OPENING THE DOOR TO LET YOUR CHILD’S CREATIVITY COME OUT TO PLAY

Dr. Wendy Ghiora-Posting #109-June 17, 2012

Creativity is one of the most desirable characteristics in any human being. It is the creative thinkers; (artists, scientists, peace-makers) that truly change our world. People like Thomas Edison and Steve Jobbs are “world changers.”  It also brings great pleasure to those who do the creating.  Here are a few successful actions used by parents to let their children’s’ creativity come out to play:

1.       Express and share your own creativity 

If a child grows up in a household where the adults around him are too stiff-minded to applaud the unusual, then he will likely not endeavor to repeat many creative adventures. Share with your child your own creations--poems, drawings, stories, even ones from your own childhood, if you still have them.  Every day, vow to be a little bit whimsical and spontaneous: Create a funny voice, make up a silly dance, point out something around the house or in the neighborhood that you hadn't noticed before.  Encourage new ways of seeing the world and novel ways of doing conventional things.

2.       Avoid criticizing, comparing and judging  

Evaluation kills creativity.  If a child feels that his creations will BE JUDGED, inevitably be subject to judgments ("You forgot to put a chimney on that house") or comparisons ("Use more different colors in your drawings, like your brother does"), he will either stop producing altogether or will simply make what other people want him to make.   Uniqueness will be replaced by clichés.

3.       Validate your child's uniqueness. 

Accept her creations as they are, even if they seem flawed or incomplete.  Remember that the creative process consists of dead ends, misconceptions, errors and the often unexpected brilliant flash of insight.  By allowing the entire process to occur uninterrupted and unimpeded by your prejudices, you will honor your child's creativity and make it that much easier for her to find the right way to express herself.

4.       Don't force her to do something. 

Creativity can't be pushed or mandated.  In fact, pressure can cause creativity to go into a permanent state of decline.  The creativity will happen on your child’s timeline, not yours.  Your child may go through long periods of seeming stagnation only to burst through with renewed vitality.  Be patient! IT WILL HAPPEN.

5.       Expose your children to creative, artsy stimulation.

It is difficult, if not impossible to create in a vacuum.  Children must be exposed to materials and experiences that trigger ideas and feelings. Listening to a variety of music and seeing numerous works of art provide great artistic and aesthetic stimulation. But remember, it doesn't take much to spark a child's creativity--building blocks, a cardboard box, a puppet, paper and crayons, colored pipe-cleaners, a paper bag,  empty toilet paper rolls, are often much better than the latest superhero action figure or electronic doll in encouraging creativity.   It is always easier to create when you are the one evolving an idea, and working it out with the simple materials in front of you, instead of being bombarded with a constant stream of electronic noise and visual media.

To have brilliant children, tell them fairy tales. To have even more brilliant children, tell them even more fairy tales.

Albert Einstein