Enhancing Children’s Creativity (NAPSA)—Whether building or brainstorming, painting or playing, dancing or directing, everyone can be creative. However, between soc- cer matches, birthday parties and back-to-school preparations, it can seem difficult to find quality time for creativity at home. Still, you can enhance creativity with your kids while juggling a hectic schedule. Here are a few easy-to-implement suggestions from Mary Goulet and Heather Reider, founders of MomsTown.com,a virtual community for moms: Go Slow-Mo. Schedule a family slow day during which you don’t have anything scheduled at least for the afternoon. Creativity and imagination need time to breathe and should not be rushed. Power Off. If it has moving pictures, sounds, bells and whis- tles and a joystick, turn it off. Turn off the television and the electronics and watch your kids’ creativity and imagination cometolife. “If I Were....” This is a game kids love to play in the car. Say to your kids, “If I were___—.” Have them fill in the blank and then create a story. For example, “If I were an astronaut, I would....” In addition, there’s an intriguing wayto be able to support your children’s favorite creative activity, whether they’re hoping to take Creative youngsters can win an award worth thousandsof dollars. guitar lessons, buy more paint supplies or produce their own invention. At the same time, you and your child can help solve problemsin the larger community. All 6- to 13-year-olds who consider themselves curious, imaginative and creative can apply for a LEGOCreativity Award. Children can submit essay responses that demonstrate how one of 10 $5,000 awards would contribute to their creative developmentfor the future. To download the award application, read profiles of creativity in action, test the strength of your innercreator and find moretips for bringing creativity to home and work, visit www.LEGOcreation nation.com.
