The Creative Family Manifesto: Encouraging Imagination and Nurturing Family Connections

by Amanda Blake Soule

Spark and nurture your family's creativity--a guide for making creativity an intentional part of everyday life.


When you learn to awaken your family's creativity, wonderful things will happen: you'll make meaningful connections with your children in large and small ways; your children will more often engage in their own creative discoveries; and your family will embrace new ways to relax, play, and grow together. With just the simple tools around you--your imagination, basic art supplies, household objects, and natural materials--you can transform your family life, and have so much more fun! This book embraces a whole new way of living that will engage your children's imagination, celebrate their achievements, and help you to express love and gratitude for each other as a family.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, How To, Childrens, Crafts, Art

150 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2017

About the author

I'm Amanda, and I live in beautiful Portland, Maine with my husband, Steve, and our three young adventure-seekers — Calvin, Ezra, and Adelaide. Our days are spent making things, exploring our coastal Maine surroundings, and growing together as a family.

I've always had a love of textiles and crafting, but it wasn't until the birth of my first child that creating became an essential part of my daily life. Making things became a way for me to nurture myself in the busy and giving role of Mama, as well as a way to save money and conserve resources by repurposing readily available materials. Making things also allows me to connect with countless women before me and share my love — through the gift of handmade — with those dearest to me.

Creating with my children — inherently the most creative beings of all — is a source of tremendous inspiration, growth and connection for our entire family. Whether through sewing, paper craft, music, cooking, nature exploration, or imaginative play, I believe there are many ways for each of us — regardless of our skills — to express creativity in our daily lives. The benefits go far beyond a finished project when they both nurture and connect the soul of the family. It is my hope to inspire other families to incorporate creativity into their own lives.

Reviews

[Benjamin Bookman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but it just wasn't deep enough. There are so many ideas in here, but touched on so lightly and quickly. I would have liked either more information or focus on the ideas themselves, or more concrete examples in depth. I like the concept of the book and, yes, creativity shouldn't need lots of instruction, but there just wasn't enough substance to feel like I was really learning anything or taking something away. I also struggled with some of the repetitive or clearly taken-from-a-blog sections that just weren't quite edited together as well as could have been. But again, I did find the overall message really nice and could probably use some pieces of this book as inspiration.

[Ginni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying not to let my preconceived ideas about The Creative Family Manifesto color my judgment of it. Going by the title, I expected practical, nuts-and-bolts ways to integrate creativity/arts/craftiness into family life. And there is some of that...but there's also a LOT of philosophy, thoughts on going green and getting in touch of nature, and so on. I'm pro-philosophy and pro-environment, don't get me wrong, but the packaging could have been more transparent. Think acorns and moss instead of pipe cleaners and Sculpey clay.

Regardless, it's still a good take on bringing up well-rounded, whole-brained kids who are rooted in good (if ambiguously sourced) values. Much of the advice in this book is not for me--it kind of sounds like a ticket to Hoarder's Paradise, honestly--but it made me think and gave me ideas. That's what creativity is about, right?

(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)

[Brittany Viklund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This makes a wonderful springboard for ways to encourage simple yet meaning creativity in your family. A fast & enjoyable read that also serves as a great companion to the books Simplicity Parenting & The Montessori Toddler. I plan to revisit these pages over & over again in the future.

[Alissa Wied · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another slight departure from my usual genre, The Creative Family Manifesto caught my eye by it's title and description:
Spark and nurture your family's creativity--a guide for making creativity an intentional part of everyday life. When you learn to awaken your family's creativity, wonderful things will happen: you'll make meaningful connections with your children in large and small ways; your children will more often engage in their own creative discoveries; and your family will embrace new ways to relax, play, and grow together. With just the simple tools around you--your imagination, basic art supplies, household objects, and natural materials--you can transform your family life, and have so much more fun!

I was truly excited to get into this book and see what kind of suggestions it had as we are a pretty creative family and for years have embraced a "family night" in which we take turns coming up with activities/games or a themed evening of activities which have to be cheap or free. My girls are teens, so I knew some of it might not apply as much of their childhood has passed, but I was still hopeful for a few new ideas. Unfortunately it didn't really meet any expectations I had going into it.

It's an interesting and well-written book, and if you're just starting out as a new family that has a tendency or interest in doing life similar to the Amish, then I'm sure you'd be thrilled with this book. Even if you're a family that is completely plugged-in and tech heavy, it would be a good read to remind you that getting off devices and purposely taking time to "create" is so beneficial to the mind's development.

