This post on Maternal Spark on the subject of raising creative kids got me thinking. Honestly, creativity is not something you need to push onto a kid. It’s inborn. The trick is to get out of the way of their creativity. Read them lots of books; lay in a good supply of props (blocks and legos, dress-up clothes, play kitchen materials, etc.); and give them plenty of unstructured time and their own space. Oh, and unplug the TV and remove all batteries from electronic toys. Sheer boredom, if nothing else, will give them the impetus to use their imaginations.

Here’s an example from my own family: Shortly after Christmas, I found my older two piling blocks on chairs and placing Miss M’s stuffed puppies in front of them. They informed me that they were Grinches and in the process of stealing Christmas. Amused, I said something to the effect of “Carry on” and let them be.

Have you got any amusing kiddie anecdotes to share? Either about yourself as a kid, or your own kids, or the kids of siblings/friends/neighbors/random strangers?