Raising a creative child can be easier than you think: There are endless opportunities to ask interesting and intriguing questions and model creative thinking in your little one’s everyday life. We’re sure you must have wondered how to spark creativity in your children. Well, you could cross your fingers and hope to god that you’ve got a mini Michelangelo. Or, you could do something about it.
Now is the time to build up your child’s creative muscle (i.e. problem-solving skills, imagination and thinking out of the box). Here are some ways you can revive your child’s creativity gene-
1. Appreciating Your Child’s Creativity
For starters, children have a deeper capacity to come up with new ideas and concepts themselves. To encourage creativity in your child, take time to notice and appreciate the ideas that they come up with every now and then. Cause that’s what will ignite the fire for them to keep going. Encourage their interests by participating in them or providing accessories to fulfil their interests.
2. Enhancing Creativity Through Play
Research has shown a close link between play and creativity. Play has been found to promote creativity in so many ways. For example, I've seen girls in gymnastics not only enjoying the sport but also excelling in concentration, self-expression, enhancing their memory retention, boosting their confidence, and developing maturity.
3. Creating Space for Creative Thinking Activities
Just like adults who have offices and workspaces, children also need their own spaces to unleash their creative thinking. You can create a permanent space dedicated to this very unleashing and trust me, it’s going to be an overall benefit. Having a space that screams creativity can help them channel their creative brain. Colourful walls, posters and vision boards are something you can start with.
4. Asking Open Ended Questions
Ask more open-ended questions to aid your child’s creative thinking.
For instance, instead of just saying good job for completing their homework, you can ask questions such as “What did you enjoy most about doing your homework?” or “What do you think you could have done better while doing your homework?”. Such questions provoke further thinking and lead to explanations that help your child to grow exponentially both mentally and intellectually.
5. Encouraging Teamwork
Finally, children tend to be more creative and imaginative when they work together in a group. They not only learn from each other, but the conversations lead to brainstorming that stimulates creativity. It is therefore important to encourage your child to work together with their peers and other kids at home or in school.
So let me ask you this- Who’s creative now? Your child! Just these few tweaks can make a huge difference.
Now, go get it!