I think I was hoping for something with some photos, or instructions or, I'm not really sure, but I should've taken a cue from the simple hand-drawn cover that this would be a "back-to-our-roots" kind of book. Again, not bad, just not what I was looking for. It was also fairly short, but that would be due to the fact that it's mostly just a bunch of suggestions for ways to be creative, but not much instruction.

A few of the ideas that caught my eye:
Building Fairy Houses (in a park, backyard, just out in nature)
Individual Children's Albums
Adult Art Night - not a competition, just fun creating and enjoying each others' company


I'm sure the author realizes this book isn't for everyone and is just trying to inspire others to at least start. Start small and then add one more thing, then one more and pretty soon, you'll be amazed at what your children are capable of creating/imagining and you might surprise yourself!

As a Christian, I had a hard time with the emphasis on celebrating seasons and nature, rather than God and His magnificent creativity, but most of these ideas would be easily adaptable to your own family's beliefs and celebrations.

[Katie Mulligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to check out this book after it came recommended, but I couldn’t stand it. I found her voice very entitled and self-righteous. The way she describes her home and her lifestyle makes it so obvious she’s privileged, so the whole “just be like our perfect little family and embrace creativity” had me reeling.

Honestly, I’m so sick of parenting books saying that certain activities and lifestyles are accessible for everyone. The answer is always “you can find these things at a thrift store, so anyone can do it.”

I think what these people don’t realize is thrifting through junk takes TIME, and many people who are money poor are also time poor. Also, thrift stores have items that reflect the population of their location’s demographic. You’re gonna find nicer shit in thrift stores in nicer neighborhoods.

This woman literally says if you buy your kids crappy art supplies, you’re sending the message that you don’t value them. STFU with this, c’mon.

[mairead!]

the one pager manifesto is my jam. I wish there was more depth to this—going to check out her blog to see if it fills in some of that. Loved many of the ideas (listed below)—just wanted more examples/details (as always).

Takeaways:
* successful art with children: access, exposure, encouragement (vs instruction)
* art on the go bags (moleskine, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, markers, drawing pencils, pens, field guides)
* art box, art books, art wires
* our spots
* flower/herb box outside kitchen window/on porch
* fairy houses
* thank you cards with drawing and dictation
* family drawing time and special notebooks
* sewing basket and knitting basket
* nature table (!!!)
* seasons tree
* child’s own camera
* treasure boxes

[Boris Vida · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apart from being unrealistic, this book promotes consumerism, wasting food and hoarding. Two stars for giving few interesting activity ideas.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I didn’t think there were really any original thoughts in this book. Basically just let your kids be kids and give them the space to explore and create.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this title recommended in The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies, and I feel this book would fit well in a home that follows Montessori and Waldorf concepts. While it has many beautiful ideas for adding creativity into family life, it seemed to come from a different worldview than the one I hold. I believe in giving thanks to the Creator, while this book seemed to thank the Creation. Apart from a possible difference in theology, I sometimes felt like I was completely missing the mark with the sheer amount of endeavors this author maintains in her home! I had to frequently remind myself that we're all different and have to choose our priorities. That said, I really did feel this book was a beneficial read and I would recommend it to people seeking ideas for how to add wonderful memory-making times with their families. (It was also a quick read.)

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and inspiring, definitely a good launch point for brainstorming how to make creativity a part of every day. Made me think over & over of getting to grow up
in a home very similar to this, except with God our creator as the focus, instead of Mother Earth, which was the less favorite, but expected part of the book.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Creative Family Manifesto, by Amanda Blake Soule, shares the creative life and aims of a family inspired by doing and making, and growing their talents from the ground up. It is rather reminiscent of Little Women in a modern setting, or perhaps Montessori grown up and gone wild as the family from the youngest through the adults express themselves in every creative and innovative way possible. Knitting hats, whittling wood, gardening, playing instruments, expressing love in real and tangible yet creative ways. It is idyllically idealism, making the best things out of life through simple things. It is what has been lost in life through our drowning in technology and digital landscapes that fill our brains and imaginations. Living in a virtual world is never a replacement for the lost art of living. Put down your electronic gadgets and pick up a pen, a paintbrush, an instrument. Do something and let your creative heart and being soar. The author reminds us "Stop and watch your children often. Really stop and watch, and you'll see them using such creativity in everything they do..."
This is not so much a "How to " book, as it brings reason as to why to do and make and live. There are ideas to try, and reasons why, inspirations to find and inspiration to give, games to play, and so much more. This book is perfect for public libraries, especially for your parenting or homeschool collections, and for gift giving.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an uncorrected proof for review. Looking forward to seeing this on the shelves at the store. It will make a great gift for my home schooling friends.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Creative Family Manifesto’ is another charming and practical how-to slash reflection on one family’s to embrace creativity everyday. I found her tips helpful and simple, while matching up nice with Montessori and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd philosophy.

