How To Raise Creative Kids (And Bust Some Common Myths) with Crayola's Cheri Sterman

How many times have you either said or heard someone say, "I'm not creative." Many people think you are either creative or you're not but, as we'll learn from Director at Crayola Education Cheri Sturman, that is officially a MYTH - listen to this episode and learn why. 

Cheri talks about so many amazing ways to find creativity in every day life and incorporate this into your life and the life of your child. 

Cheri Sterman, Director at Crayola Education, is at the helm of Crayola’s Creativity Week – a free program focused on celebrating creativity through educational content that more than 4.5 million students and approximately 285,000 educators in the U.S. participated in last year alone.

This year, Creativity Week runs January 27th through February 2nd. Register for free here Also use the hashtag #crayolacreativityweek when you post your child's work on social media for a chance at FABULOUS prizes including art supplies, telescopes and even a $5,000 college fund scholarship. 

With her extensive background in child development, education, and the creative process, Cheri is uniquely positioned to discuss the complex nature of creativity and its critical role in fostering essential 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.

During this interview Cheri explores:

• Redefining Creativity: How Crayola is broadening the definition of creativity to encompass cognitive skills, emotional development, and problem-solving.
• Empowering Parents: Practical tips for parents to integrate creative moments into daily life and nurture creativity beyond traditional arts and crafts and learn how parents can access free resources through Crayola’s Creativity Week.
• Challenging Myths About Creativity: Debunking the myth that creativity is an innate trait reserved for a select few and demonstrating how it can be cultivated in every child.
• Creativity and the Future: Discussing how fostering creativity equips children to tackle future challenges by developing flexible thinking and innovative problem-solving skills.

Here are 5 Simple Creative Moments You Can Create At Home that don't cost anything and don't take very much time:

1) Take a nature walk, even just down your block, and notice the shapes, colors and sounds.

2) Use travel time in new ways - when you're stuck in traffic or on a road trip, make up a funny story or add new lyrics to a familiar song.

3) If you have a project you need to work on, give the kids some blankets and cardboard boxes and tell them to build a fort or an obstacle course and then once you finish your project, go play in the fort or go through the course with your kids.

4) Give the kids fabric scraps and pillow cases and let them make costumes and make up a play

5) Break down a cardboard box or two and let them use them to make new things - like a bridge across a puddle or a ramp for their toy cars. 

Just enjoy the moments and let your kids think freely - you'll be glad you did and you'll be amazed at what you learn! 

Find out more at www.crayola.com and on their YouTube Channel here. 

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