5 Ways to Take Creativity With You

Pocket Create Kits were designed for all those little moments when kids need something to do and parents don’t need one more thing to manage.

Each kit has everything kids need to create on their own, with no instructions to follow, no project to replicate, and no help required from you. Toss one in your bag and pull it out when you need an easy, screen-free way to turn waiting time into independent play.

Here are five of our favorite ways to play and places to bring Pocket Create Kits.

No. 1  At a Restaurant

The stretch between sitting down and food arriving can feel very long with kids. A Pocket Create Kit gives them something they can open and get started on independently while everyone settles in.

Rather than suggesting what they should make, let them explore the materials first. If they want you involved, try asking open-ended questions that keep them in charge of the play:

Which materials are you going to use first?

Tell me about what you’re making.

What else could you add?

The goal isn’t to keep them perfectly occupied through the entire meal. It’s to give them something engaging that belongs to them while you order, talk, and enjoy being at the table together.

No. 2  On a Plane

A new activity can go a long way when you’re several hours into a travel day. Keep a Pocket Create Kit tucked away in their carry-on and save it for a moment when they’re ready for something new.

Give them ownership before the trip even starts by putting them in charge of their kit. They can choose which theme to bring, pack it in their backpack, carry it through the airport, and open it themselves when it’s time to create.

While they work, follow their lead. Instead of asking, What is that? try:

How did you decide to put those together?

What’s your favorite part so far?

What are you thinking about adding next?

You’re showing interest in their process without turning independent play into another grown-up-led activity.

No. 3  In a Waiting Room

Waiting is hard when you’re little, especially when you don’t know exactly how long it will last. Whether you’re at the doctor, dentist, or an appointment for a sibling, a familiar activity can make the time feel a little more manageable.

Let your child be in charge from the beginning. Hand them the kit rather than opening and setting it up for them. Give them a chance to figure out what’s inside, what they want to use, and how everything works.

If they ask for help, try turning the question back to them before jumping in:

What do you think you could try?

Is there another way you could do it?

What would you like my help with?

Sometimes the best way to build independence is simply giving kids a little more time to figure something out for themselves.

No. 4 At a Sibling’s Activity

When one child has soccer, ballet, a lesson, or an appointment, the sibling who came along often needs something of their own to do.

A Pocket Create Kit can become their special activity for that time. Find a place where they can work, hand over the kit, and let them decide what happens next.

You can also use the opportunity to encourage them to notice and talk about their own creative choices:

You used that material in a way I hadn’t thought of. How did you come up with that?

I noticed you changed what you were doing. What made you decide to try something different?

These kinds of observations put the focus on their ideas and problem-solving rather than whether the finished creation looks a certain way.

No. 5  On a Trip

Hotel rooms, grandparents’ houses, rental homes, long lunches, early mornings. Travel is full of little stretches of downtime, and it’s not always practical to bring a pile of toys and art supplies along.

Pack a Pocket Create Kit or two in your suitcase and bring them out when everyone needs a slower moment. There’s no activity for you to prep and no specific outcome kids are working toward. They can simply open the box and begin.

And when they say, “I’m done,” resist the urge to immediately suggest what comes next. Try:

Is there anything else you want to try with what you have?

Could these materials become something completely different?

Or simply let them be done.

Independent play isn’t about keeping kids busy for as long as possible. It’s about giving them the space, materials, and confidence to decide what to do with their time, and letting them discover just how much they can do on their own.