The Importance of Confidence

Confidence is important for kids because it helps them feel good about themselves, try new things, and cope with setbacks. When children are confident, they are more likely to take risks and explore their interests and talents. Additionally, confident kids are better able to handle criticism and bounce back from failure.

I’ve noticed when my child is struggling with his self-confidence, he is more likely to follow the crowd, even if it means not sticking to his values. When children are confident, they are more creative, more likely to stick to their value system, and more likely to grow up to be confident adults.

How to Encourage Confidence in Your Child

Now that we know why confidence is important, let’s cover the hardest part: How to actually encourage confidence in your child. You may be surprised that it’s not difficult. It just takes consistent action of support and coaching. In this article, we will list 5 things parents can do to encourage confidence in their children. Here are a few ideas:

Limit Screen Time for Kids:

Too much time spent on screens can negatively impact kids’ self-esteem. Make sure your child is spending enough time outside playing and interacting with other kids. When kids are on their screens, they are often comparing themselves to the air-brushed, Photoshopped images they see. This can lead to feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem.

Read 21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

Encourage Them to Try New Things:

One way to help kids build confidence is to encourage them to try new things. This could mean signing them up for a new sport or activity, letting them choose their own clothes, or allowing them to make some decisions for the family.

Compliment Their Efforts:

When children feel like their efforts are appreciated, they are more likely to feel confident. Be sure to praise your child for a job well done, whether it’s completing a difficult task or just putting forth a great effort.

Encourage Them to Express Their Feelings:

It’s important that children feel like they can express their feelings without being judged. This will help them to feel confident about themselves and their emotions.

Be a Good Role Model:

One of the best ways to encourage confidence in your child is to be a good role model yourself. Show your child that you are confident and comfortable in your own skin. Let them see you take risks, handle failure, and express your emotions.

Conclusion

Confidence is an important trait for kids to develop, and there are many things parents can do to encourage it. By limiting screen time, encouraging them to try new things, complimenting their efforts, and being a good role model, you can help your child feel confident about themselves and build a foundation for success.

The post 5 Ways to Encourage Confidence in Your Child appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

Read What Makes a Child Creative

1. Creativity helps kids express themselves

Creativity is an important skill for kids to develop. It helps them to express themselves in unique ways and to see the world from different perspectives. When kids are given opportunities to be creative, they often surprise us with their inventiveness and originality.

Best of all, creativity is something that can be nurtured and developed over time. Being able to express themselves can aid your child in the future when dealing with tough emotions and situations as well as healing from painful experiences.

2. Creativity enhances problem-solving skills

One of the important benefits of creativity is that it can help children to solve problems more effectively. When they approach a problem from a creative perspective, they are more likely to come up with innovative solutions that they might not have otherwise considered.

In addition, creativity can help them to see problems from different angles and to think outside the box. As a result, if you want to improve your child’s problem-solving skills, one of the best things you can do is to foster their creativity.

3. Creativity boosts confidence and self-esteem

Children who are creative often have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. This is because creativity allows them to express themselves in unique ways and to feel proud of their accomplishments.

When children feel good about themselves, they are more likely to take risks and to pursue their goals. So, if you want your child to be confident and self-assured, encourage them to express their creativity.

4. Creativity promotes cognitive development

Creativity has also been linked to cognitive development. Studies have shown that children who are exposed to creative activities often perform better on tests of creativity, problem-solving, and divergent thinking. In other words, creativity doesn’t just make kids better at art – it actually makes them smarter.

5. Creativity improves social skills

Creativity can also help children to develop important social skills. When a person is engaging in a conversation there is a lot of creativity that needs to take place to make the conversation engaging and interesting such as knowing what to say next, connecting ideas together, and following along with what the other person is saying by actively listening.

On top of that, when children are involved in creative activities, they often have to work collaboratively with others. This means creativity can help them to develop communication and teamwork skills. Creativity can also promote social-emotional development by helping children to express their feelings in healthy ways.

6. Creativity encourages curiosity and exploration

Creativity is associated with curiosity and exploration. This is because creativity allows children to see the world in new and different ways. When kids are creative, they are more likely to ask questions and to be curious about the world around them. This curiosity can lead to a lifetime of learning and discovery.

Do you think Isaac Newton developed his theory of gravity because he was stuck in his old way of thinking or because he was curious and asked questions? What kinds of discoveries will our children make if they remain curious?

7. Creativity develops critical thinking skills

When kids are involved in creative activities, they often have to evaluate their options and make choices. This can help them to develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. In addition, creativity can also help children to learn how to think flexibly and to see problems from different perspectives. As pointed out previously, being curious and asking questions can help us look at problems from multiple angles which allows us to think critically about a topic.

When our children are presented with new information, they can think critically about whether or not they believe it is true and ask questions to help them know more. This can literally save them from all sorts of scams or dangerous situations.

8. Creativity helps children understand the world around them

Children who are creative explore the world around them. As mentioned earlier, creativity breeds curiosity. When children are exposed to creativity, they often have to use their imaginations to make sense of things. This can help them to see the world in new and different ways. In addition, creativity can also help children to learn about other cultures and to appreciate the arts.

When was the last time you were curious about the world around you or the other cultures around you? Take some time to plan a creative activity about these things to teach your children (and yourself) about our amazing planet.

9. Creativity fosters a love of learning

Creativity fosters a love of learning. When children are creative, they often have to try new things and experiment with different materials. This can help them to develop a positive attitude towards learning and to become lifelong learners. This is an incredibly important skill to have as the future depends on our ability to learn and adapt.

