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The Artist's Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children

(The Artist's Way)

Julia Cameron,

Emma Lively

3.80 · Rating details · 301 ratings · 38 reviews

The Artist's Way for Parents Includes techniques for creativity that shows you how: exercising creativity, alone and together, strengthens the bond between parent and child; and how your child can learn to understand their emotions, spend time playing away from screens, become more socially able and independent. Full description ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published August 15th 2013 by TarcherPerigee

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Mar 22, 2015 Connie Kuntz rated it liked it

I enjoyed reading this. We started morning pages because of this book. If you are in the mood to investigate your morning humanity and overall creativity, I recommend this book.

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May 15, 2014 Catherine rated it really liked it

Shelves: parenting

I never read the international best-seller The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, or participated in any of the book groups and workshops that sprung up world-wide to follow her guide to releasing your creativity. But a lot of my friends did, and they talked about it continuously. Since then, several of them continued their creative pursuits and have launched a successful business or developed creative outlets that give them much personal satisfaction.

So when I saw The Artist’s Way for Parents: Rais ...more

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May 11, 2014 Milka rated it liked it

I haven't read The Artist's Way yet, so I won't make any comparisons. How much you get out of this book really depends on how much you're already doing with your children already. If you're encouraging your children's self-expression, curiosity, creative process and independence, this book probably won't help you much, but it may give you a few good ideas to implement. If you're not doing any of it, then this book will be very helpful and guide you through the various areas of your children's li ...more

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Jan 31, 2015 Esther Brumme rated it really liked it

Shelves: parenting

Helpful book for those of us coming from a more classical model of education where art and culture are most certainly valued but where the messy, explorative, creative process is not so much.

I picked it up to read about ways to encourage my son to experiment more, create more, not just to line his cars up over and over (turns out, there is plenty of creativity in that activity). The book turned out to be more of a self-exploration for the parent, who models his/her own creativity within the home Helpful book for those of us coming from a more classical model of education where art and culture are most certainly valued but where the messy, explorative, creative process is not so much.

I picked it up to read about ways to encourage my son to experiment more, create more, not just to line his cars up over and over (turns out, there is plenty of creativity in that activity). The book turned out to be more of a self-exploration for the parent, who models his/her own creativity within the home. Makes perfect sense. It got me into the magical habit of writing daily "morning pages" at the crack of dawn, helped me identify creative activities that I undervalue (and pass on judgment through my comments and actions) and unleashed the desire to participate in creative activities where perfection has reared its ugly head and told me "you'll never be good enough, so what's the point anyway?".

Sure, there is a lot of common sense, some repetition and a few too many illustrations, but I found the exercises to be both practical and insightful, and the premise of our spiritual freedom having a direct impact on our ability to create, pretty ground-breaking. Just loved the idea of creating as an act of faith, stemming from generosity, acceptance, safety, boredom etc.

This was a book I intentionally read over a few months so I could take in all the different concepts and even take action where relevant. After reading one chapter in particular, I realized we had asked our children to share everything in the house to the point where there was no space to create and be artists. Soon after, we created a small area for each child to call their own. They have loved it ever since and we are eager to see what comes out of those creative corners. The book has also fostered discussions between myself and my husband of our creative prejudices and which ones we want to learn to embrace.

I do have to add that the author makes some assumptions as a mother of one of how to become creative adults and just file the kids away so we too can create. In my experience, it isn't quite so easy with several, very young children. :-) Also, I think the book is missing the "whole family" dynamic in the creative process (parents interacting, creating, the father's empowerment in the creative process..). We can't fault her too much as she is a single parent of one girl. All in all a good book that I would recommend to other families looking to unleash more creativity into their home. ...more

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Oct 14, 2013 Cindy Hudson rated it it was amazing

For years millions of readers have discovered how to be more creative by reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. But many readers who are also parents pushed Cameron for more, asking how they could apply her thoughts on creativity to raising their children. Cameron proves she is equally at home with parental as well as personal advice in The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children.

Straightforward and easy to read, The Artist’s Way for Parents is not a primer on teaching your childr For years millions of readers have discovered how to be more creative by reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. But many readers who are also parents pushed Cameron for more, asking how they could apply her thoughts on creativity to raising their children. Cameron proves she is equally at home with parental as well as personal advice in The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children.

Straightforward and easy to read, The Artist’s Way for Parents is not a primer on teaching your children how to create art. Rather, it talks about all the ways to bring creativity into their lives. That includes things like making music, dancing, writing, singing, painting and more. Cameron makes the point that too much activity is the enemy of creativity, because to a certain extent creativity blossoms with less structure.

Each chapter focuses on a particular quality to cultivate that creativity: safety, curiosity, connection, self-expression and inventiveness are just some areas of focus. Little boxes provide exercises designed to help get the message across. For instance, the chapter on cultivating safety suggests an exercise to heighten downtime. In it, readers are encouraged to write down ten “Frivolous” things that make them happy but that they don’t believe they have time to do.

Cameron says, “The act of spending time doing something we want to do as opposed to something we have to do takes courage.” She also believes dedicating 15 minutes a day to something we want to do can make a big difference in how we feel about ourselves.

