Category: Creativity

Looking for ways to engage kids that don’t involve a TV of some kind? Want to entertain your child in a way that is helpful to their growth and development? Challenging games for kids are simpler than you think.  Children are growing constantly, and their brains are making new connections all the time.

These easy brain games can be done almost anywhere and will help your child develop important thought processes for later in life.

So, let’s have a look at the list and see what’s hot these days!

1. Minesweeper

Minesweeper is a single-player puzzle video game where players clear a rectangular board by revealing cells without hitting hidden mines, using numeric clues to avoid detonation.

It’s excellent for children as it helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning while providing a challenging and engaging gaming experience.

2. I Spy and Simon Says

These games for children can be more productive than you may realize. Saying “I spy with my little eye something green” and then having your child find the green objects in the room helps with spatial awareness, memory, and language.

Simon Says offers a lot of the same benefits, as well as enhancing attention and a better ability to follow instructions.

3. A Scavenger Hunt

You might not think that a scavenger hunt involves brain training, but by making it a themed scavenger hunt, you can teach them about all kinds of topics. This also helps them with focus and orienting tasks in a certain order of completion. It can be a great game when you need them entertained for a while as well.

4. Building Blocks

Providing your child with blocks or other toys that can be stacked and built upon may seem like a very simple way of keeping a child busy. However, this can help early development of color recognition, coordination, and math skills.

This can be helpful later when your child needs to tackle some easy school projects, and they already have the basic building blocks of construction and crafts.

5. Playing Pretend

While playing pretend may feel like a child’s play, it is filled with brain exercises. Playing pretend or make-believe helps your child with language, emotional skills, social skills, and learning to think on the spot.

They will better understand things in the world and how it works. Try being creative with playing pretend by doing a wide variety of roles.

6. Story Time

This is not just about reading to your child from a book, but giving them the opportunity to tell their own story. Allowing your child to create their own narrative helps with memory, building up language abilities, and confidence in your child’s own imagination.

You can use prompts to get started and take turns making up stories together. This is a great activity for car rides when there isn’t much going on.

7. Puzzles

Puzzles are great for brain training, and you can find puzzles that fit a variety of ages. Whether you’re doing Sudoku, a word puzzle, or an actual puzzle with pieces, your child is learning spatial awareness, fine motor skills, problem-solving and more.

There are also online puzzles for kids who are more interested in playing games online.

8. Game Night

Board games and card games make for great brain exercises. You can do a family game night with everyone, or simply play games when you have the time. Games can help a child learn how to handle frustration, how to plan and coordinate, and problem solve on the spot.

Best Brain Games

Some of the best brain games are simple and easy to learn, but can help your child in innumerable ways. You don’t need lots of fancy gadgets and tech to help your child learn how to succeed in the world.

Often the best games are the ones where you’re having fun and don’t even realize you’re learning. And if this helped you get some good ideas on how to entertain and teach your child at the same time, keep reading for more great tips and tricks.

Children today are not as fascinated by things we older generations once enjoyed so much. Back when we were kids, we loved drawing with color pencils and crayons. Coloring books were common and we would also scribble or color anywhere we could express our imagination. But all is not lost!

Today, free coloring pages for kids make it easy for anyone of any age to find printable drawings of anything imaginable. It’s true children today are not as fascinated by things older generations once enjoyed so much. It’s unfortunate that many kids now don’t find coloring books enjoyable.

There are some good reasons for this—and yes, I am talking about the internet, smartphones, and tablets. These fantastic inventions have robbed today’s kids of some of the simple pleasures in life. They are often more interested in playing video games on a computer or smartphone, instead of drawing or coloring something using markers or crayons.

However, just because kids like their smartphones and tablets doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to draw or color. They simply need to be introduced to how fun it can be. For example, if you likes coloring animals, there are hundreds of animal coloring pages to choose from. It may be on a long car trip or at home when parents want to limit screen time. Instead of just saying “no more time on the computer”, why not provide them a fun activity as an alternative?

Online Coloring Pages

Thanks to the internet, children today have a whole new world to explore that will evoke their passion for coloring and drawing. This is something kids a generation ago were not able to experience. Professional artists are now drawing and coloring cartoons, animals, game characters, animations, and much more using highly-sophisticated computer software.

These artists also are sharing their creations on websites for everyone to enjoy. The tools and formats used by them are only available for adults with full-fledged careers. But, there are ‘kids versions’ for these tools, and children can use them to draw and color objects.

When searching for tech-free fun things to do for kids to reduce screen time, there are plenty of websites for kids to draw online with and easy-to-follow instructions to animate their drawings. Simply Google “online coloring pages” and you’ll find websites that are designed for kids to color digitally on the screen. Still, these interactive coloring pages where kids can create using the site’s tools are not the same as finding an image and printing it to color with real crayons.