10. Creativity can help them succeed in future careers

If you want your child to be successful in their future career, encourage them to be creative. Creativity and innovation are foundational skills to have in almost every field. Innovative entrepreneurs are more likely to have a creative business idea or strategy that will lead them to success. Artists and actors will set themselves apart for their creative genius. Engineers and doctors will be able to see things differently and find solutions quicker because of creativity and critical thinking. Creativity is often valued in many different careers.

11. Creativity can help a child be happier by seeing possibilities in hard times

Creativity can also help children to be happier by seeing possibilities in hard times. When the world is bleak, and we don’t know how to offer our children hope, getting them to access the creative parts of their brain will allow them to start to see possibilities and brighter outcomes. Seeing the world in new and different ways can bring hope to a child. In addition, creativity can also help children to develop the persistence to persevere in the face of challenges.

12. Creativity is FUN! Which reduces stress

Last but not least, creativity is FUN! When children are involved in creative activities, they often get to use their imaginations and have fun with their friends. This can help them to develop a love for learning and enjoy their time in school. Having fun has been shown to help children to relax and to reduce stress.

Read 3 Ways To Create a Home Environment For Innovative Kids

Conclusion

There are many simple ways to encourage creativity in kids. For example, you can provide them with materials that they can use to make art, such as crayons, paint, and clay. You can also give them free time to explore and experiment. Or, you can ask them open-ended questions that allow them to think creatively. By providing opportunities for creativity, you can help your child develop a valuable skill that has many benefits and will serve them well throughout their life.

The post 12 Benefits of Creativity in a Child’s Life appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

There are certain things that help encourage creativity in children, and if parents and educators are aware of these things, they can help foster a love of creativity in kids at an early age. There are many benefits to creativity in children too! Here are four things that make a child more likely to be creative:

1. They’re Not afraid to Fail

One of the biggest creativity killers is the fear of failure. If a child is always worried about screwing up, they’re not going to want to take chances or experiment with new ideas. So, it’s important to encourage a “failure is okay” attitude in kids.

Kids who don’t care what others think aren’t afraid to speak up and share their creative ideas. They don’t care if they look “stupid” or something like that. They are present with the task at hand and are confident in who they are.

How to help children overcome the fear of failure

If you have noticed your child tends to struggle sharing their ideas or implementing them when asked, there’s a chance they fear failure. Here are some simple ways you can help them overcome that fear.

Focus on Effort rather than Results

Do you praise your child for how smart they are? Or do you praise them for how hard they worked? The latter encourages a child to work hard, even if they aren’t good at that thing yet.

Develop a growth mindset

Remind your child that anything is possible and if they want to do something, they can learn how. We are constantly growing and changing and believing that change is possible helps our children stay our of a fixed mindset

Teach your child that true success comes with lots of failure

Telling your child about how masters became masters through lots and lots of practice can be an encouraging thought and a reason for your child to try and try again, even if they fail.

2. They Have a Good Imagination

A big part of being creative is having a good imagination. Kids who are able to come up with wild, original ideas are more likely to be successful creators. So, if you want your child to be more creative, encourage them to use their imagination as much as possible.

Ways to help develop your child’s imagination

Let’s say, for some reason, your child’s imagination is lacking some. Here are some things you can do to help jumpstart it and get it going again.

Let them get bored

Seriously, boredom is a great motivator of new things. Set up some creative outlets for your child to engage in and then let them get bored enough that they start playing with them. This could be LEGOs, coloring books, or just dolls and make-believe toys.

Read How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently

Take away screens for a while

Screens drain our kids of energy AND imagination. Take a break here and there from screens and let your kids engage with their toys, crayons, and other items.

Read 21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

Play Make-Believe Games together

Sometimes, jumping straight into independent play after being out of practice can be tough. A great bridging activity for this is to play make-believe with your child. Try to let them take the lead as much as possible. Let’s move on to the third thing that makes a child creative.

3. They’re not afraid of change

Another thing that stifles creativity is a fear of change. If a child is too set in their ways, they’re not going to be open to new ideas or willing to try new things. So, it’s important to encourage kids to be flexible and adaptable.

How to help your child be adaptable

If your child is afraid of change, you may need to help them become more adaptable. Here are a few tips

Be extra patient

You can’t force creativity. You have to be patient and continue to give opportunities for your child to be creative.

Give your child a head’s up

When activities are changing, give your child a heads up and a 5-minute warning. That can help them prepare for the change and learn to be more adaptable. Another thing that can help your child is by giving them an outline of what is going to happen throughout the day.

4. They’re persistent

Giving up is the enemy of creativity. If a child is able to stick with something even when it’s tough, they’re more likely to come up with something innovative. So, it’s important to encourage kids to be persistent and not give up easily.

How to encourage your child to keep going

The best way to encourage your child to keep going is to be patient, not force it and give them the time and space to explore their creative sides. When I was a kid, I did not care for arts and crafts but loved playing pretend. Remember, the right creative activity will engage your child perfectly.

Read 12 Benefits of Creativity in a Child’s Life
Read 3 Ways To Create a Home Environment For Innovative Kids

Conclusion

These are just a few of the things that make a child more likely to be creative. If you want your child to be more creative, keep these things in mind and encourage them as much as you can.

The post What Makes a Child Creative appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

1. Introduce the topic of money to your kids

First, start with basics like teaching them how to count money. Learning the difference between the coins can be a fun task and teach your kids about their value. Kids as young as 4 can start to understand these differences.

You can also introduce the concept of budgeting as young as 4 or 5. Depending on their age, this can be as simplistic as a sticker chart or as complex as a spreadsheet. This will help them understand where their money goes and how to make better choices with their spending.

2. Help them understand the value of a dollar

One way to help your kids understand the value of money is to give them chores and then pay them for their work. This will help them understand that money is something that needs to be earned and that it doesn’t grow on trees. You can also talk to them about the importance of saving money and setting aside some of their earnings for future goals.