Amanda also highlights that traditional creative pursuits are not the *only* creative pursuits out there. While reading, I was constantly reminded that since we are created by the Creator, that desire to create is in us also. These days, it looks like bread for days, dreaming of sewing patterns and finding child-proof and aesthetic solutions for our home. And those are activities where kiddos of any age can join in 😂

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will basically read anything by Amanda Blake Soule because I find her real-life stories of incorporating creativity into the everyday simply encouraging and magical. However, I wasn't a huge fan of this book simply because it feels like the readers digest version of her other (AMAZING) books, and there were no photos, which as a very visual person, I found so inspiring from her other books.
I look forward to reading more from her as her kids grow older, as the creative skills will inevitably shift as her kids mature and this is helpful for moms like me that are several years behind her.

[Callista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love “Soulemama” and have followed her online for years. I was so excited that she wrote another book. Im sad to say I found it disappointing: it was a lot of good ideas surrounded by a lot of fluff. I was also disappointed there are no photos included or any real step by step ideas. More just “this is what we do, but do whatever you want” type writing. This book had huge potential and for me, it just didn’t live up. It felt cobbled together in a rush.

[Diana Bogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I already do a lot of similar things with my kids, so overall the book was a little disappointing because I didn't find the level of inspiration and new ideas that I was looking for, however, if you are new to this style of parenting then it's a great book with simple, easy ways to spend time together as a family.

[Serity · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I have another book of hers and I really loved it for the pictures and fun ideas. This book doesn't have pictures so it's not nearly as pretty, but it did have some good ideas that I plan to try to implement with my family.

[Tarsila Krüse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Creative Family Manifesto by blogger Amanda Blake Soule is a small book that works as a gentle invitation for families to be creative and hone creativity within their everyday lives.

The book is divided into four segments:
Gathering - Playing - Living - Connecting

And each section begins with a delicate and simple black and white illustration by artist Julianna Swaney and showcases ideas about activities that can be done within those areas.

The writing of the book is, as expected, very reminiscent of a blog, with a casual tone that likens it to that of a conversation with a friend, peppered with personal views and short anecdote. It gives some food for thought mixed with its creative suggestions, like offering contemplation over natural materials and appreciation of there our clothes and food comes from as well as being conscientious of the world we live in and how we can support each other and our communities.

This book is a small paperback and it would have been interesting if it could have been a hardback coffee table book filled with beautiful photographs for inspiration with all family members involved in honing creativity.

It is important to note that not every creative family with resonate with this book though personally I see the author’s effort being one about offering ideas and not prescribing them, and letting people make and lead their creative lives in their way.

Recommended for families seeking to lead more creative and connected lives through connection with each other.

[Leya Delray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read. The author makes a compelling case that creativity should be given a place a of honor in our lives. Something we prioritize, not something we do "when all the real work is done". And unlike many books on creativity (which tend to make it seem like a solitary endeavor), this is a refreshing vision for how to build creativity into the life of your FAMILY, including children of all ages! With a gentle voice, a compelling vision, and a practical mindset, Amanda Blake Soule makes the possibility of building a truly creative family look amazing, life-giving, and most important...actually attainable!

While I don't get the impression this author is a Christian, as a Christian myself, I see this message as extremely relevant to the Christian life. After all, in the beginning we were created in God's image, and at that early part of the story, there was really only one thing that had been revealed about God Himself. Simply that He is a a CREATOR. Therefore, it only makes sense that we should celebrate and cultivate the creative part of ourselves and our children. At it's deepest root, it is a celebration of God's image in us.

I look forward to applying much of the wisdom in this book as I raise my own children someday!

[Bella]

I'm not sure who the intended readership is. We are a creative family - I crochet, knit, draw, paint ... The kids draw, paint, write stories, build things out of clay, complete kits of all kinds, and produce endless self-directed craft. They've tried every craft I can think of. They have almost endless craft supplies, and dress ups, and access to musical instruments. So reading this I was looking for new ideas. And I expected to feel connected to the author and righteously superior to all those people who don't do those things.

Instead I just felt like the normal activities of a crafty family are being held up on too-high a pedestal, given far more meaning than they really have. There are myriad other EQUALLY VALID ways for families to connect. I don't feel righteously superior at all, I feel like I haven't done enough. I didn't feel lifted up to embracing more creativity.

I did like the idea of a family drawing night. The kids enjoying painting with ArtVenture together, so I like the idea of a more free-form version of that.

