12 Tips To Foster Digital Creativity Over Consumption In Kids

he gap between people who create and those who only consume has grown significantly due to digitalization. Social media, streaming services, and mobile technology have made children into digital natives who consume much information and media.

However, creating content has become less common, which raises concerns for parents and educators. We need to find ways to transform young consumers into creators. In this blog post, we provide strategies to rekindle creativity in children.

The founder of ConvertKit, Nathan Barry, has shared principles that encourage creation and promote lifestyle changes that elevate individuals from passive consumption to active contribution.

The Problem of too much Consumption

When we look at online platforms, we often see them as a source of valuable content. However, for children, they tend to consume more than they create.

Scrolling through social media, watching videos, and listening to music can be unproductive and lead to a lack of engagement with the digital environment. It's essential to consider engagement quality, not just the time spent on screens.

We need to understand this behaviour and challenge it. Consuming content is okay, but overdoing it can be harmful. By redirecting their energy, we can introduce our children to the fulfilling world of creation, where every digital tool can be a potential tool for their imagination.

The Transition from Consumer to Creator

To make a significant change in how we approach creativity, we need to do more than limit ourselves or set aside some time for it. We must change how we think about it in our homes and schools.

This means valuing what we create as much as, or even more than, what we consume.

Nathan Barry has some great strategies for anyone who wants to be more creative. They are not rules that can't be changed, but they show us the importance of good habits. We should all be able to create things and not think they are too complicated or mysterious.

If we make being creative a habit, not just something we do occasionally, we can teach our kids to feel good about themselves by making things they are proud of.

1. The Power of Regularity

Barry's suggestion of a daily 'make something' goal is a deceptively simple yet potent tool. Making creativity a part of your daily routine can transform it from a sporadic activity into a regular habit. This shift can turn a mere hobby into a true passion.

2. A Purpose Beyond the Product

Children's creations are more than just objects. They tell a story. By documenting their work, children can create a collection of their accomplishments and learn how their creations contribute to the world.

This helps them understand that they are not developing in isolation but contributing to a larger narrative.

3. Distraction-Free Creation

The idea to decide on a task before even approaching a computer is not about outdated workspaces; it is about mental conditioning. We live in a world of constant distraction, and children are at the epicentre.

To create is to concentrate, and learning to focus is a skill they will carry into adulthood, whether as artists, engineers, or accountants.

4. Understanding an Audience

Creating for the sake of creation can be fulfilling, but the ability to create specifically for an audience is empowering. Children tap into empathy and purpose by learning to understand who they are serving, two pillars of meaningful work.

5. Block troublesome sites

‍If you find it difficult to stay focused on your work due to the allure of certain websites, there are options available to help you limit your access. Rather than merely signing out, you can use software to block an entire website. One such app is The SelfControl app for OSX, which can block a series of sites for a set amount of time.

6. Schedule maker time  

Calendars fill up with everything urgent, but not important. Take control and reserve time for creating. Go to your calendar and set aside 30 minutes labeled with what you plan to do. 

7. Know your outcome 

It's important to have a specific goal in mind when creating, rather than just creating for the sake of it. Whether it's launching a course, reaching a certain number of subscribers, writing a book, or developing a new feature, having a goal to work towards can help guide your creative efforts.

8. Create a deadline, then raise the stakes 

Nathan Barry suggests setting goals that have a specific deadline. This helps to keep you focused and motivated to achieve your goals within a set timeframe.

9. Teach what you just learned 

To make it less intimidating to teach everything you know, let's start by teaching what you have learned. To do this, create a new 30-minute event every Friday on your calendar.

Set an alert to ask a simple question: "What did you learn this week?" This prompt will help you look back at your week and share something you learned, such as a new coding language or a helpful keyboard shortcut. Keeping it simple and concise will make it easier for your audience to understand.

10. Know your outcome 

Barry advises against creating just for the sake of creating. Instead, he suggests working towards a specific goal, such as launching a course, reaching 500 YouTube subscribers, writing a book, or launching a new feature. This approach enables one to chip away at the goal and make meaningful progress.

11. Build a streak and don’t break the chain 

Nathan Barry built his blog by writing 1,000 words every day. This simple habit led to the creation of three books and hundreds of blog posts

12. Making It Public

When creation becomes a shared effort, it takes on a new meaning. This transforms individual efforts into communal progress, where knowledge, experiences, and struggles are shared.

This kind of learning and growth benefits everyone involved, including our children, who learn the importance of working together.

Encouraging every child's creativity and problem-solving skills is vital in preparing them for our rapidly evolving world. This transition from being a consumer to a creator requires more than just individual effort.

Parents should be co-conspirators in this creative uprising, supporting and modelling creative expression and problem-solving. Our goal isn't to produce a generation of prodigies but rather to nurture the confidence and competence in every child to express themselves and shape the world around them.

Remember, the joy of creation lies not just in the product but in the process itself.

When we recognize and nurture the creator within our children, we are not just changing their present—we are shaping their future. The habits they develop now will be the launching pad for a lifetime of achievement and fulfilment.

The legacy of creative parenting isn't a generation of innovators but a society that values the inherent creativity in every individual—the knowledge that consumption can feed but creation can genuinely nourish.

In challenging the status quo, we arm our children with the most potent weapon against the tide of mindless consumption—the will to create something new.

The act of creation is not merely a manual or technical exercise; it is an expression of the human spirit, a declaration of one's place in the world, and an indelible mark on the fabric of reality.