3. Discuss the importance of money management

It’s also important to discuss the importance of money management with your kids. This includes topics like budgeting, goal setting, and investing. Help your kids create a plan for what they want to do with their money. This should include both a short-term and long-term approach. Having small goals like saving up for a small toy and large goals such as saving for college can make all the difference in helping your kids be smart about money.

4. Let your kids make mistakes with their money

One of the best ways to learn about money is to make mistakes with it. So, don’t be afraid to let your kids make a few mistakes with their money. Just be sure to help them understand why it was a mistake and how they can avoid making that mistake in the future. Remember, mistakes made while they are young will be less costly than when they are out on their own.

Conclusion

Money is an important topic for anyone. Knowing how to manage your money, how to make your money work for you, and spend less than you make are all important concepts for us to teach to our children. Tell me what you’ve done to teach your kids about money!

Want this chore chart that your kids can use to earn money? You decide how much to pay for each chore and let them earn their own money. Download it below:

The post How to teach your young kids about money [simple ways to start] appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

After school activities, homework, dinner, reading, and the extra community stuff we do keeps us pretty busy and my kid was feeling the stress of the go-go-go. His teacher talked to me about some behavioral issues he was facing at school and I realized something needed to change. This is a post about what I did to help him through it.

Read 14 Simple Steps to Building Your After-School Routine

In this article we will cover the following:

Identify Stressors in Your Child’s Life

When the teacher pulled me aside to note my son’s behavioural concerns, she asked “Is there anything going on in your life that could be causing him to stress?”

At first, I said no and was taken aback by her question. But then I started asking myself some other questions.

• How has his behavior been at home?
• Has there been anything he has been exposed to that would cause him stress?
• Is there something going on that I haven’t noticed or could be causing him to be overwhelmed?
• Has he been eating well? Has he been following a healthy sleep routine?
• How are his other routines?

I noticed there were a few stressors going on with my son that alone didn’t raise concern. However, together they added up to a pretty decent amount of stress.

• We just found out he needed a surgery and it was coming up in the next month
• Soccer just started
• All day school just started
• Kids at school were a bit more agressive than the daycare he had been used to
• He just quit going to daycare that he has been to for over 5 years

With all of these things combined, I realized he probably needed some help learning how to manage and explore these emotions. The biggest one was the adjustment to all day school. This meant that even though I had spent quite a bit of time connecting with him and talking to him, he needed just a little bit more of me today.

Create Connection Moments With Your Child

My initial desire to handle this situation was to lecture my child. However, as I reflected on what my child truly needed, I knew in my gut it wasn’t a lecture. I asked myself, “how can I get him talking to help me understand what is going on?”

Through this reflection, I realized he needed to have some outdoor fun. He needed to physically move some of that energy out of his body. We opted for outdoor therapy by riding bikes. We laughed and connected in the best of ways.

The change to all-day school meant that a lot of the time we used to spend together was gone. This meant I needed to be more intentional about the time we did have together and prioritize it better.

What you can do to connect with your child

If you need to connect with your child and get them talking, try doing something fun! It really does work wonders. Here are some ideas.

• Bike rides and walks outside
• Play at the park
• Turn on some music and dance
• Be silly and play pretend monsters or horses
• Tickle your child and let them tickle you
• Run and race with each other
• Get out the legos and build something together
• Cook something together
• Make cookies or some sort of treat to eat together
• Go out for ice cream
• Go to the pool or trampoline park

I prefer physical activities because it can literally move the negative energy out of their system. Kids sit for long periods of time at school. Prioritizing exercise after school can be a great way to offset the amount of time they are sitting.

I also really like to do activities like Legos or drawing with my child in times like this. These types of activities are things we can do side by side and get my child talking naturally. Forcing anyone to open up just doesn’t work.

Read 3 Ways To Create a Home Environment For Innovative Kids

Help With Big Emotions

One of the biggest struggles parents have told me regarding all-day school is helping our children manage their emotions. We all lose our tempers or cry. It’s important not to expect our children to be perfect at managing their emotions. Especially when we, as adults, often struggle with the same thing. Instead, it’s good to remind them that they are allowed to have those emotions. That the big emotions are hard, but they are strong and can get through them.

How to help our kids manage their emotions

Building emotionally resilient kids means that we allow our children to explore their emotions. We also teach them healthy ways of processing them. As our kids start to open up and share about the hard things about their day, we should actively listen. We don’t have to solve their problems. Instead, we can coach them and listen to them as they open their hearts to us.

My child and I went on a 45-minute bike ride. Then we went to the pool. After that we had family dinner and story time. It wasn’t until late that night when I laid down to cuddle him that he started opening up about the things at school.

Be patient with your child as they explore and find the words to express themselves.

I gave very little advice to my son. However, my expectations were clear at the end of the conversation. I expressed my desire and expectation for him to keep his hands to himself (aka not hit or push). I told him why it’s important to me. Other than that, I let him explore and identify solutions to the problems he was facing.

Encourage Your Child to be Resilient

With just a little bit of outdoor therapy, heartwarming connection, and a safe and comforatble environment, my son was able to express his emotions and work through his problems. We are told often in our society that we have to learn the skills to become resilient. I think we often forget that 99% of the time, we were born with the skills we need. We just have to reconnect with them.

Our kids are no different and they have the ability to get through anything life throws at them. Our job as parents is to have a relationship and connection with them so that we can coach them through these things and help them learn how to do it all independently. Strong relationships with our kids will allow us to have a strong influence over them. In this way, we can help them when the path gets hard.

