What do you do when your child hits that age where toys lose their allure, imagination feels like effort, and screens become the loudest voice in the room?I’ll start by saying I am not the shining example in this department. My phone is both my office and my escape, and I know my children see that. One of the first steps in helping them build better habits is working on my own. I’m aware of that. I’m trying. Hopefully, I’ll keep getting better right alongside them.
In the meantime, I’m doing what I can to guide my 10-year-old toward healthier creative rhythms.
She spends many hours a week at gymnastics, so I don’t worry about her body. It’s strong. It’s moving. It’s disciplined. What concerns me more lately is her creativity. The same child who used to draw for hours now reaches for a screen without thinking, and I can almost see those creative muscles softening from lack of use, so I’ve been experimenting.
On days when fighting technology feels like climbing a mountain, I simply don’t have the energy to scale, I redirect it. Instead of unlimited YouTube or endless shows, I’ve loaded her tablet with apps that align with her interests. If she’s going to be on a screen, I’d rather it be a studio than a theater.
Coding platforms like Scratch or Tynker give her a way to build instead of scroll. Drawing
apps like Procreate or Drawing Desk turn her device into a canvas. It’s not perfect, but it nudges her from consumption toward creation, especially on days when she needs distraction and I need to focus.
Beyond tech, I’ve realized she doesn’t want to create “just because.” Drawing for drawing’s sake doesn’t currently motivate her. And while I’ve tried explaining that unused skills fade over time, lectures about discipline don’t exactly spark inspiration in a 10-year-old.
So instead, I’m looking for challenges.
A local art show.
A leotard design contest for summer camp.
A reason to create that feels bigger than practice.
She needs purpose more than pressure.
I’m trying to reignite that spark by connecting her talents to something tangible, something she can work toward, display, or feel proud of.
This age feels like a crossroads. She’s outgrowing toys but not yet ready for full independence. Screens are easy. Creativity takes effort. And effort doesn’t always win, but I’m not giving up on that part of her.
And maybe, if I’m honest, this is as much about me as it is about her. About choosing to build instead of scroll. About remembering that creativity needs tending at every age — even mine. We may not get it right every day. But we can keep trying. And sometimes, trying is enough.
