Ben Newton asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I just saw your post about your daughter's artist-in-residency. That's wonderful. As the father of a 5yo myself, do you have any advice about encouraging creativity?

Lois McMaster Bujold
I am so not an expert on child-raising. I feel my own survived despite not because of me, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Two off-the-cuff thoughts are: appropriately applauding creative efforts/attending when they are shown off, and giving the kid the space to concentrate.

And, of course, reading to them is always good, although on this site that hardly seems needful to mention.

Also, generational drift being what it is, as they get older their notions of creative media and yours may not intersect as much as you'd fondly pictured. I'm reminded of my mother, who used to criticize my sitting around reading F&SF books in my teens when she thought I should be Doing Something -- preferably chores, obviously, but I suspect also creative activities to which she herself related, such as painting or fabric arts. The reading and fantasizing were just too invisible.

Good luck!

Ta, L.

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