Read The Ultimate Guide: How To Raise An Innovative Kid

Create Routines and Schedules That Can Help Your Child Thrive

Being overscheduled and stressed isn’t the best for our kids, but when our schedules are managed well and we have consistent routines, our kids thrive. The best way to help our children adjust to all day school is to have good, healthy routines. A routine is simply a stack of habits that follow each other. Some of the routines we have in our house are as follows:

• Clearing your place after you eat
• Brushing your teeth after you change into (or out of) pajamas
• Going through backpacks when we first get home
• Reading before bed

Routines Help Our Kids Self-Esteem

It really doesn’t matter what your routines are as long as they are positive and working for your family. Having traditions and routines helps increase self-esteem and the security your child feels at home with you and gives them a greater sense of belonging. It also makes some things easier when your child knows automatically when to do something.

Building daily routines that work for you and your children will help when life is really hard. Everyone can fall into autopilot and things still get done. Setting aside 15 minutes a day to connect with your child (reading stories or playing games) will help your child adjust to all-day school.

Schedule Free Time to Help Your Child Decompress

After a long day at school, our kids can be exhausted. Take the time to set aside a small amount of time (even just 10 minutes), to let your kid unwind. This can do wonders for them as they learn to navigate the new routines and adjust to the new normal of all day school.

Here are some tips that can help make this happen.

• Give your kids the option of how they want to spend their time for the next 15 minutes
• Screen time may be the most frequent answer, but it isn’t the most fulfilling. Allow it sometimes if it makes sense for you, but try to encourage other options first.
• Give your kids choices of the options you want them to engage in that will help them unwind.
• Have some time in where you sit with them for 10 to 15 minutes (you don’t have to talk, just be together)
• Ask your child to lay in their bed for 15 minutes to get some rest

There are lots of ways to help your child unwind. Often, what they think they want (candy, TV, or video games), isn’t what will help them most. Again, it’s okay to have these things sometimes if it makes sense. But TV and candy can sometimes increase the cumulative stress your child is experiencing rather than erase it.

Conclusion

All day school can be rough for our kids, but it can also be really good for them. Learning how to go to school all day, adjust to the classroom setting, and get along with the other students are all things kids can do as they mature and grow up.

Admittidely, I was worried at first with my sons behavioral issues that school wasn’t going to be good for him. However, by implementing some of the simple changes (a better routine, more down time, and increasing connection time), it seems like those issues are slowly disappearing.

Good things take time, so give yourself grace as you implement these new routines. You can make anything work as long as you are paying attention to the needs of you and your children. I hope all of these tips help you as your child adjusts to all day school.

The last thing you need to know about your child adjusting to all day school

Don’t give up. Keep trying new things and stick with the new change for at least 2 to 3 weeks to see if it makes a difference. Change is hard for anybody, but our kids are resilient and will learn to adapt as we give them the tools to do so.

For ideas on what to do after school, check out these articles!
21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time
14 Simple Steps to Building Your After-School Routine

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The post 6 Ways to Help Your Child Adjust to All Day School appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

Why do we insist on our lives being rushed through, busy, and unenjoyable? This after-school routine is meant for parents who want their kids to grow up to be successful AND happy.

After School Routine Starts Before Pick up

Before you pick up your kid, take a few breaths into the present moment. Let the chores, appointments, and lingering to-do list slip off your mind so you can be present when you pick up your child. Tune in to see how you are feeling and intentionally try to create a feeling of calm within yourself BEFORE you pick up your child. 

During Pickup

1. Tune out the hectic pickup line

Double parked cars, horns blaring, and children rushing. Nothing sounds more hectic. Try to tune it out and breathe in the calm. When your child greets you, you want to be present so you can tune in to what they need.

2. Smile and Greet your child

Sometimes I need to be reminded that this little human has feelings, needs, and desires just as real as mine. How would I want to be greeted by someone after a long day at school? 

3. Tune in to your child

Ask your child open-ended questions. Don’t worry about giving advice or directing them. Our kids are smart and they can figure out solutions for themselves. Be a listening ear. Provide input where you feel it is needed, but try doing it with a question as questions encourage critical thinking. 

4. On the drive (or walk) home

If you’re fortunate to be able to walk, then take the time to enjoy being outside together. Walk slow, talk and listen to each other, and do your best to keep your phone (and its notifications) out of your business. 

If you’re driving, listen to music you both enjoy, and keep distractions to a minimum as you ask your child questions. Don’t be afraid to tell them about your day too. 

5. Hug your kid & voice expectations

Remember that physical contact with your child is a connection point. Hug your kid when you get out of the car, before going in the house, and if you’re walking, during the walk. During the drive/walk, talk to your child about what is going to happen when you get home.

When you Get Home

Now that you’re home, the real routine kicks into gear. After a couple of days, your child will know what to do and what to expect and this will become second nature.

6. Get a snack

Nutritious food and a drink will be the perfect way to connect and finish any conversations started in the car. Your kid will likely be very tired from a long school day. 

7. Go through Backpacks

Check if there is anything your teacher sent home with your child. Ask them about their art and homework.

8. Have Free Time for 20 – 30 minutes

After having a snack is the best time for your child to unwind from the day and engage in free time. Free time can look different for each child. Maybe they are reading or playing with legos. Encourage your kids to do something on their own.

Read How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently

9. Give Choices to help your child decide what to do

I give my child two to three choices and let them know they have X amount of time (I usually push for 45 minutes). If they don’t want to do any of them, then we jump into chores. I’ll make chores up if I need to. 

Ideas for after-school activities that they can do independently:

• Play outside
• Legos/Building Activities
• Arts/Drawing
• Reading
• Nap
• Kitchen Experiments*

*My child wanted to make Fanta so he pulled out sprite and food coloring. He promised not to make a mess and he actually kept that promise. Sometimes I’ll let him “do dishes” where he plays with the bubbles and water in the sink. Other times, he will experiment with baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap. There are lots of hands-off activities that can be done in the kitchen but to get started it does take some coaching. 

