Inspiring people inspire children

Explorers, naturalists, inventors and scientists inspire us to take a giant leap for mankind. You can help foster your children’s creativity by giving them time to dream and reading them books about inspiring people. 

Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon and changed our world forever. Alexander Fleming invented penicillin and Bill Gates developed Microsoft - These people persevered until they succeeded, and these characteristics are worth teaching our children. Here are some ways you can inspire them: 

• Ask silly questions to get their imaginations firing! E.g. "What do you think dogs dream about?" or, "If you could invent something what would it be?"  
• Draw a picture of your perfect home maybe under the sea, in space or in the jungle. What would make it perfect for you? 

Ideas about inspiring children include: 

• Encourage them to make mistakes and think through their problems. 
• Talk with them about their projects. If they are building a paper aeroplane that won’t fly, ask them what they’d do next time.  
• Let them make up their own games and entertainment and fill in their spare time with their own thoughts.  
• Expose children to a range of environments and ideas by visiting libraries, museums and art galleries. You’ll find so many opportunities for new language. 
• Encourage their sense of wonder and delight when they take an interest in something new.  
• Encourage them to be confident to try new things. 
• Talk with them about their activities, ask questions to inspire their own thinking. "I see you drew a rocket with wheels. Why did you do that?" 
• Step back and let your child find their own answers to their problems.  
• Take them outdoors and let them play with sticks, stones, feathers, bugs and open them up to the world.  

Encourage your child’s creativity, inventiveness, and creative problem solving. Explain that setbacks are an essential part of learning. 

Children who are proficient and confident in one area are generally confident in other areas.  

Books that inspire 

Children's books are full of inspiring characters from Ada Twist, Scientist to Gerald from Giraffes Can’t Dance. Travel, inventions and books about mistakes and accidental inventions are just some topics to inspire. Choose books that are full of fun characters and exciting adventures. Challenge your child to come up with their own twist in the tale.   

• Fly by Jess McGeachin 
• How to Fly Like An Elephant by Kyoko Nemoto 
• It’s only Stanley by Jon Agee  
• Little Lu the Dreamer by Leah Vis 
• Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell 
• The Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires  
• On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne  
• Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Flies 
• When You’re Older by Sofie Laguna 

Ask your local public library staff about inspiring books available at your local library.