Reading Cameron’s advice is like having a trusted friend share with you ideas on how to improve many areas of your life so you can guide your children. She uses many examples, including some from her own parents, some from the way she parented her daughter, and others from her students. She also covers some surprising territory, like the way that dreaming of fame and encouraging perfection can stifle our creative energy.

The Artist’s Way for Parents is one you’ll want to read and keep on your shelf for reference over and over again. I highly recommend it.

The publisher gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Jun 24, 2020 Bethany Peterson rated it it was amazing

I have not yet read The Artist’s Way so I will give my opinion from that view. This book is wonderful. I don’t think I made it through one chapter without underlining, taking notes, adding my own thoughts and annotations. I found so many pieces to be insightful, important views about children’s personal creative journeys and how to be a supportive parent who encourages their individuality. I realize that this book doesn’t dive as deep as The Artist’s Way but for a start and for a mom who doesn’t ...more

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Aug 12, 2013 Chris Cook rated it liked it

First off, I have to say I am a huge fan of Julia Cameron, and of her Artist's Way movement. Truly, the Artist's Way changed my life. This is an important book, which for me came about 10 years late. I could really have used this concept when my kids were a lot younger. Since I now have teenagers, I read this book thinking, well, there was something I did wrong...and there's one, too. There were still some ideas I hope to integrate into raising them into the healthy and strong and creative adult ...more

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Feb 03, 2016 Maria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: parenting

Be gentle with your child, encourage his creative pursuits, appreciate, show what's possible, enable trying out different kids of creative activities. Stand back and let him be who he is. Give praise, and distance him from negative criticism. Help him connect with life in all kinds of ways — pay attention to nature, animals, people, meaningful conversations, physical health, music, art. Allow time for free play.
Watch him be himself and be amazed. ...more

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Mar 29, 2016 Christi added it

Cameron's tone is preachy, and her anecdotes paint her as an annoying Yoda-like figure who always knows better than everyone else. Additionally, I was disappointed that the book didn't give me any new ideas on how to encourage creativity in my son, but I guess the good news is that I'm already doing what Cameron suggests. Perhaps this book would be more helpful for the kind of parents who overschedule their kids and always have a clean house because they're afraid of messes. ...more

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Oct 25, 2020 Matthijs rated it did not like it

I found this quite shallow, containing obvious and biased tips and a train of examples from her friends who she all apparently helped amazingly. It reads like a diary.
Also no sources or shred of scientific substantiation. No tbh - and this is just my personal opinion: very unimpressed and would not recommend

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Dec 05, 2016 R-Reads rated it did not like it

Meh... wasn't exciting as I thought, neither helpful! ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 passeriform added it

Shelves: nonfiction, pregnancy-birth-parenting, how-to

Meh. I haven't read the original Artist's Way, so I don't know how this compares. But I found the reasonable points in this book obvious (don't mock a child's creative efforts, do fun stuff together, labeling as "genius" is just about as unhelpful as labeling as "unmusical" or whatever). The schmaltzy 12-step-y Higher Power tone really rubbed me the wrong way--it comes off as terribly patronizing--and serious class privilege makes a lot of assumptions seem bizarre. I personally know zero parents ...more

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Mar 05, 2018 Selisa Loeza rated it it was amazing

This is a phenomenal parenting book that has not only taught me how to support my children in creativity but bring out my own creative self.

Only downside is it doesn't take into consideration lower income families who constantly work and don't have resources or time for many of this.

I'm blessed to be a work from home mom that can do all this but think of lower income families I used to teach who see creativity as a luxury.

Still amazing book! ...more

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Jan 14, 2019 Angela rated it really liked it

Shelves: life-helps, homeschool, non-fiction-research

I read a library copy but if I owned this book, I would have underlined and scribbled all over it. Great reminders about encouraging kids, not comparing, not criticising, creating to learn, and lots more. A great book to read again as my kids greet older. There were some confusing statements about God, not sure exactly where she's coming from but I agree that God is the creator and he had made us creative for his glory. Recommend. ...more

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Jul 25, 2020 Megan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Considering it took me several tries of stopping and starting this book. I wanted to love it. I
Want to put art and creativity into my daughters life. Some good ideas but it also felt very individual for the author and her daughter.

Finally finished during Covid quarantine. Pg 177 that talks about limiting screens in the time of virtual school makes me laugh nervously. It’s also irritating me.

The chapter on focus and clutter was very hard hitting in my life.

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Dec 04, 2016 Bea Elwood rated it it was ok

I actually read this chapter for chapter with the Artist Way, but honestly it didn't offer much more insight then the original book. ...more

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Nov 20, 2018 Brittany Stevenson rated it really liked it

Very interesting, lots of good ideas to try

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Apr 02, 2014 Jessica (thebluestocking) rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy

I received this book for free from the publisher. All content and opinions are my own.

This book is exactly what it says it is - a book for parents. Each of its twelve chapters explore ways that parents can cultivate creativity in themselves and then in their children.