10. Limit Screen Time to Once or twice a week

If you still have a lingering to-do list, engaging in limited, parent-approved screen time for 30 to 45 minutes once or twice a week is a great way for you to have some uninterrupted time and for your child to sit and relax. 

Please remember that while screen time is an indulgence for our child, it isn’t an activity that truly re-energizes our child. In fact, if you’ve ever binge-watched TV or scrolled Instagram for hours at a time, you know that it leaves you feeling depleted rather than energized. 

Read 21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

11. Engage in after-school activities one to three times a week (if you want)

I prefer to limit my child to one activity at a time, but this fall we are going to try Gymnastics and Soccer this fall at the same time. Neither one of them are truly competitive and we hope it will increase confidence in our young son. 

I like him being in a physical sport because I think it teaches him how to move his body and after sitting all day, it can only be good for him. Music also lights up creative portions of the brain and encourages innovation and critical thinking so I will likely put him in beginning piano or singing at the end of Soccer. 

12. Do a Chore together

You may want to work together for 10 minutes to get a chore done.

Ideas of chores for elementary-age kids:

• Pick up bedrooms
• Start laundry
• Wipe down counters
• Clean baseboards
• Pick up toys
• Organize anything*

*My son loves to “organize” and it’s a great activity that really engages them and helps them take ownership over their things. 

Other Things To Keep In Mind

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you go throughout your afternoon. 

13. Having a Calm Afternoon Leads to a Calm Evening

Remember you do not have to rush rush rush through life. Slow down and take time to enjoy it. 

14. Play with your kids

You do not have to play with your kids the entire afternoon. It’s really good for them to be independent with little to no coaching from you. If you want to play with them the entire time, that is great! But remember to give them space to do their own thing too. 

Bonus Tips

15. Connect with your kids

Spending 15 minutes of quality time with your child per day deepens your connection with them and makes them feel close

16. How to handle meltdowns

Meltdowns often come from being overtired or feeling disconnected. Hug your child several times during the afternoon – physical touch helps them feel connected. If they are struggling to regulate their emotions, take the time to hold them or ask them to lay down for 10 minutes to reset and re-energize their minds and bodies. 

Conclusion

As your child grows and gets more independent they need you less and less, and they obey less and less. They do what they want and we hope we’ve instilled good values in them that they make good decisions. Our influence with them only goes as far as the strength of our relationship with them. This after-school routine helps you connect with your child and grow your relationship into a strong healthy parent-child relationship that will last throughout the years. 

Read How to Raise an Innovative Kid

The post 14 Simple Steps to Building Your After-School Routine appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

I visited a friend recently. When I walked into her house, she had a dresser she was putting together, railroad tracks and train cars scattered across one section of her floor, and three kids coloring a large cardboard box. Even though the site itself seemed somewhat chaotic, the sense of peace and excitement that existed in her space was impressive.

The environment was calm, the tools for creativity were out, and the kids were working hard to solve their own complex problems. “These are innovative kids,” I thought to myself. Her house is usually much more organized, but sometimes (often) we have projects that need to be done. 

What does raising innovative kids look like?

When you think of raising innovative kids, you probably picture robot parts strewn over the house. That would make my 6-year-old so happy, but I promise that isn’t the case (yet?). We also don’t consume a lot of screen time, so innovative kids doesn’t mean you have to be a tech wizard or teach your 8-year-old programming.

Raising innovative kids means having more freedom in your day-to-day life. Your kids play independently and you are no longer stuck trying to entertain them for hours upon hours. You get more time to do whatever you need to and your kids engage the creative brain which helps with long-term development.

Read: 3 ways to create a home environment for raising innovative kids.

Why should I raise innovative kids?

Not only does raising our kids to be innovative help in the long-term, but the short-term benefits greatly as well. It improves kids’ attention spans, spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, and improves a child’s mood.

Read 5 Reasons Why You Should Raise Your Kid to be Innovative

Raising innovative kids means raising original kids. Kids who are completely themselves. Originals are people who dream up original ideas, challenge the status quo, and take the initiative to make their dreams a reality.

In the best-selling novel, “Originals” by Adam Grant, he dives into important characteristics of people who are originals, and their parents. He explains the differences between the parents of the Germans who were adults during World War II.

Why did some Germans break the law to hide Jews and keep them safe while others turned a blind eye? How can we make sure we are raising kids who do what is right, not what is popular or just because it’s a rule?

How to get started with Raising Innovative Kids

With all the information shared already, you should have a pretty good idea of what your home environment should look like, how to encourage creativity, and what the characteristics of a creative kid are. 

To actually raise an innovative kid is a long journey.

Be consistent

Put forth a consistent effort. Read and learn as much as you can about innovation, curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity in kids. Implement what you can. Take it slow and remember the most important thing is that you are doing it. 

Give yourself time

As you implement new habits in your home, through trial and error, you will begin to figure out what is working and what isn’t. Raising innovative kids should simplify your life and help your children’s behavior. 

Let your kids fail

Give your kids a chance to try, and fail. This could be figuring out how to water the plants, or forgetting their backpack and homework. It’s hard to watch our kids fail, but the younger they do it, the less dramatic the impact. 

Be open-minded

When your kid comes up with a new idea or is contemplating a new concept, be careful not to shut it down. After all, it could be a new way of thinking about something that you hadn’t considered. 

Ask challenging questions

Kids look up to adults as the ultimate authority. In some ways, when they are compliant and believe everything, this is nice. But in other ways, it can be worrisome if they don’t develop a way to think on their own as they grow. In order to help them, ask challenging questions. Get them thinking through things critically, 

Tips for success in Raising Innovative Kids

When you are first getting started, you might feel overwhelmed. Take things slow. You don’t have to have a perfect home environment overnight or the most involved science experiments from day 1.

