100 Ways to Inspire Creativity in Your Child or Teen

There are so many wonderful ways to inspire creativity in your child or teen. You’ll want to have these ideas in your arsenal for when they hit that inevitable wall.

There are so many wonderful benefits to creating – whether your “art” of choice is fine arts, such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or photography; performing arts, such as music, dance, singing, or acting; or literary arts, such as a writing or poetry. And there will be times when your aspiring artist, musician, actor or author will hit the wall and need some inspiration to press on through.

So, I have compiled 100 ideas to help you help them. Not all ideas will work for every kid or teen, but I believe that you can find several that will help or even spark other ideas that will. Remember that it’s important for you to understand your child’s unique gifts and abilities. What makes him or her tick? What gets them excited? What bores them? What makes them come alive?

If you will take the time to find out, then you’ll be able to weed through these ideas and zero in on the ones that will help your child.

1. Teach them that all creativity comes from God. In any area that requires them to use their creativity they can draw upon that spark of divine inspiration within them. The more they learn to depend upon the Lord and His ability and creativity, the further they can go in their chosen form of art.
2. Encourage them to speak creative affirmations over themselves. Their self-talk and self-image is vitally important to their creativity.
3. Train them to think of themselves as an artist/author/actor/singer/musician and to truly value and honor the gifts they’ve been given.
4. Be aware of their individual giftings and bents. Think about things that give them great joy, things they truly love to do, areas they excel in. Those gifts are unique to each child/teen and will most likely play an active role in God’s purpose for their life.
   • Are they musical?
   • Do they love to weave stories from their imaginations?
   • Do they love to draw, paint or create with their own hands?
   • Are they a “ham” who loves to perform for others?
5. Give them plenty of opportunities to enjoy and practice their gifts. (Yes, even if they make a huge mess or if they’re really loud.)
6. Provide them with creative opportunities outside the home. Do they love to paint or draw? Find someone local to give them quality art lessons.
7. Or enjoy a “paint party” event every now and then with them.
8. Search the internet for online art courses, free YouTube videos, and even blog posts with written lessons and still shots of the process. Try to find a variety of instructors and styles for a well-rounded education. Check out some of my lessons here.
9. Do they love to sing? Invest in voice lessons for them.
10. Help your singer find a local choir to be a part of or perhaps they could audition for their youth praise team.
11. Do they desire to play an instrument? Find a local music teacher, or university program for kids and teens. At the very least, check out YouTube There are so many music tutorials available there.
12. If dance is their art of choice, then by all means arrange for them to receive lessons in their favorite styles.
13. If they’re always wanting to perform, provide them with quality drama lessons.
14. Encourage your aspiring actor to join a local community theater.
15. Help your musician find a local band or ensemble to participate in. They will glean inspiration from others in the group.
16. If there’s no one local, have them invite friends over and create their own garage band a write their own songs. (Yes, your garage!)
17. Look for local or online contests or even juried art shows for your artist to enter. This spurs them to continually improve themselves.
18. Take your artist to art shows and art festivals to see what professionals are creating and how they are marketing their art.
19. Encourage your writer to compete in writing contests or online programs, such as NaNoWriMo which will help them further develop their writing skills. Two of my children participate in this each year. It has really helped each of them to grow and see themselves as published authors.
20. Provide a creative atmosphere in your home. Make sure your kid or teen has the tools and equipment necessary to hone their craft.
21. Find the highest quality instruments you can afford for your musician. Check out local garage sales, music stores, or Craig’s list.
22. Provide your writer with plenty of journals and pens (and of course some sort of laptop or PC).
23. Help them set up a desk or quiet, cozy space to reflect and write.
24. Make sure to have a nice array of art supplies for your artsy child to explore and experiment with.
25. Help them establish a daily artistic practice to encourage good habits early on.
26. Teach your child or teen to honor the gifts they’ve been given and to see themselves as a writer/artist/musician/actor.
27. Encourage them to experiment with various different genres in their chosen craft. If they get stuck in a creative rut, trying a new skill can often help get out of that rut.
28. Read excellent literature and poetry together.
29. Encourage your writer to be a voracious reader in various literary genres from the most brilliant. The ideas and imaginations of others will certainly spark their own creativity.
30. Play classical music, folk tunes, and music from other cultures throughout your home. This will allow your kids and teens to connect with the best music throughout history.
31. Allow them to listen to their favorite genres of music. Which ones inspire your kids?
32. Have them create an “inspirational soundtrack.” Help them find music that relaxes them, makes them happy, and even transports them, then create an “inspirational” playlist on their phone or computer to listen to while they write or create. My kids love to write and create to epic movie scores or the Halo soundtracks. (I prefer to listen classical, 80s music, Gaelic, some Indie rock, or praise and worship – depending on the mood I’m in.)
33. Encourage them to make their own music. Music is an art like no other. It helps give expression to the deep emotions of the human soul.
34. Apprentice them to the great master artists.
35. Expose them to the world’s greatest composers via CDs and the internet.
36. Find ways to expose them to the great art masterpieces on a regular basis whether it’s via coffee table books, wall calendars, posters or prints.
37. Visit the official websites of famous art museums.
38. Visit local art museums and galleries.
39. Take virtual tours online of famous authors’ homes or their official museums.
40. Read biographies about the famous authors.
41. Watch televised or pre-recorded symphonies or performances of favorite singers.
42. Better yet, take in a live concert or symphony with them.
43. Watch documentaries or read biographies of famous composers, musicians or singers. What was their artistic practice? Who inspired them?
