How to Foster Creativity at Home
If your child’s idea of working with her hands is manipulating the remote, then it’s time to consider giving your child some creative play time and taking a few easy steps to foster a life long enjoyment of creative and intellectual endeavors.
As a mother of three children, two of whom are twin five-year-olds, we take time almost everyday to do something creative. Creativity doesn’t have to be limited to art-based activities, nor does it have to take a lot of time or effort on your part. In our house, I seize every opportunity I can to encourage my children to put a “creative spin” on literally anything we’re doing. Whether we’re getting dressed, arranging the dinner table, driving to the doctor’s office, making breakfast, or thinking of ways to organize the toy closet, I’m constantly challenging them to be creative in how they live, work, and play. Yes, children can and should work. Side note: If anyone has solved one of life’s most elusive mysteries—how to keep a toy closet organized—please let me know.
Certainly if you have a child who already loves to draw, paint, and create, involve them in the arts. It’s proven that visual art is critical to a child’s development and fosters academic achievement throughout life. However, you don’t have to send your child to a formal art class in order to make creativity an integral part of their life, nor does he or she have to show some early talent in art in order to reap the rewards of exposure to art. We recommend that as parents you make your home a creative, colorful environment where exploration and curiosity is embraced. This is when the “magic” of creativity really happens. You don’t have to consider yourself creative or artistic in order to do this for your child. It’s easy. So lose the electronics and engage in a delightful pastime sure to be perennially popular with the whole family. How often do you find that kind of universal palette pleaser?
Here are some proven ideas to inspire you:
Be an Example: Let your own creativity flourish (or bring it out of hiding). All of us have a child-like curiosity, enthusiasm, and “crazy” ideas. Share them with your children. Be open to new experiences, and share your ideas with your child. Share the excitement and take delight in what you can create together.
Access: Give your child lots of accessible art tools in your home. These need not be expensive or sophisticated. Just doodling and scribbling is critical to your child’s creative development. Scribbling is the oldest and most important communication tool known to mankind. Scribbling is the basis for all other learning to come. Even before a child can talk or walk, he/she can scribble. Set out the basic art supplies (listed below) and you’ll have a very happy and creative child.
A Mess and a Masterpiece: Give your child an area where it’s okay to get a little messy. Parents who fret over an art mess, can turn a child off to artistic endeavors. You cannot possibly be creative when you’re worried about getting crayon on the table.
Freedom: Allow your child the freedom to create his/her own art without giving him/her your expectations (or assistance). A child who creates freely learns to enjoy and benefit from art, and becomes more self-confident in his/her abilities to do all sorts of things (not just art). A brown blob might not be what you expected, but the child who created that blob is a proud and confident child indeed.
Independence: Help your children become confident and independent by encouraging them to create their own work. If they ask you to do it for them, tell them you want to see their creation. Never finish a child’s work or alter it with your own idea of how it should look.
