u/hnoss

I wrote this up as part of a comment on a different thread… but thought I would make my own post about it since I’m excited to talk about it.

And mostly, I want to know if your kids are “beavers” or “bowerbirds” when it comes to creative activities that are fulfilling to them. And which type are you? or perhaps a mix of both?

I read the first few chapters of the book Dopamine Kids by Michaleen Doucleff and it helped me come up with some new strategies for engaging my kids. (It also has an amazing discussion of what dopamine is and the early studies on rats and people and how scientists figured out that it’s not about pleasure- it’s really about motivation!) 

I enjoyed doing some of the exercises like making a list of family values and listing ways to encourage what your ideal family life would be like.

The book also discusses the different types of creativity and how it fills a need that is often filled with video game time instead. Humans have a need to create- but that need can be met in vastly different ways depending on the person.

I read about how some kids are “beavers” when it comes to creativity- they need to build big stuff, engineer and use tools with motors, or more risky tools like a hatchet to split wood (under supervision of course). They prefer big projects- painting a fence/fort, moving dirt to make a garden or build a small fish pond in the yard, etc. Using the electric hand mixer or other kitchen appliances appeal to them greatly. A lot of kids love games like Minecraft since it involves engineering and fills this creative need for them. (also, side note- my older son LOVED to vacuum as a toddler! He’s 100% an engineer)

Other kids are “bowerbirds” and have a need to work on small, detail oriented projects; painting, drawing, weaving, knitting, crochet, beading, friendship bracelets, working on miniature kits, jewelry making, etc. 

I’m a bowerbird type which is a total mismatch for my kids who are both beaver types when it comes to creative fulfillment/enjoyment. 

So lately, I’m digging into the “beaver/engineer” type of stuff to appeal to their interests better. Instead of making crepes for the kids- I asked them to help and after a little whining they had a lot of fun using the hand mixer! (I told them I won’t make crepes if they don‘t help out- and they ran to help since it’s their favorite breakfast food)

I put all the building/engineering toys in one spot so that it’s easy to access and gets my kids going. My little one created a puppet robot mecha that requires two people to operate and we’ve been making videos of the robot mech having battles with magnet tile buildings for the city. He actually stopped playing Minecraft and asked me to play with him!!! That never happens… but now it does since I’ve set the stage for meeting the creative needs specific to my kids.

Last weekend my older son(starting middle school next Sept) asked to use the circular saw we have in the garage. My husband gave in and said ok- and they found a few small projects to work on. They both had a great time! (yes he was supervised the whole time and wore safety gloves and eye/ear protection)

The more you expose your kids to a variety of activities and help them discover their creative preferences… the more they will want to do those things….

I hope this helps any parents on here… I found this distinction to be super interesting and helpful. Best of luck to you!

TL;DR:

Here‘s the list of activities for both creative types and also some that appeal to both types. which type are you? which type are your kids with ADHD?

Beaver activities to try

• Chopping, sawing, or splitting wood
•   Building ramps, forts, treehouses with wood, hammer, nails, et cetera
•   Painting large structures (e.g., fences, forts)
•   Carving or whittling scraps of wood
•   Pruning bushes or trees
•   Cutting grass
•   Digging holes and shoveling dirt (moving earth)
• Building with scrap card board boxes
•   Sanding or lathing
•   Upcycling old furniture by sanding, painting, repairing, et cetera
•   Repairing old car parts
•   Gardening (watering, transplanting, fertilizing, weeding, harvesting)
• Butchering meat
• Grinding grains with an electric mill

Bowerbird Activities to Try

•   Building small models of planes, houses, cars, rockets, and other machinery (think Soap Box Derby cars)
•   Building electronic circuits, including soldering components
• Textile activity: embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing
•   Painting, drawing, coloring
•   Paper quilling
•   Jewelry making (e.g., braiding or beading bracelets)
•   Constructing with clay
•   Dissecting plants and animals
•   Any construction with a glue gun (e.g., constructing out of pasta or beads)
•   Scrapbooking
•   Creating graphic novels or cartoons

All-Kid Construction Activities

•   Cooking and baking including chopping and slicing ingredients)
•   Building fires
•   Leatherworking
•   Robotics
•   Paper-mache
•   Building with Legos or creating marble mazes or really any type of maze or Rube Goldberg device)