44. Ask a friend or family member to teach them creative home skills, such as sewing, knitting or crocheting.
45. Find your aspiring craftsman someone who can teach him or her woodworking skills.
46. Perhaps your child or teen prefers culinary arts. Why not invest in cooking lessons or cake decorating lessons?
47. Check out your local community college for classes they’d like to participate in.
48. Inspire creativity in them by exposing them to the beauty all around them through nature. What is more creative than “Creation” itself? Encourage them to spend time outside to get their creative juices flowing.
49. Take them on nature walks through the country.
50. Go on a hike in the mountain.
51. Visit the local botanical gardens.
52. Help them cultivate and grow their own garden.
53. Visit a nature preserve.
54. Visit the local aquarium.
55. Let the heavens inspire them by going to a planetarium.
56. Or sit out on a blanket at night and allow them to stargaze.
57. Glean inspiration from the humanities and cultural arts centers.
58. Learn lessons and be inspired by history museums.
59. Visit natural museums of science.
60. Visit historical landmarks.
61. Take in a Shakespearean play.
62. See a Broadway musical.
63. Enjoy the ballet.
64. Attend a concert of their favorite singer or band.
65. Take them to the opera.
66. Go to a local poetry reading.
67. Indulge their creativity by hanging out at the local library (and some of the greatest creatives in history).
68. Open their eyes to different cultures all over the world. Which ethnic groups are around you? Visit their restaurants and shop in their markets. Listen to their music. Admire their art.
69. If at all possible, allow your teens to go on a missions trip to truly experience another culture for themselves.
70. At the very least, make sure to add DVDs or streaming video subscriptions that bring other cultures and histories into your home.
71. Allow them to express themselves in the way they dress (yes, even their hair). Giving them the freedom of self-expression helps nurture their creativity. You may or may not like their choices or styles, but this is an important part of finding who they are and showing/telling the world that they’re unique and creative.
72. Allow them freedom to decorate their room in the way they desire. Whether they share a room with a sibling and only have a small space to call their own, or whether they have their own room, give them artistic license to express their creativity in their space. If you don’t like it, you can always close the door.
73. Give them a safe and accepting environment. Your kids/teens should have the freedom to explore their creativity without fear of rejection or ridicule. They should understand that they can make mistakes, flops, and even bad choices, but they’ll always have a safe landing place with you.
74. Help them develop the habit of “alone time” on a regular basis. This is a time in which they shut out the “voices” of things that demand their attention and are able to think, feel, dream, and let their imagination soar. This time of quiet and solitude each day has the potential of bringing them a great deal of inspiration.
75. Have them go screen-free for awhile. Sometimes a creative needs to shut out all the other voices that are screaming at him or her, and the internet and TV scream louder than most. Perhaps a couple of days without these interruptions will rekindle her creativity.
76. Encourage them to daydream. By allowing their mind to wander every once in a while it will give their imagination and creativity a chance to flourish. This process can relax the mind, improve memory, and give the brain a chance to explore various creative options. Ideas can begin to flow in an uncluttered environment.
77. Sometimes the best way to receive inspiration is to take a break. Pull away from their art, writing, music, etc. to do something completely different, then come back a bit more refreshed.
78. Inspire your kid or teen with your own story, your likes, and your favorite things.
79. Is there a particular classical music piece that you love? Or your favorite rock group(s) from the 80s? Make your music available to them. My eldest son learned almost everything he knows about playing the bass guitar by listening to my old Police CDs – he’s quite as good as Sting (if I do say so myself). 😉
80. What are some of your favorite works of literature or poetry? Share them with your kids/teens, explaining why you love them so much. Jane Austen is one of my faves, and she’s been an inspiration to my daughter who is a novelist.
81. Who’s your favorite artist? What do you like about their works? Share those with your kids. By letting them in on your favorite things, you’re inspiring them with the “greats” and giving them a connection to them as well.
82. If you have an aspiring author, encourage them to not only write stories, but try their hand at poetry, songs, or even a blog.
83. Encourage your writer to keep a journal of their ideas, thoughts, story lines, etc.
84. Check out these gift ideas to inspire your writer.
85. Encourage your artist to keep an art journal to practice various mediums in.
86. Check out these gift ideas to inspire your artist.
87. Encourage your child or teen to seek out friends who inspire creativity in them. These friends don’t necessarily have to have the same creative interests, just a desire to grow and better themselves in their gifts and abilities.
88. Find professional musicians, singers, artist, actors, or writers who would be willing to meet with your child and give them some advice or pointers.
89. Or seek out professionals who’d be willing to mentor your aspiring musician/singer/artist/actor/writer.
90. Help them create a personal growth plan. They should never feel like they’ve “arrived,” but should be continually learning and growing.
91. Supply them with personal growth and goal-setting books (or audiobooks) to read.
92. Talk to them about their goals. Where do they see themselves with their gift in five years? Ten years? Twenty years?
93. Teach them how to set goals.
94. If they want to eventually become a professional at their craft, then research the different steps they’ll need to take and help them create a chart or some other visual for their room to continue to spur them on.
95. Research colleges and universities that can take them further than you ever dreamed. What is required to get into that particular school? This will either help them realize they may not necessarily want to be a professional, or it may light a fire in them like nothing else can.
96. Offer them advice, encouragement, and only constructive criticism.
97. Help them learn how to deal with criticism of their work and how to glean positive things from it.
98. Let them know how valuable and important they (and their art) are to you.
99. Praise their efforts and accomplishments, as well as the risks they take – even when they don’t turn out so great.
100. THE most important factor in your child’s success is you. Let them know that you’re their #1 supporter and their BIGGEST fan ever.

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