Creativity isn’t a trait that some people have and others don’t. It’s a way of using your mind and body as you engage in a task that has no prescribed approach. In the creative process, your ideas, feelings, skills, and knowledge flow together in innovative ways, allowing you to make or learn something new.”
(“Creative Minds at Play” in Scholastic Parent & Child Dec./Jan. 1998 by Charlotte Doyle, Ph.D.)
Ideas for parents: There are many simple ways to effectively encourage your child’s creativity. Here are just a few…
- Ask open-ended questions or silly “What if…” kinds of questions.
- Use the technique of scaffolding – Observe what your child is doing. Copy it, then suggest or model a slight change to what they’re doing. (This is a good technique with instrument play.)
- Recycle paper towel tubes, plastic containers, and boxes and keep them available for open-ended play inspiration.
- Keep a box of dress-up clothes in the playroom – from cowboy hats to princess shoes to tutus to a fireman’s vest to scarves.
- Stock up on simple art supplies like large sheets of paper, washable markers, finger paints, and crayons. Turn on some music and encourage your child to draw what he hears.
- Turn off your cell phone, sit down, and play with your child. Pretend play is a great way to relieve stress and bond with your child!
Try this Creative Activity with your Kids
Here’s a sample activity from Kindermusik@Home that allows your children to show their creative side. Watch these silly animals and let your kids imitate their movements – in their own creative way.
Shared by Theresa Case, whose Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.