All you need to get started is to make space for innovation and creativity. Turn off the TV and get out some toys. That’s all you need to get started.

Read 21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

If you are ready for more, start by finding simple activities your child can do either with or without you. Take the time to ask questions and help them develop their critical thinking skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

The last thing you need to know about raising innovative kids

This isn’t a short-term journey. Raising independent & innovative kids is a long road, but it’s well worth it. Be consistent and simple. You’ve got this.

Check Out 7 Secrets to Independent and Innovative Play

The post The Ultimate Guide: How To Raise An Innovative Kid appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

Having a home environment that inspires innovation and creativity doesn’t mean that you have test tubes and robot parts scattered across your floor. Although, if that’s your thing, go for it. All it means is that the pieces are in place for your child to access the prefrontal cortex that is responsible for creative thinking.

Read 5 Reasons Why You Should Raise Your Kid to be Innovative

Simplify Your Home

When we have a simplified home that isn’t full of clutter and is well organized, our kids can get to their toys easier and play independently better. It’s also easier to clean everything up!

Read How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently

Being a minimalist (sorta) can really help. This doesn’t mean you have to get rid of all your material things, but work really hard to keep the items your family uses accessible and the rest out of the way. Here’s how:

Above is a simple breakdown of how to get started. To really dive in, I recommend the book, “SImplicity Parenting” by Payne. 

Simplify Your Life

Maybe I am blogging about minimalism, but there is quite a bit of research that supports that less is more. When we are overscheduled, overstimulated, and stressed out, we cannot access the most creative parts of our brain – so why would our kids be able to?

Keep your life simple. Limit how many extracurriculars you have going at a time. Learn to enjoy the simple activities that you can do in your living room or backyard. Give your kids plenty of time to be bored. Boredom is the number one innovation catalyzer. When kids get bored, they get creative. Unless they don’t have access to the train tracks or cardboard boxes. 

Be intentional of the media that comes into your home

Some of the stuff that comes out these days is just not great. It limits our ability to think, reduces our attention span, and has more influence over our children’s lives than I think we would care to realize. Limiting screen time induces boredom which is the kindling for the fire of innovation you are trying to set. 

Teach Intrinsic Values Over Rules

Rules can support values we want our kids to adopt, but it’s important they have their own value system, and that they follow it over a rule. Sometimes rules clash with our values. When this happens, we want our kids to follow their value system, that we hope is good and strong. Here’s a good way to implement values over rules.

1. Take the time to explain the reason for the rule

The only major difference between the parents of Germans who hid the jews, and those who did not, was that the parents of the Germans who followed their values rather than the rules spent more time explaining why we do or do not do certain things when they were children.*

*This example comes from the book Originals by Adam Grant. It’s another read I highly recommend.

2. Keep rules to a minimum

Rules are helpful to setting expectations, but they’ll only get you so far. Adam Grant cites a study in his book about the number of rules in homes of ordinary children and highly creative children.

“In one study, parents of ordinary children had an average of six rules, like specific schedules for homework and bedtime. Parents of highly creative children had an average of less than one rule and tended to “place emphasis on moral values, rather than on specific rules,” psychologist Teresa Amabile reports.”
– Adam M. Grant, Originals: How Nonconformists Move the World

3. Emphasize Values With Memorable Lessons

In the book, “The Entitlement Trap” by Richard and Linda Eyre, they teach the importance of instilling values. They do this through having a value of the month that is on repeat for the year. Each value comes with different lessons and concepts that they reiterate throughout the month. 

Breaking it down to just one value focus a month makes it easier to teach, and for your child to understand. You may help someone pick up the groceries they dropped and then turn to your child and help them understand that when someone drops something, it’s kind to help them pick it up. 

4. Have family meetings

This is another tip from the Entitlement Trap. Regular family meetings that help you plan your week, let kids air frustrations, and teach a lesson around the monthly value can create an environment that helps build intrinsic values to be your child’s leading compass. 

An example of a lesson that could be taught is about Whales. In the book, it explains that whales sing to each other but they never interrupt. Later, when your child interrupts you can remind them of this lesson simply by saying, “Whales.” 

If you do these 4 things, you can rest assured that your kids are growing up with good moral compasses. 

Simplify Your Expectations

If you expect complete calm every moment of every day, or for your children to play beautifully between themselves for hours upon end days at a time, then you are going to be disappointed. Raising innovative kids is a long-term strategy. It takes time to work out the kinks and find a rhythm that works for you and your family.

Once that rhythm is figured out, something in your life will change and you’ll have to do more troubleshooting. Remember to keep things simple, stay consistent in providing opportunities for your child to be creative, and over time your kids will grow up being critical thinkers, visionary leaders, and thoughtful world-changers.

Conclusion

Creating an intentional home environment is one of the best steps you can take to improve your day-to-day. In this article, I covered how to simplify your home, your life, and your expectations. Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. Take your time in implementing this advice and figure out what works for your family.

The post 3 Ways To Create a Home Environment For Innovative Kids appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

How Innovation Stations at Home Can Make Independent Play a Breeze

Innovation is a skill that doesn’t require a ton of fancy toys or complicated STEM projects. For kids between 2 and 10, Innovation Stations can be a perfect way to entertain, teach critical thinking, and develop their natural creative skills. 

Don’t get bogged down thinking you need all the latest technology and STEM subscription boxes and Robot toys. Sure, those things have their place. But trust me, at this age, less is more. Stick to the things you know your kids will play with and limit screen time as much as possible. 

Why should kids play independently?