[One Cool Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids are already in elementary school. I read this to see if I could glean ideas to bring more creativity into the home. It's been harder to fit creativity into our schedule with the kids at school every day.

I didn't really get many new ideas that would work for us (we're also living in a pretty small house, so we have to be efficient in storage and space). Instead this book reaffirmed creativity as one of the values I want for my family. It also reminded me that natural crafts are great.

I'd recommend this to younger families who want inspiration on creativity as a family value. It also encourages seasonal activities rather than just crafting with paper and paint. Certainly it's never really too late to make changes in a family, but the ideas in this book seem easiest to adopt while the kids are little and at home more.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Creative Family Manifesto, by Amanda Blake Soule, gives us as a family inspiration to be creative by using our minds and hands. It contain many projects such as knitting, gardening, playing instruments and much more. It is a refreshing book for the uniting of families again as in the past of making and sharing together their creativity. Technology is taking away the family closeness. This book gives us a push in the right direction of having healthy and fun family interaction through creativity. The author reminds us to just look at what and how our children create. It is a beautiful thing to see the wonders of our children's minds. A must have for every family, school, and library.

[Nissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of ideas for living a fulfillingly creative life as a family, incorporating creative, artisitic, and connecting rituals and activities into the daily and annual family rhythm. Soule's gentle language hearkens back to a simpler time, but her suggestions are firmly rooted in today's realities. Her obvious joy in her family is infectious, and the ways in which she celebrates the creativity of her children without shortchanging her own creative impulses is inspiring. This book will resonate with many modern parents and grandparents, and is an excellent addition to most public library collections.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much is written about creativity and creative process today. We seem to have elevated creativity to the same stature previously given mostly to reason and science in our lives and in our culture. I can't help but believe that this is a good thing that can have far reaching benefits for our future happiness and effectiveness as a species. Amanda Blake Soule is a mom, and writer about creativity who feels much the same way. In The Creative Family Manifesto, she provides instruction, inspiration and guidance for bringing creativity into every aspect of family life as she demonstrates beautifully and delightfully how this makes for a happier, more connected family as well.

[Kit Feral · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a bit disappointing as I've read the creative family already and while the title are close I didn't expect it to be word for word repetitive at times. there wasn't a ton of new content. however this is still a good book. all these ideas still ring true for me and are presented in a totally attainable manner. I love this family, living like they do is definitely my life's goal. very inspiring. I loved the manifesto in the front and photocopied and decorated it to display prominently in our home.

[Amber Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking here but I still loved this sweet little book. It’s full of reminders of all the small ways we can make our homes and lives more creative for our families.

Will I be setting up a nature table or hosting family meetings in my bed? No, but there are lots of other small and practical ideas for family activities and new traditions.

If you feel like you’re not creative at all, this book is a great place to start. If you are already very creative, most of these ideas will seem familiar but I still like to be reminded of them every once in a while.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical, concise, how-to guide for a more creative family. I love how it’s broken into small sections, it makes this book a very quick read and perfect if you’re a busy mom with only a few small pockets of time throughout the day to read.

I definitely felt inspired to create more myself as a mother after I finished this book and started learning how to crochet and watercolor paint alongside my daughter.

Very inspiring! I only wish it had included pictures, I think it would’ve taken the book to the next level.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad I finally got to read this. It is really great for families with young kids who need ideas of what you can do for fun together. There were some great ideas. I thought the idea of everyone drawing an item together was a nice idea, even if not everyone is "good at drawing." There were other ideas that I got from this that I hadn't really thought about for when I was raising my oldest children. Not bad.

[Nicole Brockwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh. If you have zero ideas or your kids are young then maybe you would enjoy this book. Neither of those are the case for me so I wasn’t able to glean anything from this book. I also found it super weird when she personified the earth and suggested we speak to it, pray to it, give it gifts, etc…. This book was not for me.

Two stars instead of one because I could see myself as a brand new mom sifting through and finding some credible ideas.

[Sarah Uren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any family that loves to work with their hands will resonate with this book.

Amanda Blake Soule has all the experience of a veteran homeschooler, plus lots of creative talent that she shares and delights in with her family.
This book is a 'step up' from The Rhythm of the Family in that it holds stories from each mother and father to start each section, and is loaded with wisdom for their combined years of parenting.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book.

This was a fun book that talks about how one can craft and create with children in their family. Soule has some wonderful suggestion for collecting and storing crafting items. Basically, if you'd like to become a more creating person or want to install a bit of artistic talent in your kids, go get this book. Also, a great present for new and soon-to-be parents.