Coloring Page Communities

Whether the artwork is online for virtual coloring using software or you access printable drawings, many of these coloring pages are created by the artistic community. It’s a way for them to share their art and provide fun for kids without having to publish a coloring book. The great thing about this is that parents and teachers only need to print the specific drawings that kids want to color. It’s a great way for them to explore their artist skills and decide if they some day want to join the artistic community as they grow older.

Simply introducing all the coloring page ideas of what to color could inspire someone to try coloring. Discover drawings such as Athletes, Birds, Cars, Color by number, Dinosaurs, Disney, Educational, Flags of countries and LEGO. Or try Motorcycles, My Little Pony, Princesses, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Superman, Vegetables and Winnie the Pooh. The sky is the limit for what kids can color.

Coloring as also been known to be very therapeutic for kids and adults alike to help with anxiety or stress. Or just to have fun doing something they haven’t experienced since childhood. There are printable drawings available that have been created just for adults or teens. These coloring pages require a finer attention to detail. What a great reactivity to do together as a family.

Inspiring Artistic Creativity

While old-school coloring books may be a thing of the past for most children of our generation, they are one of the best ways to inspire kids and reignite their inner passion for drawing and coloring.

Introducing kids to free coloring pages can have a profound effect on children to encourage them in highlighting their creative side. It may inspire them create their own drawings to color.

It will allow them the freedom to make mistakes and improve their motor skills, thanks to the ability to reprint images and color them a second time. And it’s super easy pin their creations on a fridge without having to rip each page out of a coloring book.

Author Bio

Paul B. Wright has over five years of experience in the field of drawing. He specializes in drawing coloring pages that are printable for kids. It’s is Paul’s desire that children of all ages will will discover and grow in their true creative talents.

Share this article on free printable coloring pages with your friends and family!

Why is music important? Music is amongst the few universal and eternal pleasures of life. Playing a musical instrument or singing is a delightful, meditative, and rejuvenating experience. Apart from the sheer joy of it, there is a great importance of music training in other aspects of life.

Here are the top 13 significant benefits of learning music, no matter your age or level of musical  proficiency.

1. Improves Intellect & Memory Power

You need to recognize different lyrics, tones, and sounds. Thus, in the process of learning music, you enhance your reasoning skills, phonetics, and knowledge of the language. Learning all this new information and remembering them naturally sharpens your memory and intellect.

2. Enhances Problem-solving & Mathematics

There is an intelligence called spatial intelligence, which is responsible for the recognition and arrangement of stuff. During music training, you need to arrange various elements together. The tune, lyrics, and musical notes all need to align with each other. You can choose to learn music to sharpen your math skills.

3. Makes You Result-oriented

When you sign up for the music training, you commit yourself to focus, organizing, and memorizing the technicalities to perfection. The cluster of these qualities and some other qualities are known as executive functions. It becomes your second nature by the end of your training.

4. Increases Confidence & Self-worth

Both learning and performing music are meditative and enlightening experiences. You get the opportunity to express yourself in front of other people. It increases your confidence. Being proficient in music gives you a feeling of self-worth. You value yourself more as a learned musician who is different from the crowd.

5. Boosts Emotional Intelligence

Performing arts like music gives an opportunity to see life from other people’s points of view. When you learn music, you become more empathetic, sensitive, and more understanding, and sensitive towards other people and their cultures.

6. Develops Creativity & Imagination Power

Every art form compels you to create with your imagination. The same is the case with music. You develop your ability to think beyond the realities in front of you. Your problem-solving techniques become more innovative and experimental.

7. The Ability to Write Songs

Journaling, writing in a diary, or writing poetry is a away many people work out their thoughts and express themselves.  Learning music with the added ability to play an instrument opens up a world of expression through song writing.  It may become a lifelong passion or even lead to career as a performer.

8. Teaches the Value of Discipline

Increased discipline & persistence is one of the major benefits of music learning, especially for kids. They become more aware of the importance of attending lessons and practicing. It takes time to master the art of music. When you patiently wait to grasp the correct note and tune, it leads to increase in your persistence.

9. Helps in Achieving Academic Success

Contrary to the popular belief that learning music will distract students from their academics, various studies proved that it improves their test marks. We have already alluded to the close correlation between music and mathematics.   It also has many other benefits for students that help them improve in school and colleges. It will encourage more parents to let their kids pursue music.

10. Trains You in Team Work

Musicians and singers need to sync in to create a performance. When you are training for music, you develop the skills of coordination, communication, and comprehension. It is perfect for kids if they get this kind of exposure from an early age.

