How to raise extraordinarily creative kids

To be creative, kids need more than arts and crafts.

As parents, we want our children to be creative and think outside the box. But… what does “creativity” truly mean?

Is it the ability to enjoy arts and crafts… or is it something deeper?

Could it be the ability to assess a problem and brainstorm solutions? To observe something and envision how it might be changed for the better?

We often think of creativity as an “artsy” skill, a talent only “right-brained people” possess. But your child doesn’t have to be a painter, a dancer, or a writer to use their creativity.

We are an innately creative species that needs innovative doctors, engineers, teachers, and economists to thrive.

Here’s what we mean:

What it means to be a creative person

The act of creation doesn’t begin with an empty notebook, a dark stage, or a blank document. Rather, it begins with careful observation — as demonstrated by the world’s best innovators.

Take the Wright brothers, for example. Did they simply reach into the ether and retrieve the blueprints for their airplane? Of course not!

Wilbur and Orville didn’t create something out of nothing. On the contrary, they carefully observed what came before them, like Alphonse Pénaud’s rubber band toy helicopter or Otto Lilienthal’s gliders. Then, they built upon their existing knowledge to create something new.

You can’t observe what you don’t know — which is why knowledge is more important to the creative process than most people think. As Samantha puts it:

“The best writers are avid readers. And analogously for the best artists, the best composers, the best sculptors. Creativity does not mean creating ideas out of thin air; it means rearranging the elements of reality in new and valuable ways.”

Creativity is about building upon reality to create something new. Emulating others and learning about the world is what enables you to do that.

And it’s never too early to start this process with our kids:

How to raise extraordinarily creative kids

Activities that increase perceptiveness

To be truly creative, children must hone their ability to perceive the world using their senses. In Montessori, we call this “sensorial work,” and it’s designed to help kids make detailed observations about the world around them.

For instance, to complete the knobbed cylinder puzzle, children must run many experiments, questioning:

• Do the diameters of the cylinder and slot match?

• Do the height and depth match?

• How does a given cylinder look in a particular slot? Should I try a different slot and compare?

This activity challenges a child’s visual sense, encouraging them to observe, ask questions, and gain knowledge — the stepping stones of creativity. They learn how to solve problems creatively, iterating and observing until they find what works.

Your child can practice similar visual discrimination skills with a stack of measuring cups.

You can practice similar sensorial work at home, allowing your child to hone all five senses:

1. Go on a color scavenger hunt: Have your child go outside and find items of various colors: something green, something blue, something yellow. Add a twist by asking them to order objects from lightest to darkest.

2. Sorting games: Sort Legos, balls, leaves, pebbles, or measuring cups by size or color into different bins.

3. Sound matching games: Fill water bottles with various items and give your child a blindfold. Then let your child shake the bottles and match which ones have the same object inside based on the sound.

4. Mystery bag: Fill a bag or pillowcase with various household items with distinct textures (e.g., a spoon, a key, a piece of fabric, a comb). Place one item at a time into the bag. Ask the child to reach inside, feel the item, and describe it without looking. Encourage them to guess what the object might be based on their tactile observations.

5. Scent exploration: Get out spices and herbs or other fragrant items like lemons, coffee, or vanilla. Give your child a blindfold or have them close their eyes, let them smell each item, and try to identify it.

Activities that increase knowledge

To use their creativity, children will need a well of knowledge and inspiration to draw from. In Montessori, we emphasize giving children a thorough bank of knowledge, which becomes a constant resource.

Rather than asking kids to sit passively and listen to daily lectures, we give them the materials to learn concepts for themselves. The result is ingrained knowledge that is gained independently and with joy.

Here’s how you can help your child build knowledge at home:

1. Art exposure: Print out famous artwork and cut it in half like a puzzle and have your child match the pieces. You can add a twist later to match the pieces to the name of the artist, or the style of art. (Bonus: go to museums to find the artwork later on!)

2. Language games: Build vocabulary by gathering objects from around your home in a basket and sharing the names of the objects with your child a couple at a time. Then play Simon Says-style game with the objects: “Simon Says… point to the candle! Simon Says… point to the cup!”

3. Go to the library with a mission: Rather than exploring everything at once, pick a mission (e.g. “Let’s find out everything we can about the Arctic”) and go to the library or your local bookstore with that mission in mind. Bonus: read the books together at home.

4. Nature observation. Choose a plant, tree, or small patch of ground to observe daily. Encourage your child to draw or write about what they see, such as changes in the weather, animal activity, or plant growth. Discuss seasonal changes or ecosystem roles.

5. Cook a recipe. Select a recipe from a country or culture of interest. Cook together, discussing the origins of the dish, cultural traditions, or geography of the region. Pair with reading a book or watching a short video about the culture.

Above all, let your child follow their interests, and encourage them to do as Austin Kleon advised in his book, Steal Like An Artist:

“Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else — that's how you'll get ahead.”

When kids do this, they’ll not only build knowledge, but they’ll tap into their passions — which they’ll need to fuel their creativity.

☀️ This week’s bright spots:

If you have one minute… One of the fastest paths to creativity? Boredom.

If you have five minutes… Creative thinking requires knowledge — specific, internalized knowledge.

If you have ten minutes… When kids can recognize their own mistakes, they become independent learners.

What do you want to know?

Let us know what you want our upcoming guides to focus on. We’re here to answer any questions you have about Montessori and parenting!