Children playing independently is a great way for you to get more “me-time” and for your child to access the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for innovation and creativity. Not all play should be independent, but a good majority of it can be. This frees up your time without screen time! Win-win! Read further to learn about how to do this.

What are innovation stations?

Innovation stations in this context are literally just designated play areas with easy to access toys that are great for your child’s development.

Before I started using stations, my toys were in a single location and piled up in a tote. If the kids bothered playing with them, they would drag the toys all over the house. The toys were a pain to clean up and the children were always complaining that they were bored.

Enter innovation stations.

Easily implement innovation stations at home

I recommend 4 different innovation stations. I have 2 “stations” in my living room, 1 in my dining room, and 1 in my kitchen. The different stations are Words, Construction, Arts, and Pretend Play. You probably already have the toys you need for each of these stations, you just need to get a couple of baskets and set them up.

Station 1: Words Innovation Station

This innovation station is all about reading, writing, and language. Have age-appropriate books, comfy stuffed animals to cuddle, and fuzzy blankets to wrap up in. You could also stock a notebook or two with a pencil.

Items in Words Innovation Station:

• Books
• Stuffies
• Blankets/Pillows
• Notebook with Pencil

Station 2: Construction Innovation Station

This innovation station is all about building, engineering, and construction. The goal is to teach spatial reasoning and a basic understanding of physics and outer forces. Below I list several ideas of what could be in this station, but I recommend limiting it to two or three and interchanging them as needed.

Items in Construction Innovation Station:

• Magnatiles
• Legos
• Blocks
• Cars/Trucks/Etc
• Railroad tracks and train
• Toy people or animals
• Puzzles

Station 3: Arts Innovation Station

In this station, it is exactly what it sounds like. These are art tools that your kid can have access to 24/7. I have some art materials (like glitter and paint), that my kids have zero access to. This is about giving them access to materials they can get into whenever they want. Remember, the simpler, and smaller station works best. 

Items in Art Station:

• Paper
• Colored Pencils/Crayons/Markers
• Stickers
• Glue Sticks
• Pipe cleaners
• Popsicle sticks
• Googly eyes
• Dollar store art items
• Puzzles

Station 4: Pretend Play Innovation Station

Here you will find anything that a child can simulate in real-life scenarios. Think play kitchen, coffee shop, dolls, etc. You want your child to play pretend games, make up stories, and act in different roles such as baker or spy kid.

Items for Pretend Play Station:

• Dolls / Dollhouse
• Play Kitchen
• Play Toolbox and Workbench
• Anything from this list

Setting up your innovation stations

Remember, less is more. In my pretend play station, I have a dollhouse, a doll, and a handful of nonsense toys the kids will use to play pretend. Experiment with the number of toys you have at each station until you find the right amount. 

By limiting the number of toys, not only is cleaning up easier, but it makes it easier for your kids to choose what to play with and therefore, get them playing faster. 

Have you ever had a tote of toys that just sat there mostly untouched? This is because there are too many toys. Your kids can’t filter through them to find the toys they like.

How to choose which toys to set out at the innovation stations

Remember that large tote of toys you have? Put it in a bedroom or the garage. When a child goes to the extra effort to bring that specific toy into the house, you know you have a keeper. 

Alternatively, you could choose which toys you want out and put the rest in storage giving you the flexibility to have a rotating bin. You don’t have to have it figured out today, but experiment with which toys you have out and see how it works for your family. 

For sure, I recommend getting rid of any broken toys. I also am not a fan of toys that limit a child’s imagination. What you keep is up to you and what works for your family!

FAQ:

Conclusion

Setting up innovation stations creates more independent play for your child. They are easy to set up, easy to clean up, and make life a lot easier for the whole family. If you enjoyed this article, please like and share it with a friend who may also enjoy it!

The post How to Get Your Kid to Play Independently appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.

When I was exhausted all the time, it was too easy for me to turn on the TV to entertain my kids. I wanted more connection with them, and I knew their behavioral issues were likely linked to the high amount of screen time, but I didn’t know where to start. Eventually, after using these tips, I got to where TV is a treat that we watch only here and there, rather than a norm. Read below to see what I did.

What is too much screen time?

The AAP says “Today’s children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices.” Screen time is broken down according to the American Academy of Pediatrics as follows:

Why does too much screen time happen?

It’s easy to let screen time get out of control. Flipping the switch on the TV or handing our child a tablet is so much easier than listening to them whine about not having screen time.

We are also busier than ever and have so much we are trying to get done in a single day. TV is an easy way to distract your child so you can get more pressing things done.

Before long, it becomes a habit that we turn to and our children crave more of. The brain releases dopamine hits when your child is engaged in screen time play, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for your child.

Cortisol is also released and the activity often leaves your children feeling drained rather than energized. This makes it difficult for them to regulate their emotions resulting in more meltdowns and louder demands for more screen time. And thus the cycle continues.

This was the cycle I was swimming in with no clue how to fix. These simple tips are what I finally did to get out of that rut.

21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time

Are you ready to get out of the cycle of screen time and meltdowns with your child? Read ahead to learn more.

Tip 1: Have engaging toys in easy to reach places

Humans are wired to turn to what is easy. Make the toys you want your kids to engage with easy to get to. I have innovation stations in my home. There are 4 areas within my upstairs with small baskets of engaging toys (think blocks, arts, etc). I call them innovation stations and they encourage independent play.

Keep the toys age appropriate and if you need to, rotate them to keep them fresh.

Tip 2: Limit the number of toys you have accessible

If you have totes and totes of toys that are stuffed full and hard to get to, your child will be overwhelmed with choices and will opt out of playing with any of them.

Even adults get overwhelmed with too many choices. Just read here about how having more jam choices at the store resulted in less jam bought.

