
Once, Michele Sheasaid, “Creativity is…seeing something that doesn’t exist already. You need to find out how you can bring it into being and that way is a playmate with God.”. Cultivating any sort of creativity is not about teaching the ability of creativeness to the child. It’s about the environment you, as a parent, is setting out for your child.
Curiosity is a boom to your child. It develops their creative potential. Raising a creative child is really a fun game. Your nights and days will be full of intriguing questions. Being a parent it is your job to foster a fertile environment to help in blooming your child’s creativeness. Do not ever attempt to ‘teach them artistic skills instead, support and encourage them in their pursuits. Soon, you start teaching them the skills, sooner they will lose interest. “Kids don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.” Said, Jim Henson.
Following are few representative samples that may help you in cultivating creativity in your child.
1. “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” _Margaret Mead
Give a push to your child’s imagination rather than just delivering the conclusion. When your child asks for a solution to any complex matters relating to homework or anything else don’t simply help them out with answers. Instead, ask their views and opinions on the subject of matter. Listen to their ideas and appreciate the uniqueness of the answers and rectify the errors.
2. “Children are great imitators so give them something to imitate.” _Humphrey Fellows
Children often grew up watching and imitating their parent’s habits or skills. Hence, it’s very natural for a child to inherit their parent’s artistic or creative attributes. As discussed earlier, don’t try to teach them the skills, instead, try to perform them in front of your child until they start showing some interest in it. Don’t insist they pursue it instead, give them the freedom to choose.
3. “A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm.” _Charles Schwab
Be your child’s playmate and encourage them in their pursuits. Whether they are on a mission to land on the moon or dancing on an imaginary stage. Cheer them up and keep igniting their enthusiasm in the game and don’t guide them for the next step. Let them decide and keep the role of your participation as a spawn.
4. “Let the child be the scriptwriter, the director and the actor in his own play.” _Magda Gerber
Observe what your child has a knack for. Appreciate and support them to pursue it. Help them with the supplies they need. Don’t try to over-structure their field of passion, they may feel disgusted and may gradually stop pursuing it.
5. “The more risks you allow your children to make, the better they learn to look after themselves.” ~ Roald Dahl
Assign your child with challenging jobs such as watering all the plants in the garden, folding clothes, setting up the dishes on the table, serving food, washing the soft toys, etc. These chores may seem very easy for us but are challenging enough for them. Allow them ample time and autonomy to perform the jobs. And avoid scolding for any errors instead, illuminate them with the right proceedings to perform the task.