Creativity is a wonderful quality to nurture. It allows people to express themselves in countless ways, connects people through shared passions, and can give meaning to life for many. Creativity is partly about playing and experimenting without judgment, which is what children are naturally inclined to do. Sadly, with time, this creative impulse can become dampened and discouraged by the outside world or the responsibilities of reality. Helping your child to maintain their creative spark or reignite one that’s been extinguished is simplya matter of knowing where to start. Here are some tips to encourage creativity in your child, whether they are your family or your students.
Start Young
The most precious part of youth is the ability of the young brain to learn and grow at such a rapid rate compared to the brains of adults. This means that the younger you begin the process of encouraging creativity, the more impactful your efforts will be.Even babies can absorb information from the world around them since humans are extremely receptive from birth. Allow your child to play and explore the world both independently and with guidance to let the seed of creativity flourish.
Let Your Children Express Themselves
Art and expression should not be prescriptive. While classic art might have rules and formal requirements, the pursuit of creativity is about shedding preconceived notions of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ art. Let your children play instruments and construct cardboard houses without judgment. Imposing a value upon these playful ventures into creativity can damage a child’s relationship with self-expression in the future.
Expose Them to Art
The more creative outputs and products your child has access to, the more likely they’ll grow up with an appreciation and admiration for the creativity in themselves and others. An important part of this is showing them artistic representations that they can relate to. When children grow up with positive role models, they have a stronger sense of identity. Black History Month and Crayola Colors of the World Crayons are an example of the world recognizing a need for children to express themselves and identify with cultural figures. It might seem small, but if children can draw themselves or see themselves represented in media and art, their confidence is positively influenced.
Lead by Example
If your child can see you participating in creative activities that fulfill you, they will be more likely to find a passion of their own. Your pre-existing creative hobbies could be shared with your child to demonstrate the basic skills of the craft. If you don’t already have a creative outlet, use this as your opportunity to find one. You and your child can embark upon this creative journey together.
Avoid Narrowing Their Path
While it might be tempting to start encouraging your child to follow a particular path after they’ve shown aptitude within a particular discipline, such as clay modeling or music, resist cutting them off from other creative activities. Just because your child may be better at dancing than they are at painting doesn’t mean they can’t do both.
