The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination & Nurture Family Connections

by Amanda Blake Soule

Book Overview

When you learn to awaken your family's creativity, wonderful things will happen: you'll make meaningful connections with your children in large and small ways; your children will more often engage in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590304713
• ISBN13: 9781590304716
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Roost Books
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Very Inspirational

I love this book SO much - it's so simple, yet holds a lot of inspiration and joy. As others have said, it goes beyond just crafting, and explores a way of BEing with your kids, appreciating what (and who) you have around you. I am deeply connected with my boys, but I never did a lot of crafty stuff with them; I never believed I was 'talented' enough to do that. I got inspired after reading Amanda's book, and the boys and I are choosing things to do together. They are 9 and 15, and have really enjoyed it, so it's definitely NOT just for younger kids. Her ideas and examples have also provided jumping-off places for them to create stuff on their own, that they might not have tried otherwise. I highly recommend this book for all families.

For your child... and your inner child

You may think this is an arts and crafts book. But really, it's a parenting guide. Though it's filled with things you can do with your children, it also brings out the kid in you, and in the process helps you become a better mom or dad. The activities involve getting dirty with your kids, going outside and finding things like cool leaves and bugs, or drawing with crayons. Most are best suited for families with preschool- through elementary-aged kids. The book is divided into four sections, each with three chapters: Part One: Gathering 1. Preparing Your Creative Mind 2. Gathering Materials 3. Being Resourceful Part Two: Playing 4. Encouraging Imagination 5. Supporting Your Young Artist 6. Sharing the Tradition of Handmade Part Three: Living 7. Exploring Through Nature 8. Capturing Moments 9. Everyday Rituals Part Four: Connecting 10. Celebrating Your Family 11. Handmade Holidays 12. Creative Connections At the end of the book, a six-page resource guide lists other books and websites on the same topics. Even though my daughter is 14, we both found this book worthwhile. For example, we set up a Nature Table. Before, all the tiny miracles we brought home in our pockets ended up in the trash. Now we have a spot. At the moment it has a handful of seashells, three skate egg cases, some hot pink sea whips, an orange sponge and a sparkly rock she snared last week on a trip with her dad out to the Grand Canyon.

wishing every parent could have this book

I was excited to receive an advance copy of Amanda Soule's new book. The Creative Family is her sweetly inspiring collection of projects, ideas and thoughts on family life at home. Home with little ones- precious, curious children just beginning their own creative adventures. Like her blog, the book is a clever handbook of the ways that a family can simply play and learn together, enriching each other's creativity with imagination and invention. I am loving this little book- small enough that it sits perfectly on top of the stack here. It is beautifully designed and easy to dip into, though harder to put down. Most of all, I love the way that Amanda's parenting style fills their lives with creative discovery. Children are natural teachers too, their gentle ways instilling respect and affection for siblings, a calmer pace for the household. I like the accessible crafts that the family has created- sewn, built, mixed from simple materials and resources. Handmade knitting needles (how cool!), art-on-the-go bags, a banging wall from kitchen pots and pans. Rituals, traditions, parlor games, all within budget, without commercially marketed products. Fabulous, thrifty, home-made fun. You know how you hear people jokingly say over the heads of their children, Where's the owner's manual? I think it's here, in the pages of thoughtful books like Amanda's. This wonderful book reminds us that there is no better, or more natural way to nurture our children- and ourselves- than with our own enthusiasm, patience, care and creativity.