Simply, creativity is the freest form of self-expression! It's so important for children of all ages to be able to express their thoughts and explore ideas openly and without judgment. A child who thinks creatively is able to more easily solve problems than a child who follows a rigid process when problem-solving.
Want your child to get the most out of their creative explorations? Of course! And raising a creative child may be much easier than you think.
Because creative experiences are extremely satisfying, enjoyable and fulfilling, the best approach is to let them create in their own way, at their own pace in the way that makes them feel free and happy.
Allowing your kids to enjoy the process of creation can offer big rewards. So, let them just be in the moment, express themselves with the freedom to make whatever activity they're doing their very own.
5 Easy Ways To Inspire Creativity For Your Child
Foster creativity by:
- setting aside an area where your children can be free to experiment with a range of activities means they're able to get creative whenever inspiration strikes. Newspaper, plastic sheeting or a drop cloth over a table in your kitchen, laundry or garage can make a great studio space. Getting creative outside in fine weather is always enjoyable for kids and can make cleaning up afterwards so much easier.
- letting your child's creative expression shine through.Rather than telling your child what to make or how to make it, encourage experimentation, their power of imagination and their own personal perspective. Your goal is to stimulate creativity rather than control it, to encourage your children's satisfaction in creating something which reflects their own individual style. This not only helps relieve stress and pressure for children, it also means they can just be themselves.
- extending your child's imagination through comments and questions. When talking about their art, let your child lead the conversation by resisting the temptation to interject or guide the process. Rather than giving a generic compliment, talk about the artwork using precise comments, for example ask why they used a particular colour or what do they see? Encourage thoughtful conversation by asking intriguing questions. Ask them about what they created or if they had fun making it? This approach, encouraging personal reflection, is known as visual inquiry.
- stimulating their creative ideas by encouraging new or unusual ways to experiment with the materials or equipment. Remain open to original ideas and encourage your child to consider several solutions or ideas. You can do this by choosing art and craft materials that encourage their imagination and are easily available for when your child wants to get creative.
- letting them do it their way. When your child finishes their artwork, don't suggest improvements. It's important for your child to know that what they've created is enough. A confidence-building activity, you don't need to tell them how to do it or what they could have done differently, just let them enjoy talking about what they have created. It's about honoring what they have achieved and demonstrates to your child that their opinion matters.
Encourage creativity, skills and confidence by letting your child go through the normal developmental stages in drawing and art at their own pace.
With so much research into the skills required for jobs of the future, in the age of technology, creativity is the key skill employers are seeking.
This means being able to think about a problem from different perspectives is a vital and practical life skill. Which is why motivating your child to use their imagination for creative learning develops their problem-solving skills for lasting, life-long benefits.