S2 E29: RAFT Strategy for Developing Creativity and Empathy

As parents, many of us are always on the lookout for ways to nurture our kids' curiosity, creativity, and ability to think critically—traits that help them grow into thoughtful and empathetic people. RAFT was a go-to for me back when I was teaching in a gifted program, and sometimes in the "regular" classroom as well. I think it’s a fantastic way for any parent to encourage creative thinking at home. Plus, similar to SCAMPER you don’t need any fancy materials or extensive prep—just a dash of imagination!

What’s RAFT All About?

RAFT is actually an acronym: Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. While it started as a writing strategy, its versatility means we can use it in everyday conversations with our kids to build perspective-taking, creativity, and empathy.

Here’s a breakdown of how each part works and how you can use RAFT to inspire creativity in your child at home.

Role: Who or What Could They Be?

First up is Role. This is where we ask kids to take on the identity of a character, animal, or even an object. Imagine you’re reading a book together—try asking your child, “What would it be like to be the family pet in this story?” or “If you were the chair in this room, what would you say?” In one of my classes, we even imagined the life cycle of a seed from the seed’s own perspective!

Asking kids to imagine themselves in someone else’s shoes helps develop empathy and gives them a safe, fun way to practice perspective-taking. And, it stretches their thinking without them even realizing it.

To add a little fun outside of storytelling, you can apply this to everyday life: “What if you were the teacher today?” or “How would you give directions if you were the GPS in our car?” This not only keeps things interesting but also gives them a chance to think creatively and learn how to see situations from someone else’s viewpoint.

Audience: Who Are They Communicating With?

The next step is Audience. This part gets kids to think about who they’re “talking” to. Let’s say you’re out on a walk and your child is pretending to be a scientist. You might ask, “Imagine you’re explaining this flower to a group of younger kids—how would you describe it?” Or, if your child loves sports, perhaps they’re giving a pep talk as the team captain. In the end, they could almost be giving a pep talk to themselves!

By considering the audience, kids learn to adjust how they communicate, tailor their tone, and choose details based on who they’re “speaking” to. This kind of practice can make a world of difference as they grow up and start communicating in more complex ways.

Format: How Will They Communicate?

Next up, Format. This is all about how they share their ideas. Kids naturally lean toward different forms of self-expression, and RAFT lets them choose the format that fits the situation. For example, if they’re pretending to be a dinosaur paleontologist talking to their pet, they could decide if they want to tell a story, pretend they’re in a documentary, or draw a “scientific” illustration of their latest discovery.

Sometimes, kids need a nudge to think outside the box. The more we encourage them to explore different formats, the more engaged they become. Plus, if you’re a member of our Raising Thinkers Community, there’s a free resource for you at the end of this post with format ideas to keep your child’s thinking fresh and out of their comfort zone!

Topic: What Are They Communicating About?

And finally, Topic—the heart of what they’re discussing. Topics can be anything, from light and fun ideas to something a bit more thought-provoking. You could ask, “What would you do if you were invisible for a day?” or something as simple as, “How would it feel to be a turtle trying to cross the road?” Sometimes, the topic might relate to your current activity—like cleaning up, where they could imagine themselves as the “world’s fastest cleaner.”

The topic doesn’t always have to be storytelling-based. RAFT works well for conversations around emotions, science, or even natural events! Try asking, “If you were the rain, what would it feel like to fall from the sky?” or “Imagine explaining a rainbow to someone who has never seen one.”

Bringing It All Together

To make it even easier, let’s go through a quick example of how RAFT might work when you’re, say, on a long drive. Let’s say your child is getting restless (and you’ve already exhausted your other options like the ones I shared in a previous post to keep them entertained). You could say, “Let’s do a RAFT! You’re a news reporter (Role), talking to adults aged 40-65 (Audience), and your topic is… how you just saw a UFO land on the side of the road. Give me the story in your best news reporter voice!”

By creating these fun scenarios, you’re keeping them entertained and helping them build communication skills, practice empathy, and exercise creativity. Best of all, RAFT activities can be as short or as long as you want, perfect for quick activities or extended play.

Give RAFT a Try!

And there you have it—the RAFT strategy, a simple yet powerful tool to nurture creativity and empathy in your child. I hope this inspires you to try it out at home! Remember, you don’t have to go through all four parts every time—just a Role and Topic are enough to get your child’s imagination going.

If you enjoyed this article and want more ideas to help raise curious thinkers, consider joining our free Raising Thinkers Community. It’s a wonderful space where we share tips and strategies just like this one and you can get free resources like the one below. Plus, there’s a monthly live Q&A session for you to ask questions and connect! And for those looking to dive deeper, check out my Raising Mathematicians subscription, perfect for exploring math in a way that’s both meaningful and engaging.

Looking for more ways to encourage your child’s thinking? Here's a PDF resource just for you! (Log in to access it).