things Up - Shaking up the status quo will get the whole family thinking creatively! Try running your day backwards, with jammies at school and breakfast for dinner. Instead of reading a favorite story, ask each family member to develop an alternate ending. Paint with an old toothbrush, pom pom, pipe cleaner, or make a potato stamp. Make up a crazy recipe and try it for lunch. Fill the bathtub without using the spout (or just talk about how you might get that done if you can’t stand the splash). You get the idea!
Creative thinking is an important skill that will help your little one become a better problem solver and build the confidence they need to try new things and share new ideas. So let them dream the day away, count the clouds, or build a 10-foot tower. Marvel at their unique ideas and innovative solutions. They’re going places!
* https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2020and-how-to-learn-them
Learning Resources Snap-n-Learn Toys: The Perfect Easter Egg Alternative
Easter egg hunts are a beloved tradition but can be messy and time-consuming. Learning Resources Snap-n-Learn Toys are the perfect solution if you're looking for a fun alternative. This blog post will explore how these toys can be used as Easter egg alternatives and why they're a great addition to any child's toy collection.
What are Snap-n-Learn Toys?
Snap-n-Learn Toys are colorful, interactive toys designed to help young children learn essential skills such as counting, sorting, and matching. They come in various shapes and sizes and are made of durable plastic that can withstand the wear and tear of little hands.
Snap-n-Learn™ Shape Snails
These snails carry a load of new skills right on their backs! This 20-piece set features five numbered snails, each with a removable shape shell. Count 1-5, match by shape, number, color, and more. With their cute designs, these snails are great for pretend play, too!
Snap-n-Learn™ Narwhals and Friends
Narwhals and hide-inside shape friends (happy heart, smiley sun, lucky clover, and more!) help kids learn colors, build fine motor skills, and develop their imaginations. Match the bright pieces by color or shape, or mix them up and play!
Snap-n-Learn™ Surprise Squirrels
Pop open the 5 textured acorns, discover the surprise squirrels, and start building shape, color, number, and matching skills. Squirrels double as finger puppets for fun imaginative play.
Using Snap-n-Learn Toys as Easter Egg Alternatives
Instead of filling plastic eggs with candy and trinkets, you can use Snap-n-Learn Toys as the eggs! These toys are not only fun to play with, but they also allow your child to learn and develop essential skills. For example, you can use the Snap-n-Learn toys to create a scavenger hunt, each containing a clue to the following location.
The Benefits of Snap-n-Learn Toys
Snap-n-Learn Toys are a fun and educational Easter egg alternative and provide numerous benefits for your child's development. These toys can help your child develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. They also encourage creativity and imagination, as your child can use the toys to create their own stories and scenarios.
Learning Resources Snap-n-Learn Toys are a perfect Easter egg alternative that is fun and educational. They allow your child to learn and develop essential skills while promoting creativity and imagination. Using these toys as Easter egg alternatives, you can create a memorable holiday tradition that your child will love.
READ MORE
Get Creative with Learning Resources' Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page
Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a fun and creative activity for your child? Learning Resources has created a Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page perfect for kids of all ages.
The Benefits of Coloring:
Coloring is not only a fun activity, but it also has many benefits for children, including:
- Development of fine motor skills: Coloring requires using small muscles in the hands and fingers, helping to develop fine motor skills.
- Improves focus and concentration: Coloring can help children focus and concentrate on a specific task, which can be helpful for their academic performance.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Coloring can be a calming activity, helping reduce stress and anxiety in children and adults.
Encourage your child to use their favorite colors and get creative with their coloring. You can also use this printable to talk about springtime and narwhals, teaching your child about nature and animals. The Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page from Learning Resources is an excellent activity for children of all ages. It promotes the development of fine motor skills, improves focus and concentration, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Download the printable today and encourage your child to get creative with their coloring, spending quality time together as a family.
READ MORE
Unleash Your Child's Creativity with Learning Resources' Color Your Own Rainbow Printable
Coloring is one of the most popular activities for kids, and it's no surprise why. It's a fun and engaging way to stimulate creativity and improve fine motor skills. That's why Learning Resources has created a Color Your Own Rainbow Printable that will entertain your little ones and help them learn about colors and shapes based on our new Rainbow Sorting Activity Set!
How to use the Color Your Own Rainbow Printable
Using the Color Your Own Rainbow Printable is easy. Download the printable from the Learning Resources blog and print it out on a piece of paper. Then, give it to your child with some crayons, markers, or colored pencils, and let them unleash their creativity. Encourage them to experiment with different colors and patterns and see how many different variations of the rainbow they can create.
The Benefits of Coloring:
- Improved Fine Motor Skills: Coloring helps children develop their fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks like writing, drawing, and using scissors.
- Increased Creativity: Coloring allows children to experiment with different colors and patterns, which can help them develop their creativity and imagination.
- Learning About Colors and Shapes: Coloring can also help children learn about colors and shapes, essential building blocks for learning.
Conclusion: The Color Your Own Rainbow Printable from Learning Resources is a great way to encourage your child's creativity and help them learn about colors and shapes. It's a fun and engaging activity that your child will surely enjoy and has many benefits for their development. So, download the printable today and let your child unleash their inner artist!
READ MORE
