“Creativity is not about doing something better than others, it is about thinking, exploring, discovering, imagining.” – Mary Ann Kohl.

I’m sure you and your family have been as affected by the endless lock downs as the rest of the world and your kids have been forced to stay inside. It has been hard for everyone to try and stay productive, and especially keep the kids so. Everyone I know, including me, has taken up baking in the last several months at least once. Now sure, it keeps the adults busy, but what about the kids?

Children have less and less opportunities to play, except maybe on computers. Their schools have moved online and there is next to no creative development. Parents have had to constantly come up with clever ideas to keep them busy, meaning resorting to technology to keep their children engaged, and while technology is an important part of growing up in the 21^st century, it should not hinder a child’s creative development. As schools focus more and more on digital learning, it’s important to keep nurturing children’s creative side. And what better way to do that than with DIY projects? They’re easy and fun and can be accomplished from the comfort of your homes. DIY stands for do-it-yourself and it largely means the kids keep themselves busy. It means learning while playing and using that skill development throughout their lives.

Here are 7 Reasons why D.I.Y (Do it Yourself) is best for your child’s development & creativity:

SELF-EXPRESSION

Kids have an endless imagination and they come up with new ideas all the time, because that’s how they learn about the workings of the world. They can put their unique ideas to work as DIY allows them creative self-expression. The most important thing for kids is communication and creating something on their own means they can do whatever they want. How many times have you tried to convince a kid to do something a particular way? They usually end up doing what they want, especially if it’s an art project. Let them do what they want and learn from it. Schools employ rote learning so children don’t necessarily retain information that way. Doing something on their own means practical application and they will preserve that knowledge forever.

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

DIY promotes cognitive development, meaning they figure out how things work. Doing something by oneself means one learns problem solving. If something isn’t working like it’s supposed to, they learn how to look for the problem and then go about fixing it. DIY fosters creativity and endless innovation because there is something to be found for everyone. Kids learn how to be more patient and their concentration is improved. Waiting for the glue or paint to dry, for example, means they learn self-restraint.

MOTOR SKILLS

Hands-on learning means improving motor skills, hand-eye co-ordination and dexterity. By lifting and moving things around, little kids can learn how to control their fingers and hands. They cut, glue, paste, attach and paint, and it all helps improve their ability to use both hands. They have unlimited possibilities for choosing and selecting – what color can they use? What animal or food or shape can be drawn?

ACHIEVEMENT

Everyone is proud of their accomplishments, especially if something has been done from scratch. Figuring out what steps to follow on their own might prove to be a little tough for kids (parents or guardians can always help) but it’s ultimately worth it watching the sense of pride on the child’s face. It gives them a feeling of achievement and responsibility and it builds confidence. DIY activities also allow great exposure through hands-on learning. It means watching a concept come to life in real time.

COST EFFECTIVE

DIY means you save money. It’s usually very cost efficient for parents, which means loads of fun with less money spent on resources. Most people live on a budget and then having children means you’re constantly looking for fun activities that don’t cost a lot. DIY is as much for the parents as the kids as it gives them an opportunity to bond, which might sometimes be difficult to come by because of a busy life schedule.

AGE-NO-BAR                                                                               

When you think DIY you might think arts and crafts, but it can be so much more. And the best thing is its age-no-bar because kids of all ages can participate. Ranging from the simple to complex, kids and grown-ups alike can have fun creating and inventing.

ENGAGES HYPERACTIVE KIDS

Art expresses emotion. It’s a wonderful way to keep kids absorbed. Hyperactivity means your child can’t sit still and has boundless energy that needs to be utilized. DIY projects – art, robotics, coding and a lot others– can not only keep them occupied but they learn something while they’re at it. It allows them emotional expression and is good for building communication skills. Ask them about their project and they will talk you through it, learning to articulate themselves.

We encourage DIY at Be Cre8v. Our toy kits are based on the concepts of STEM and STEAM, meaning kids learn science, technology, engineering, art and maths while enjoying themselves to the fullest. So if you’re thinking of allowing your child to play another game on your phone or laptop, or allowing more exposure to technology through any number of devices available, look up a DIY project that is not only fun but allows for so much learning! They’re easy and fun and endlessly creative.

Visit www.amazon.in/becre8v or becre8v.com to know more