Today we collected leaves, feathers, and bits of bark on our walk, nothing special, just things that caught our eye. Back home, we made a simple bark canvas together, arranging the pieces into something that felt like art. It wasn’t polished or profound. But for a moment, it felt like we’d tapped into something we’d forgotten—curiosity, focus, play.
Adulthood rarely leaves room for creativity. Most days are spent putting out fires—literal or metaphorical—and doing what needs to be done. The part of us that once built castles out of couch cushions or saw dragons in the clouds gets buried under responsibilities and routines.
Then kids arrive, and without meaning to, they crack that part open again.
Creativity has real benefits. It lowers stress, lifts mood, and reconnects us with the present moment. But more than that, it reminds us of who we were before life got loud. Kids don’t need to schedule that kind of connection—they just do it. And if we’re lucky, they pull us along with them.
In helping our kids make something from nothing, we’re reminded we still can too.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 