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You are here: Home / Learn / Literacy / Book Sets / Encouraging Confidence and Creativity in Children {Book Set}

May 13, 2013 By Chelsey 18 Comments

Encouraging Confidence and Creativity in Children {Book Set}

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creativity

 

“Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Instilling Creative Confidence in Kids

As an adult, I’ve never seen myself as creative. Somehow growing up I lost any confidence I had in creativity. However, I’m determined to do my best at instilling creative confidence in my kids. My desire to help them see themselves as artists has given me the strength to try to see myself as one too, especially since children learn so much from what we show them.

  

Modeling Creativity

I started by art journalling with them about a year ago. This was so hard for me. My organized, systematic, over-thinking self had a very hard time putting that pencil to paper. But, over time, it became easier and more fun, and I learned to stop judging myself. We also visit museums when we can and talk about what we see. We love to carry sketchbooks around in case we run across something that inspires us. And I try my best to watch what I say~ not to say that their artwork is “good” or “I like it”, but instead to comment on what I notice or ask them questions about their creations. 

 

Sketching

Sketching at the local museum

Using Books

I’ve also found that children respond so well to books. They are really good at connecting life events to what they’ve read in stories. This is why I absolutely love these 3 books~ they demonstrate different ways to be creative. Both Lucy and Theo enjoy listening to these stories and connect with them often.  (Commentary by Lucy, age 5, in green)

 

Our 3 Favorite Children’s Books That Inspire Creativity
(For you convenience, this post contains links to books from Amazon where I am an affiliate member.)  

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

 Such a fun book! This interactive books shows it’s okay to make a mistake and, with some creativity, you can even turn turn a mistake into something else. Now whenever Lucy makes a ‘mistake’, I often hear her say , “Beautiful oops!”

“It has oopsies in it. It teaches you that sometimes oopsies can be good.”

 

 


Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

What can you do with just a plain box? A lot if you use your imagination! Great lesson for kids (and adults)! It reminds me of our Create Box system we have at home.

“It’s all about this bunny who has a box. He calls it a ‘not a box’ because it’s not just a box to him. He can pretend with it.”


Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition (Purple Crayon Books) by Crockett Johnson

I’ve always loved this book and am so excited to get to share my enjoyment of it with my children. It’s so fun to read and see where Harold’s purple crayon takes him!

“It’s all about this boy who has a purple crayon and sometimes he uses it to draw things and then they come to life.”


The books below we don’t yet own, but are next on our list to get! 

 

Not a Stick
by Antoinette Portis

 

Ish
by Peter H. Reynolds

 
Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson

 

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Do you have any favorite books that inspire creativity? 

Filed Under: Book Sets, For Teachers Tagged With: Book Sets, children's books, creativity

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Comments

  1. Jeanette Nyberg says

    May 14, 2013 at 8:39 am

    These are great books! (And The Dot is one of my favorites.) I completely love using books as a creativity tool for kids- you’re right; they respond so well to them and it’s fun to see what they do with them.

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 15, 2013 at 9:49 pm

      So glad to hear you like The Dot. Will for sure have to get that one soon!

      Reply
  2. Bonnie says

    May 14, 2013 at 10:27 am

    I remember the Purple Crayon book from when I was a kid!

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 15, 2013 at 9:49 pm

      Me too! I just loved that book, and it’s so fun to see Lucy now enjoying it.

      Reply
  3. Stephanie says

    May 14, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    What a great post! I love the idea of using books to foster creative confidence in children. Thanks for the great book suggestions, and your children are so lucky to have you!

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm

      Thanks so much, Stephanie! Lucy seems to respond so well to messages in books. I hope Theo follows along in her footsteps.

      Reply
  4. Sarah says

    May 14, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Wonderful ideas for inspiring creativity. I have always thought of the journal idea but just need to get one. Visiting from tot school tuesday!

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 15, 2013 at 9:47 pm

      Thanks so much for visiting, Sarah! The journal has been such a fun experience!

      Reply
  5. Talia says

    May 16, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Beautiful Oops is one of my (oops, Lior’s!! 😉 most treasured books!! I love it!

    Reply
  6. Valerie says

    May 18, 2013 at 5:26 am

    Just had to read your post. I find myself buying lots of beautiful books and hey…if they can inspire creativity on top of it…I won’t complain! 🙂 I will definitely be checking out the ones we don’t currently own! Thanks for sharing on Mom’s Library!

    Reply
  7. PragmaticMom says

    May 18, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    What a nice list of books that inspire kids’ imaginations!

    Reply
  8. The Monko says

    May 21, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    thanks for sharing this post. My sister and I have always been quite confident creatively so it never occurred to me before that this is something you have to nurture and promote. You have really made me think. I will have to look at how I can ensure I keep Goblin’s creative spark alive. Thanks
    I’m sharing this on the Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 23, 2013 at 1:30 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing. Isn’t it funny how we all can be so different when it comes to our confidence in creativity. I think I’m especially nervous when the kids get older and are around other kids at school where they may face a bit more judgement. I’m hoping feeling secure in herself now may help with that.

      Reply
  9. Carrie says

    May 23, 2013 at 7:21 am

    What great books!! It is so important to let kids know it is good to be creative even with a mistake. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer Fischer says

    May 25, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    I love the books you shared and recently featured them in my Summer Reading List post. I also love the book Art & Max by David Weisner.

    Reply
    • Chelsey says

      May 28, 2013 at 4:25 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing the book list, Jennifer. And I have not heard of Art & Max before. I can’t wait to check it out! Thanks for the book suggestion!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top 10 Ways to Keep Kids Creative: School’s Out KBN Series | Blog World. says:
    August 16, 2013 at 6:33 am

    […] Children’s Books to Encourage Confidence and Creativity […]

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  2. 20 Gorgeous Flower Crafts {Crafts for Kids} says:
    October 29, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    […] 3 Children’s Books to Inspire Creativity […]

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