[W]e must be willing to take steps toward our own creative and spiritual health . . . . Like the advice we receive on an airplane to administer our own air masks before helping the children beside us, we must nuture ourselves to set

[W]e must be willing to take steps toward our own creative and spiritual health . . . . Like the advice we receive on an airplane to administer our own air masks before helping the children beside us, we must nuture ourselves to set the example for our children.

While I was initially disappointed that this book did not include hundreds of artistic things to do with my child, the disappointment did not last long. This book seeks to provide tools for infusing creativity rather than specific creative activities. There is so much to mine from here. From the very first exercise, I was inspired:

List five things you love, such as snow, cherry pie, parrots, gerbera daisies, and drumming.

How could you share each of these things with your child? For example:

Snow - Cut out snowflakes.
Cherry pie - Bake Grandma's recipe.
Parrots - Visit a bird store.
Gerbera daisies - Go to the plant store together and buy one gerbera daisy, then come home and draw the flower together.
Drumming - Make a drum from an oatmeal container.

Now choose one item from your list, and embark on exploring it with your child.

Do you see the potential here? I ended up with three pages full of lists of things I want to do or try or be better about. Here's a sampling:

Taking my daughter on artist "dates"
Allowing (some) chaos
Making sure my comments on creativity are encouraging
Expressing gratitude
Creating and continuing rituals
Providing more "raw" materials for creativity
Documenting my daughter's creativity
Serving others
Rewarding effort and process rather than just the end result

I could go on and on. Needless to say, this book will be a resource I turn to again and again as I seek to cultivate creativity in myself and my daughter. I highly recommend it. ...more

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Mar 04, 2015 Eunice rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 06, 2015 Karen Hipson rated it really liked it

Excellent resource for all parents, especially those who sincerely want to nurture their children's innate creativity.

Personally, I don't care much for the author's brand of vague spirituality; it loses something when a writer uses the word God but then reiterates frequently that the word has no real definite meaning. I would have preferred her to just say "God" or "source" or "creator" consistently through the book and leave it up to the reader to fill in their own meaning if they wanted to. A ...more

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Dec 30, 2013 Vmichelle Skinner rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, parenting

Confession: I didn't finish this book. I got it from the library, so one of those things where I didn't have time to slooooowly work through it over the course of time. It's full of great ideas, but I'd have to own it and be committed to working through it to get the most out of them and right now (hate to say it) I just don't have time for that. I like that this book covers a parents needs and children's needs for creativity together - it's not just about developing your child's creativity. I a ...more

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Jun 20, 2014 Anne rated it really liked it

Shelves: childhood

This book isn't breaking new ground, but it articulately and companionably presents a peaceful and passionate approach to life with kids. Hovering, controlling parenting is the norm in my neck of the woods. My instinct and desire is to not parent like that, but perspective and calm are easily lost in the overbearing, overly confident climate we find every day at the playground, store, library, wherever. I can see myself returning to this book when I need someone to tell me that there are other w ...more

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Nov 23, 2013 Shelley rated it really liked it

Shelves: art-therapy

Cameron writes good common sense. She explains in the introduction that she thought most people would intuitively understand the precept for good creative parenting from The Artist's Way. However, this book is for those who need an extra push to creative thinking. I think this book is a great book to read for ideas with parental counseling and for mama's who need to explore creativity in raising a child. ...more

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May 02, 2013 Jonathan Garrett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: first-reads

I enjoyed this book despite not being a parent (I am a teacher though...) but my mom was really excited to read this after I finished! I received this book for a Goodreads first read giveaway. Thanks!

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May 10, 2013 Maggie rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

Thank you to Julia Cameron and Goodreads Giveaway for giving away this book! Yay! This isn't really a REVIEW per say but... I'm going to give this book to a friend of mine who actually is raising kids haha. Thanks once again! ...more

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Sep 10, 2013 Lori Wolf-Heffner rated it it was amazing

Excellent book. Reviewed it on my blog. It's a wonderful parenting book that has a great mix of stories, exercises, and ideas to help you bring more creativity to your children's lives. ...more

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Oct 14, 2013 Carla rated it it was ok

Most of this book seemed like common sense parenting, but my friend explained it's because I already am raising very creative children. There were some very poignant sentences that spoke to me and still made the book worth reading. ...more

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Feb 08, 2014 Becky Hillary rated it did not like it

I did not like this book. I read the original Artists way over a decade ago and loved it but I feel like Cameron keeps recycling an old theme. This book did not say anything new above and beyond that original book. It seems she is just reshaping it to market to parents.

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Mar 15, 2014 Rebecca rated it liked it

Shelves: 2014-read

I was a little disappointed with this book. Maybe if I'd read it at the start of my parenting days it would have had more impact, but there was nothing in here I really grabbed on to in terms of 'new' ideas or insights. ...more

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Apr 21, 2014 Adela rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-reading-list

Really good ideas in here for encouraging creativity in your home. Occasionally it was frustrating because it presumes certain socio-economic status, but overall, a good tool that I will refer to again.

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About Julia Cameron

Julia Cameron

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Julia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beau ...more