Are you a consumer or a creator? What about your kids?

A consumer is an individual who buys, uses, eats, reads, and interacts with things, content, and ideas created by others.

A creator is someone who uses their talents, ideas, or labor to shape the world around them.

In our modern society, consumption is highly glorified. Somehow, if you have the means to use, buy, eat, read, or otherwise consume what others have created, “you have it made,” or “you’re living the dream.”

While consumption is necessary for survival, I believe that creating is on a higher domain, one in which we are in closer communion with God, because He himself is a Creator, and we are exercising our divine heritage.

Think of a world legend. Isn’t their legacy something they created? The legendary beings created ideas, composed symphonies, wrote founding documents or stories that educate, inspire, or entertain, they made a discovery, patented an invention, started a movement…

My belief is that, to live to our greatest potential, we must be balanced in the time we devote to consume and to create. We must nurture our genius, and multiply our talents, like the parable teaches. (Matthew 25:14-30)

Modern technology has been revolutionary in that it allows us anyone to be a creator. You don’t need a lot of time, resources, or expertise in order to create something that others will consume.

It is in the experiential application of our knowledge that we find true understanding, wisdom, and confidence.

The rising generation is consuming more content than we ever thought would be possible: articles, blog posts, photos, videos, gifs, tweets, and posts, and Apps. However, stats show that a very small percentage actually create content.

I have taught my daughters to be creators in the areas they are passionate about whether they are initially gifted in this area or not. When I look at their art today, I am amazed at their creations, and it makes me happy I encouraged them to keep drawing, even when the wall and the furniture were used as canvas, and I wanted to pull my hair out.

I am happy I said yes to an excited 6-year-old that wanted to “become an author like mom,” and that I used my own resources to publish her book on her 7th birthday, to then see her get a publishing deal with her sister at only ages 9 and 10, showcasing their words and their art, and become bestsellers, helping other kids gain greater self-esteem.

Do you encourage your child to be a creator?

I found a resource that will help you encourage your children to read and to create their own eBooks (electronic books).

When you download PreK12Plaza (English) or Plaza Bilingüe (Spanish) to your tablet or smartphone, your students get FREE access to hundreds of eBooks in six reading levels, and they can also create their own eBooks, adding text, images, and their own voices.

My daughters love eBook Plaza:

“I love how easy it is to create an eBook and I think even very young kids can be taught to create their own ebook. I love how you can write about anything and really use your creativity to teach others. You can upload images from your phone or tablet and even take pictures to add to your ebook, and I love recording my voice so others can hear me read my eBook. I chose to write about “7 steps to speak confidently in public,” and I love how eBook plaza allows me to publish my ebook, where it can then be accessible all over the country so other kids can read my eBook. I’m so excited to create more eBooks in English and in Spanish!” ~ Elisha, my 14 year-old daughter.

This bilingual multimedia resource aligns with State standards including reading, speaking, and listening, which drives innovation and collaboration while enhancing the reading experience.

Studies have shown there are many benefits of eBooks and blended learning, including:

• improvement in phonemic awareness and print-concept awareness
• assisting in development of literacy skills
• increasing student engagement at all levels
• driving parental engagement
• increasing independent learning skills development of digital skills including digital citizenship, information management skills, and collaboration skills

eBooks have been around since Michael S. Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented them in 1971! Today, eBooks are a popular way to consume content, and now our kids can easily create their own.

“Our didactic method emphasizes comprehension and co-creation, both of which are at the center of our new eBook Plaza app,” said fellow Dominican Ana Roca Castro, Founder and CEO of PreK12 Plaza, a social impact enterprise working to ignite the genius in every child.

eBook Plaza is also very easy-to-use and navigate, the content is conveniently grouped by grade, and adapts to multiple learning styles. You can also learn and create content anywhere, which is perfect for my homeschooling mom lifestyle!

I encourage you to download PreK12Plaza (English) or Plaza Bilingüe (Spanish), and let your child create an eBook, so your child can be entered on a contest for the opportunity to win an Amazon gift card. The contest just started and runs through November 22nd. The winner(s) will be announced on Wednesday, November 23, so stay connected with #ebookPlaza and #PlazaBilingue to find out if your child won!

I’ll also be attending the Bilingual eBook Plaza App Twitter Party Tuesday, November 15 at 8:30 pm EST. Join me!

The eBook Plaza app is available for free at  iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Marketplace. Additional information and downloads are available at: PreK12Plaza (English) or Plaza Bilingüe (Spanish). You can also follow PreK12Plaza on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Consuming is necessary and we all do it, but if we do not set aside some time to create, we may end up consuming too much, which will create anxiety, stress, and overwhelm.

While creating requires discipline, mental energy, and a dose of vulnerability, when we create we slowly gain more confidence, find our voice, and find our purpose. It’s so worth it!

Are you ready to encourage your child to be a creator, as well and become one yourself?  Share your thoughts with us in a comment below!

[ela]