In this article you will learn:Modern lifestyles, despite their many advantages, can make it difficult for young children to discover their creative potential. Thanks to progress and significant improvements in general living conditions, we increasingly need to resort to creative solutions in everyday life. Learn what creativity is and how to foster creativity in children in their daily lives.
- How does the modern world destroy creativity in children?
- What is children's creativity and why is it important?
- How to support and develop creativity in children?
- How to ask children questions to spark their creativity?
- How do patterns hinder children's creativity?
- Does perfectionism help you be creative?
- In Praise of Boredom - What Do Bored Kids Come Up With?
- What are valuable role models?
- Does screen time affect creativity in children?
The modern world of children's creativity
In studies conducted since the 1980s, scientists have observed that successive generations of children have diminishing creative thinking skills. It's hard to disagree. Creative play is being replaced by ready-made solutions straight from store shelves .
Where our generation struggled to create an astronaut suit or a dollhouse using cardboard and string, today's children are provided with ready-made toys that meet their every need. A child's imagination takes a backseat, and their innate curiosity and need for discovery have no outlet. Similarly, a structured daily routine eliminates opportunities for spontaneity, adventure, and experimentation.
What is creativity in children and where does it come from?
Creativity helps solve problems, cope with change, and cope with limitations . It influences quality of life and happiness. It is a combination of imagination, acquired experience and knowledge, a problem-solving attitude, and the ability to think outside the box. Children have an extraordinary predisposition for all of these elements. Open to the world and not yet taught stereotypical behaviors, they are more willing than adults to explore innovative solutions and ideas.
When we talk about creativity, we often think of artistic professions. Wrongfully. Creativity, or the ability to create, can result in innovative ideas that are useful not only to artists but also to scientists, journalists, businesspeople, and psychologists.
Check out Endo's fun and creative projects
How to support and develop creativity in children?
Every child has a creative gene within them . This ability fades as they grow up, but as parents, we can support our children in nurturing this beautiful gift. Endo artists and designers, who see creativity as a daily challenge and fun, shared with us a few ideas on how to do just that.
"We love playing with words and convention. When designing new collections, we strive to break established patterns to surprise, provoke reflection, and unconventionally express a child's personality. Endo's mission is to inspire children and parents with clothing that stimulates their imagination and creative potential. To spark a child's creativity, it's not enough to hand them a pad and crayons. As parents, we can set an example for our children by actively seeking unconventional solutions in everyday life. "
Ask original questions
Parents love to test their children's knowledge. Asking "what is two times two?" only expects one correct answer. Such questions don't stimulate a child's creative potential. To foster creativity, ask children an open-ended question that they can come up with multiple solutions to, such as "Can you touch a rainbow?"
"Creative thinking isn't about finding the single, correct answer, but about finding multiple ways to solve the same problem. We don't have to immediately judge which way is best. Instead, let's discuss what happens when we use each solution. Each one might turn out to be equally good."
Combine, mix, break the rules
To break free from the mold of a closed mind, sometimes you have to do something truly shocking, and sometimes… simply wear two different socks to work. Your little one might be shocked that their serious parent dresses so carelessly. They'll also understand that we can shape the reality we find to suit our needs and are limited only by our imagination . We can use objects in entirely new ways than their original purpose.
"Creative thinking allows you to take experience from one field and apply it to a completely new environment. To help your child think outside the box, we can ask them, for example, to come up with 10 unusual uses for a garbage can."
How to celebrate Creativity Day - check out fun paint fun for kids
Allow yourself to make mistakes
For young children, parents are the yardstick for how they should behave. If we never allow ourselves to make mistakes and always follow proven solutions, there's a good chance our child won't be trained to think creatively . To confidently express our ideas, we need to feel confident that they won't be criticized. Show your child that making mistakes is a natural thought process and that everyone experiences them. Allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes with your child, showing them that they're not so scary and lead to better solutions.
"Creativity is the result of imagination, knowledge, and the desire to solve a given problem. However, without favorable external conditions, even the most creative child will not be able to develop their potential. A child must know that even the craziest ideas will be met with our respect and interest."
To support creativity in children - Don't correct
As parents, we want our children to succeed, so we offer them good faith and constant guidance. However, research shows that children are less creative when a better solution is imposed on them .
"Instead of correcting, let's ask: How else can we solve this problem? or How else can we draw a dinosaur?"
Children's creativity and boredom
Boredom is a friend of creativity. If a child has nothing to do, their mind will begin to seek out entertainment in more unconventional ways . Time away from activities and responsibilities stimulates creativity. During free play or boredom, the brain can "breathe" and reorganize previously collected information, reaching new conclusions.
"Let's not organize the entire day for children and don't give them ready-made toys or tablets when they start complaining about the lack of activities. A frustrated child will eventually unleash their imagination and come up with their own fun."
Look for wise inspirations
Creative people are curious. They seek inspiration in the natural world and in various fields of art and science. Ensure your child is exposed to the world of art, music, and technology . Workshops for children organized by museums and various institutions will open their eyes to the world and show them how outstanding scientists and artists think.
"During a museum visit, you can experience art in a unique way. Ask your child to spend 5 minutes convincing visitors that they, too, are part of the exhibition they're viewing."
Smart time in front of the monitor
Let's not treat modern technology as the enemy. Tablets and cell phones are merely tools, and they can become indispensable instruments for awakening a child's passions. To support your child's development, teach them to use the internet wisely , for example, by watching channels where older children learn drawing or dancing.
"The internet offers opportunities unavailable to previous generations to reach artists, learn about their craft, and learn directly from them. Show your child how to access valuable content and apply their acquired knowledge in practice."
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