The world can be a magical place for children. While it can seem like some children are born with naturally imaginative minds, creativity is something that can also be taught and nurtured. Parents can create an environment that encourages creative thinking and skills. Creativity can be found in many forms such as drawing and painting, reading and writing, dancing, singing, or simply playing make-believe.
It’s essential for children to learn how to express their creativity. Creative minds are known to do better in school as well as have a stronger executive functioning ability. Below are a few ways to nurture your child’s creativity and imagination.
Creativity at Home
Home is the greatest environment to teach our children the skills they need to flourish in life. This is why to encourage creativity within our children, it is important to value creativity at home and create a nurturing environment. At home, allow your child to freely think and play without having strict rules or judgement. It’s also essential to encourage their creative thinking and play by creating an environment that allows them to explore their ideas and imagination.
Offer Creative Opportunities
Another way to nurture a child’s creativity is by offering them more opportunities and resources to be creative. Parents can do this by having an assortment of pens, coloured pencils, paints, paper, and other craft items at their disposal. Or it may be free and easy access to their dolls and soft toys that they have grown up with. If your home is filled with creative resources, then your child will be more likely to explore their creative thinking and ideas. When your child has a creative idea, then they’ll have everything right there to express themselves.
Explore Their Curiosity
To inspire them to think creatively, start asking them open-ended questions. This inspires children to start thinking outside the box and imagine the world in new and better ways. Ask them how they can do the same activity but differently, why they do something a certain way, what they find easiest about their favourite activity, or even what they find the most challenging. By opening their minds to these types of questions, they’ll be encouraged to explore their way of thinking more creatively.
It’s Okay to Be Different
In a world that convinces us to follow a certain path, it can be hard to convince your children that it’s okay to be different. Even when it’s easier to conform, let them know that everything doesn’t have to be a certain way.It’s good to walk their own path and to be content. It’s important to let them know that it’s okay to try things and fail, to create something new or unheard of, and that exploring new paths is encouraged. One of the best ways to thrive in anything is to keep trying, “fail”, and keep learning. Show them that you’re not afraid to be different as well and demonstrate your creativity to them. When you are exploring your own creativity, be sure to let your children be involved and help you.