11. Enhances Social Skills

The importance of learning music is not limited to the art form only. It teaches you social skills. In a music class, you need to interact with other students. Especially kids play and learn in the same group. Their improved social skills enable them to thrive in social situations instead of getting social anxiety.

12. Expands Your Knowledge about Different Cultures

Music crosses the boundaries of cities, countries, continents, and cultures. A kid or adult interested in music becomes aware of different cultural norms around the globe. They get to know everything, from the Bagpipes of Scotland to the Tabla of India.

13. Sharpens Listening Skills

One of the underrated benefits of music training is it improves your auditory attention. You can differentiate amongst various sounds. And can choose to concentrate on whatever sound is essential for you to listen to.

14. Provides Stress Relief

Many studies proved the relaxing and soothing effect of music. Learning music can give you a nice getaway from other stressful parts of your daily life. It can be your daily vacation for a few hours away from your studies or professional engagements.

Author Bio
Reema Krishnan is a content creator at Acharyanet platform for Carnatic music learners where they can learn music from gurus through 400+ video lessons. Being a music enthusiast and a history buff herself, she is able to provide value for her readers and her content is well-received by musicians, music lovers, and music learners of all ages and at all stages. She loves to volunteer with music therapy groups and bakes up a storm in her free time.

You may be wondering why creativity is so important, other than the fact that is it a lot of fun. It is important because being creative can help you see things from a new perspective and solve any problems that you may encounter in your life. Research suggests creative people are more able to deal with uncertainty because they can think outside the box!

How Can Being Creative Help you?

Creativity increases our experiences, which in turn expands our knowledge and opens our eyes to a new way of experiencing the world, having fun, and gaining intuition, and adding spice to our lives. For many people, creativity equals making something – art and crafts, but it isn’t that is defining creativity into a very narrow box, when in fact, the foundations of the word mean to grow.

Essentially humans are born creative. We find ways to navigate life as we grow and discover creativity will give us ways around any obstacles we encounter. Being creative can also be fun. So make time for creative thinking next time you feel overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list make time for creative thinking. It might be that you discover new ways of getting things done!

Fun Ways to be Creative

Being creative can involve so many things. For example, it might be your son or daughter’s birthday, and you have an exciting idea for a birthday cake, or perhaps you want to create a family collage. Maybe you are missing spending time with your friends and family during this time of being confined due to the pandemic and are looking for fun, innovative ways to stay in touch. Try being creative by using your camera to record different videos or tell exciting stories through video, which you can share with the world!

Or you could even use VSTs to virtually produce music and impress others with your talent. It might sound complicated at first, but it is straightforward to send large videos. Imagine how thrilled your loved ones will be when they open the file and see the incredible masterpiece you have created, especially if it is funny. Research shows laughter is essential and is an excellent pick-me-up tonic.

Start a Blog

For those who like to write, why not start a blog?  It can be a fun way to share your passion for your interests.  There are a variety of blogging websites make it easy for anyone with a little computer knowledge to get started.  Adults, teens and kids alike will find blogging a great way to express themselves.  It goes beyond simply posting ideas on social media.  The first step is to figure out what to write about.  Do you want to tell stories, help people with a problem, write about cooking or share your love for animals?

Here are some ideas help you to start your first blog.

Be Creative Using Your Camera and Video

The best thing about photography is that it captures moments. Take a moment to consider some of the creative shots you have seen, and ask yourself what made that shot stand out to you? What inspired you or made you laugh; invoked a feeling – a response. It stood out because it was different. It captured your imagination and was creative. So whether the shot was taken or filmed in an interesting spot or a special lens was used, or maybe they used a funky filter?

Whatever it was, it stood out to you. Now you feel inspired and want to try being creative by using your camera to record different videos or tell interesting stories through video, which you can share with the world! And send it to your friends and family. Once you have mastered moving your camera around, you will start to see endless creative possibilities. Then all you need to do is learn how to send large videos. You could even zip it and send it as an email attachment. Learning how to send large videos is easy, so don’t let it be a stumbling block!

Making Creative Choices

If you don’t fancy shooting videos or taking snaps, consider other ways to be creative with your time and connect with your family and friends – how about hosting a virtual Netflix or Zoom party? Or have a craft afternoon, make cookies, create a vision board, learn a new language, take a pottery class, or take a virtual tour of one of many attractions that have opened their doors virtually.

Creativity is essential because it can help you see things from a new perspective and solve any problems you may encounter. You can be creative using your camera to record different videos or tell interesting stories through video, which you can share with the world! Then send them to your friends and family. Learn how to send large videos, and you can bring laughter to the ones that you love!

Do people call you the comedian in the family?   Try your hand at telling these original funny jokes written for kids.