When we talk about creativity we often conjure up images of arts and crafts projects or theatrical performances. While these are indeed creative pursuits, creativity itself comes from the capacity to think in a critical and innovative way. It includes the ability to find solutions to problems, create opportunities and form and explore new ideas. To help boost your child’s creativity, we have teamed up with an independent school in Lincoln who have shared their tips below.
Unstructured Play
Kids spend a lot of their time task focused. Whilst a structured school curriculum and a regimented training program in their sports club of course provide many benefits, it’s also important to allow time for you children to play in an unstructured manner too. Free time to play and explore will challenge your child to think creatively. A box of dressing up props could become a spectacular theatre production. A tub of building blocks can evolve into a high-rise metropolis. Keep in mind that screen-time should not be confused for unstructured play. Staring passively at a device doesn’t fire-up the creative side of your child’s brain, so it’s important to put sensible limits on their access to screens and encourage them to use their imaginations instead.
Read Together
Exploring new worlds and meeting a host of enthralling characters can really help to get your child’s creative juices flowing. Reading opens doors to new perspectives and interesting new ways of thinking and allows your child to get a glimpse at the world outside of their own day-to-day life. Engaging with literature helps to improve a child’s imagination and boosts critical thinking as they immerse themselves in the story and form opinions on the characters and events.
Allow Them to Problem Solve
Creativity is a key factor in problem solving. Being able to analyse a problem and come upwith a suitable solution takes imagination and critical thinking. Like any other skill, problem solving improves with practice. If you find yourself swooping in to fix any issue your child faces , they’ll never get the opportunity to flex their solution-finding muscles. If your child is facing a problem, help them by suggesting they make a list of possible solutions and perhaps writing a pros and cons list for each option. This way you are giving them the tools they need to find the answers, without doing all the heavy lifting for them.
