People tend to think creativity is an innate gift that some are born with and others aren’t. In reality, creativity is like any other skill that can be fostered and developed over time.
If you’re looking for ways to enhance your child’s creative abilities, here are four simple ways to encourage them to open their minds and think outside the box.
1. Build a creative atmosphere
Building an environment in your home where creativity and innovation are always celebrated. You are your child’s biggest role model, and if they see you pursuing your interests and dabbling in multiple activities, they will follow suit.
Approach creativity as a journey you and your child can embark on together. Cover your walls with forms of art from all around the world. Have an activity night each week where you and your young one explore a new interest together.
Talk to your kid about your interests growing up, favourite artistes you liked, the shows you watched, the concerts you attended.
Share with them your passion for cooking, books, photography, wildlife, gardening, painting, fashion, sciences, technology, or anything under the sun. Expose your kid to various fields and foster a creative atmosphere.
2. Pick up on their interests
Each child is unique, so don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, observe them and pick up on their interests.
Does your child have a habit of randomly doodling on walls and surfaces? Get them a couple of sketchbooks and a set of crayons, and let them doodle away!
If your kid loves sing-alongs and music, take them to music shows and concerts, introduce them to musical instruments, and encourage impromptu family dance parties in your living room.
If they’re always dressing up in your clothes and love pretend play, introduce them to theatre and live performances and let them channel their inner drama queen.
Toys can also enhance creativity. If your child spends hours hunched over Legos or building blocks, introduce them to the basics of mechanics and architecture. Let them help you put together an IKEA table or watch you fix a lightbulb.
Give them crafting supplies – cardboard, glue, straws, and empty toilet paper rolls – and watch them build away.
If you look closely enough, your child is constantly dropping hints about what sparks their interest. Give them adequate resources to explore their passions and build from there.
3. Give them space to grow
Space is an important resource your child needs for creative expression. Instead of watching over their shoulder while they take on a particular task, leave them to approach it in their own time and way.
Allow them to explore their interests and determine what they want. Encourage your child to make mistakes, and teach them that failure is a part of the learning process.
Allocate specific spaces around the house where they can let loose and create a mess, such as an arts corner or play section with all their toys and supplies.
Giving your child space also means not overburdening them by filling up their week with a hundred different activities. Forcing them to join clubs or attend sessions they don’t enjoy makes the activity feel like a chore and discourages them from participating.
Instead, let them choose what they want to explore and let them have their free time. Provide them a couple of idle hours during the week where they can laze about and let their imagination run wild.
In addition, give your children the opportunity to express their ideas without fear of your response. Let them disagree with you and challenge your beliefs. You can then ask them why they do so.
Value your child’s opinions, and teach them the importance of autonomy and critical thinking.
4. Focus on the process, not the results
Creativity is not about performance. Don’t treat your child’s creative pursuits as you would their academics; it isn’t about how well they do it, but how much they learn and enjoy themselves.
Removing the pressure to perform well allows your child to be freer in their creative thinking. Instead of focusing on results, ask them questions about the process: what they liked, what they learnt, whether they had fun, and if they’d be interested in exploring the activity further.
If your child picks up a particular activity but drops it midway, don’t get disheartened and pressure them to continue against their wishes. Let them explore different worlds, take on new challenges, and experience failure. If there’s an interest they particularly enjoyed, they will likely circle back to it with time.
Take the pressure of excellence and performance off your child, and watch their creativity flow in all directions.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.