Teen Week - Creative Outlets

Today’s teen post is about helping them find a creative outlet.  During these days of quarantine, engaging in some form of art is not only fun, it can also be therapeutic. If your teen has a daily schedule, suggest that they include time to get creative and/or learn more cultural arts such as music, art, writing, or theater. Here are a few ideas we found. As always, show us your activities by tweeting to us @schoolpsychws. Use #wspsychs and #wsfcslearnon.  We would love to add more ideas to this list!


  • Google has compiled an extensive list of museums offering online galleries. Examples include the MET, MoMA, and Musee d'Orsay in Paris, just to name a few. You can also use this site to visit some of the world’s greatest landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal. You can find this list at Google Arts and Culture
  • Although Broadway is temporarily closed, you can still stream many famous shows, like Cats, Phantom of the Opera, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. After a 7-day free trial, there is a small monthly fee that goes to support productions and performers. Visit Broadway HD
  • Maybe your teen wants to learn to play a musical instrument. Fender Play is offering three months of free guitar lessons.
  • Don’t have any musical instruments at home?  No worries, check out Chrome Music Lab and learn how to create your own music right from your computer.
  • Earlier in the week, we mentioned the classes being offered by Coursera. To help students get creative, they have classes on Fashion, Music Theory, and Guitar for Beginners, just to name a few.
  • Writing is such a great outlet for expressing ideas and feelings.  The Young Writers Project has numerous online workshops and quick pop-up writing challenges and activities. Be sure to check out this month’s edition of The Young Writers Project’s literary journal, The Voice. It is all about the Coronavirus Pandemic.    
  • Does your teen love art?  Maybe they want to try a new technique? Now is the perfect time! Here are some great ideas from Learn to Know
  • Coloringnature.org has tons of free downloadable pictures of nature if coloring is your thing.
  • Mandalas are circular designs that have repeating colors, shapes, and patterns radiating from the center. Not only are they visually pleasing, they can be one of the best activities for reducing stress and anxiety. Visit Mandala Coloring Pages for free printable coloring pages. 
  • Creatingamasterpiece.com is an award-winning art training program.  Although there is a monthly fee, the first month of access to their drawing classes is free with the Code: Corona2020
  • Does your teen want to learn to cook?  Now is the perfect time, especially since eating out isn’t currently an option.  HuffPost has compiled a list of their favorite cooking classes, many of which are offered through Instagram Live. Lots of celebrity chefs are also offering online cooking classes and tips. Learn more at Insider
  • High School students probably know more than we do about finding online resources. Just in case they run out of creative ideas, a quick Pinterest search for art, cooking, music, or decorating will yield more than you could ever imagine.  

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