Creativity is a great tool in the development of kids. It is the primary skill that improves imagination, teaches management, develops problem solving skill and helps the mental well-being of a child.
Here are some tips to foster creativity in children:
Working on blank canvas: Kids can get really creative on seeing a white page. A blank sheet along with colored pencils can inspire a child to write, draw, sketch, create a puzzle or more.
Looking for inspiration: Sometimes, a blank page can confuse some kids. Should I write or draw or let it be clean? Well, the idea is to help them express themselves. So give them some drawings or pages to copy from. Soon you’ll see them improvising on their work!
Avoid labeling: Don’t call your child uncreative ever. Creativity needs time and boredom to start unfurling. But by calling your child uncreative, you’ve subtly told them to not even try.
Setting limits: Sometimes limits help kids to think within the box and yet be creative. For instance: When I told my son not to play in the backyard as it’s wet and dirty, he asked if I had a problem with the dirt or with washing dirty clothes. And we finally agreed that he could play if he work his wellies and a raincoat. And these could be cleaned outside with a water spray jet!
Providing a space: Just keeping a creative and messy corner allows kids to be free and be themselves. We have a corner at home where kids can do as they like, within that space. So sometimes they bring friends home, draw on the walls (they are washable), dress up with old clothes or just take a nap on the rug. When kids are free they get creative.
Keeping it basic: My child had been asking for a new toy and I went into the garage and found an empty cardboard box. She and I then painted it to look like a train and she played with it all summer giving a ride to her toys and friends!
Praising everything: Be sure to appreciate even the silliest things that your kids create. You don’t want them to feel that their effort is not recognized. Yes, sometimes it’s just a few lines on a piece of paper but it’s still better than nothing at all.