From Audience to Artist: Nurturing Your Child’s Creative Confidence

If you have ever watched your child hum along to a song, act out a scene from their favourite show or fill a page with colourful doodles, you have already seen creative confidence in action. It is that spark that says, “I have an idea, and I am brave enough to share it.”

For many parents, the big question is: How do you raise a creative child? Do you sign them up for more classes? Buy more art materials? Or simply give them time and space to play?

The good news is that creativity is simple to nurture. When children watch performances, explore playful spaces and then create their own stories, they are already being creative (no complicated steps needed). And you can encourage that impulse at Esplanade, where family-friendly arts experiences are designed to help children move gently from audience member to confident creator.

Why Creative Confidence Matters

Creative confidence is more than being “good at art” or “talented” at music. It is about believing in one’s ability to express ideas, explore possibilities and solve problems in imaginative ways. For a child, that might look like turning a cardboard box into a rocket, inventing a new ending to a story, or dancing their way through a tricky emotion.

When children grow up with creative confidence, they:

• Learn that it is all right to make mistakes. A smudged drawing or forgotten line in a play becomes a chance to try again, rather than something to be ashamed of.

• Build emotional resilience. Creative activities offer a safe outlet to process feelings such as excitement, worry or frustration.

• Practise problem-solving and adaptability. They experiment, adjust and try new approaches when something does not work the first time.

Early childhood research has long linked creative play with self-esteem, flexible thinking and stronger communication skills. It follows that creativity is not about arts and crafts (though they certainly help express it!) It is about helping your child grow into someone who is curious, expressive and confident in their own voice.

From Watching to Creating: How Theatre Inspires Self-Expression

There is something magical about live performance. The lights dim, the music starts, and a whole new world appears on stage. For children, watching theatre can feel like stepping into a storybook that has come to life right in front of them.

At Esplanade, PLAYtime! productions are designed with this in mind. Created especially for young audiences, these theatre experiences encourage children to:

• Sing or clap along.

• Move, wiggle and respond to the action.

• Think about how characters feel and what they might do next.

An example would be The Amazing Sarong, where a simple piece of cloth transforms into a sail, a superhero cape, or a secret hideout with the power of imagination. As Nora and Adi play, make choices and care for each other’s feelings, young audiences are gently invited to think, “What would I do?” or even, “I could tell a story like that too.” 

These thoughts and responses indicate a shift from “just watching” to quietly trying ideas on their own. That small but important step, from audience member to budding storyteller, is where creative confidence takes root.

How Art and Play Build Creative Courage

While performances can spark imagination, it is often in moments of play that children truly test their creative wings. Whether it is drawing, building, making music or role-playing, artistic play allows children to experiment freely and see what happens next.

Through art and play, children learn to:

• Try out ideas without fear. A drawing can be changed, a tower can be rebuilt, a story can be retold in a different way.

• Improvise and adapt. When something unexpected happens, they adjust their plan rather than giving up.

• Express their “inner world”. They might draw how they feel, act out a brave character when they are feeling unsure, or invent a game to work through a new experience.

This is why spaces that encourage open-ended play are so valuable. At PIP’s PLAYbox in Esplanade, children can:

• Explore curated play zones designed to spark imagination.

• Discover books and stories that inspire their own ideas.

• Create artworks and narratives at their own pace in a cosy, child-friendly setting.

Here, there are no grades, scores or “neatness” awards. The focus is on exploration rather than perfection. Parents can support this by celebrating curiosity instead of focusing only on the final result. It sends a clear message: creativity is about courage, not just “getting it right”.

From Audience to Artist: Encouraging Creation at Home

The journey from audience to artist does not end when you leave Esplanade. In fact, some of the most meaningful growth can happen at home, when children integrate what they have seen into their everyday play.

After a show or visit, you might:

• Invite your child to retell the story in their own way. They could draw a favourite scene, build the setting with blocks, or act it out with soft toys.

• Turn bedtime reading into a mini performance. Change your voice for different characters, add simple props or use a scarf as an “instant costume”. You can also link to Esplanade resources or articles on how to turn storytime into theatre for more ideas.

• Ask open questions such as, “Which character did you like best?”, “What would you do in their situation?” or “How else could the story have ended?” These questions encourage children to see themselves as storytellers and decision-makers.

When you get home, support further creative play with Esplanade Offstage resources. Recite The Elephants and the Mice as a bedtime story, then craft an animal mask based on the downloadable template the next day, or find out what the loveable mascot, PIP, does when there are no festivals in Adventures of PIP.

How Esplanade Helps Children Grow as Creators

Esplanade’s family-friendly programmes are designed as stepping stones for different ages and comfort levels, supporting child creativity at every stage.

• PLAYtime! introduces younger children to theatre in a relaxed, interactive way.

• PIP’s PLAYbox offers an ongoing space for arts, stories and imaginative play.

• Festivals such as March On bring together performances, installations and activities that invite children to explore bigger themes through art.

Children are encouraged to join in at their own pace, whether that means quietly watching at first, or jumping in eagerly from the start. Over time, many parents notice a shift as the child who once clung to a parent’s hand might start answering performers’ questions, or siblings may start creating little “shows” for each other, using what they have seen and learned.

By returning to Esplanade over the years, families can watch their children grow from curious audience members into confident young creators, with each visit adding another layer of experience and self-belief.

How Parents Can Support Creative Confidence

Parents play a powerful role in shaping how children feel about their own creativity. Small, everyday choices can make a big difference.

You can:

• Model creativity in simple ways. Let your child see you doodle, dance in the living room, sing along to a song or try a craft, even if you do not think you are “good” at it. Your willingness to try shows them that creativity is for everyone.

• Make space for mistakes. When something does not work out, respond with “Shall we try again?” or “How else could we do this?” instead of focusing on what went wrong.

• Offer open-ended materials. Blank paper, building blocks, scarves, recycled boxes and simple musical toys invite endless possibilities. They encourage your child to lead the play instead of following instructions.

• Ask “what if?” questions. Try prompts such as “What if this character had a secret?”, “What if our kitchen turned into a spaceship?” or “How else could we tell this story?”. These questions gently stretch their imagination and problem-solving skills.

When you view each drawing, dance, story or small “show” as a step in their creative journey, you turn everyday moments into opportunities to build confidence.

Growing Creativity at Esplanade

So, how do you raise a creative child? You give them stories to watch, spaces to explore and plenty of chances to make things of their own. You celebrate questions as much as answers, effort as much as outcomes. And you show them through your words, actions and choices that their ideas matter.

Creative confidence grows when children are encouraged to explore, imagine and express themselves without fear. Esplanade offers an ideal environment for this journey: from watching stories unfold in PLAYtime! to building worlds in PIP’s PLAYbox, and discovering new perspectives through festivals such as March On.

Let your child’s imagination take centre stage. Explore Esplanade’s family programmes, and help every young artist step from audience to creator.