Creativity Day at Fundamentally Toys

Be a Part of Imaginative Fun on Creativity Day

at Fundamentally Toys!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

10:00 am  - 2:00 pm

We're hosting a Creativity Day! Kids and adults can work on tables full of colorful, creative materials to create something uniquely imaginative. It could be a crazy character or object -- anything's possible!

I believe that creative arts are an essential springboard for young children. We tend to associate creativity with being artistic, but creativity goes well beyond artistic expression. Creativity in thinking involves innovation, problem solving, and risk taking that moves the human race along in technology, science, mechanics, health, and many more fronts.  Without creativity, our world would stagnate.

There is strong evidence that children are experiencing a creativity crisis, as measured by the Torrance® Tests of Creative Thinking. Since 1990, test scores have been declining. The most recent results indicate that children are responding less creatively, showing less humor and imagination, and having fewer ideas. That's kind of scary to me!

There are no specific reasons cited along with the declining scores. Could be a sign of the digital age. With so much information and entertainment constantly streaming, there are fewer reasons for children to seek out simple, creative things to do. Another reason could be that creative arts have become less important in schools.  As a child, I always looked forward to art class. Heck, I still remember many art projects from  my childhood. I clearly recall the fun I had and distinctly remember what I learned -- not just from my own work, but from seeing other kids' creations. Made me a little competitive too!

I have continued to express creativity through my adult years with all kinds of crafts, art and  writing classes, and even in decorating my home. I know those early creative seeds were important.  I also see how much my daughter benefited from doing creative activities when she was young, and how she is carrying creative thinking skills into her college years.

So what can we do about this crisis? We can simply bring it back to basics for starters. Fundamentally Toys is partnering with toy manufacturer Creativity for Kids for a Creativity Day on Saturday, June 22, 2013. Kids and adults can come in, sit a spell, and create something cool from an array of fun materials. They can also print out this coupon, bring it to Fundamentally Toys,  and pick up a FREE Creativity Can from Creativity for Kids.

The Creativity Can™ is a small cardboard can filled with simple, traditional materials such as pom poms, wood sticks, googly eyes, yarn, feathers, and other colorful things. The idea is for kids to take the can home, lay out the contents, and be imaginative by creating something cool out of what's simply before them.  After they have made their creation, if they share it on Creativity Can website, Creativity for Kids will make a donation to the Lily Sarah Grace Fund, a charity that supports underfunded schools with creative materials.  So it's a chance to have fun and do good at the same time!

Fundamentally Toys is proud to be in partnership with Creativity for Kids®. For over 40 years, the Cleveland, Ohio-based company has been a leader in developing toys that encourage creative activity.  While having fun with painting, coloring, crafting, and assembling, kids learn to think creatively, solve problems, develop dexterity, and feel a sense of satisfaction at having created with their own hands.

It might be good idea for kids to put their digital devices aside and use their hands to develop creative skills that will last a lifetime. Get started with Fundamentally Toys for Creativity Day!