The Creative Family Manifesto

January 1, 2018

Music, baking, knitting, piano, chess, painting, and sewing are just a few of the skills the Soule family weaves into the warp and weft of their daily life. In 2005, the author started the blog SouleMama.com, describing the adventures of raising three small children in a coastal community while thoughtfully attempting to craft an imaginative life. The goal was not to raise the next Mozart or Picasso but to help children gain the tools of "curiosity, problem solving, compassion, and joy." According to Soule, creativity gives one power "to craft a life of your choosing or to make better the world directly in the hands of our young people." She focuses on four elements of the creative family: self (it is necessary to nurture your own passions while raising children), child (creating comes naturally to children), family (bonds are formed as we work together), and community (we can connect to others through our talents). A variety of projects both whimsical and simple include using everyday items from nature or the pantry to produce art, embellishing clothing, designing on-the-go art bags, planning a garden, and building a fairy house. VERDICT A delightful book for all readers with an artistic bent.

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