Tip 3: Hide the remote/tablets/etc

The book Atomic Habits sums up this point well. “Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard.”

If screen time is a habit you want to change, make it harder to turn to the screens. Hiding them limits access to them. This makes you have to think twice before you turn them.

Tip 4: Unplug the TV and/or take batteries out

This is the same concept of the earlier point. Doing this makes it harder to engage in screens. The harder it is to turn to the screens, the less you’ll turn to them over time. You have to really want to use the TV after taking this step.

Tip 5: Figure out what triggers the need for screens

When I was trying to figure out how to limit screen time in my house, I had to do an internal inventory to figure out what it was that was triggering the habit to turn on the TV. It came down to the following:

• Feeling overwhelmed/exhausted
• Being overstimulated myself
• Having too much on my todo list
• Not having enough child-friendly tasks on my todo list
• Wanting to veg out on my phone also
• Having emotional needs that weren’t being met
• Feeling unappreciated at home

There are more, but you get the idea. The “need” to turn the TV could stem from several different things. Take the time to evaluate. You’ll find different situations cause differing needs.

Tip 6: Get down on your kid’s level

When you are feeling overstimulated and exhausted, the last thing we think about doing is putting energy into bending down and getting on our kids level. This is an important step. When our kids are whiny, clingy, or needy, they are expressing internal needs of lack of connection.

Get down on their level. Whisper to them. Give them a big hug. Tease them with something and then redirect them to their toys or other activities rather than to screens.

• We are using H3 headers for each list item to provide a hierarchy and natural flow to the article
• Use short paragraphs when answering
• Bullet points also work great
• This is not a complete guide for each tip, but an intro
• Over time you can create a complete guide dedicated to that single tip, and link to the guides from this post!
• I like using illustrations and images to break up the monotony of a long list post.

Tip 7: Turn on Music and Be Silly

We are too serious in our day-to-day. I turn to screens when the seriousness of the day has worn me out. Instead, if I turn on some music and dance or sing with my kids, it works out that festering negative energy and leaves me feeling energized. Try it! You’ll be amazed at how well it works.

Tip 8: Schedule out other activities

Create a plan. We all know if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Therefore, if you want to limit screen time and change the routines in your home, you need to replace it with a plan. Try a “Do this” instead of that plan.

Tip 9: Make a list of what you can do

I finally made a list of playful activities I can do with my kids. This makes it easier when my brain is fried. I don’t have to think up something new, I just refer to my list and choose something off of it. Think of 4 to 5 things you enjoy doing with your kids.

Here are some ideas:

• Dance to music
• Sing a silly song
• Read a book
• Play horsies / kitties / pretend

Tip 10: Take an inventory of how much screen time you are currently using

You may be using more than you think you are. Take an inventory and then work from there to improve. You never know how good or bad you are doing in this area until you take an inventory.

Tip 11: Take an inventory of how much time you spend outside

It’s been said that the average kid spends 1000 hours a year on a screen. What if we spent 1000 hours outside instead? If you want to make it a priority, start tracking the time your kids spend outside. Outdoors has been proven to reduce stress and have several great health benefits.

Tip 12: Take on a project your kids can help with

Kids can learn a lot by working with you. Set small goals for a project. Say “I’m going to work on this for 15 minutes before I turn on the screens.” Then follow through.

Tip 13: Set Non-negotiables

Decide for yourself and your family what non-negotiables make sense for you. Maybe the rule is no tablets before school. Or No TV on weekends. Whatever it is, make sure you keep your word and stick to it. Having these rules will help you limit screen time.

Tip 14: Have chores that need completed before screens

This is a great way to incentivize chores. Make sure rooms are cleaned or dishes are done. Stick to the rules and then sit back and enjoy a cleaner house. Screens are a great reward system.

Tip 15: Set a timer on screens when you do allow them.

Having an expectation of how long the screens will be allowed to be played will help when it is time to turn them off.

Tip 16: Give a 5 minute warning before switching screens off

Warnings help kids switch tasks easier and again give them a chance to know what to expect.

Tip 17: Communicate the plan for after screens are turned off

When you do allow screens, after you’ve let your children know how long they will be on for, let them know the plan for after the screens as well. The plan could be “free time” with their toys, but this might be hard after such an engaging experience on screens. Instead, try to have a solid plan that has a set beginning and end.

For example, tell your child after screen time that you will eat dinner, change into pajamas and read a story. This lets them know the tasks afterward and how long approximately it will take.

Tip 18: Know why you want to limit screen time

Spend time researching why you should limit screen time. Decide for your family why limiting screen time matters. Create a vision of what you’d like to see your family dynamic look like and then work on achieving it. Here are some helpful sites you may enjoy learning more about.

Tip 19: Get your family on board with your vision

Make sure you and your spouse at the very least agree on the plan moving forward. Your kids may disagree about limiting screen time, but you can get them to buy in by helping them think of other fun things they may like to experience. Maybe they’d like to hike more? Maybe they’d like to paint more? Whatever it is, let them know the time spent offline will be well worth it.

Tip 20: Know it’s worth it

Living life offline is well worth it. Your experiences will be richer. Memories will be stronger. Lastly, your overall happiness will improve.

Tip 21: Just do it

If you don’t know how to get started, realize that just starting wherever you can is the best option. You don’t have to have each of these tips mastered in order to succeed at less screen time. Give different ideas a try and do what works best for you. In the end, you’ll be happy you did.

Conclusion

Taking the first step to limit screen time is the hardest. Make a plan, decide why it’s important, and then do it. Limiting screen time will help your children be more creative and innovative which has quite a few benefits. Comment below things that have helped you spend less time on screens!

The post 21 Best Tips to Limit Screen Time appeared first on Raising Innovative Kids.