I was inspired to write this post on raising creative kids after reading an article on the decline of creativity. These are my tips as a creative parent and mother of four creative children.... those are the only credentials I've got, so take it for what it's worth!
10. Celebrate differences. When a child asks you which child is your favorite, resist the urge to tell them that you love them all the same. Instead tell them that you love them all different. Tell them what you love about each one pointing out how they are unique and you are glad that they are because it makes the whole family (and world) a better place. The permission to be different is one of the biggest challenges in my opinion to creativity. It can be scary and is often not rewarded by peers or society. Tell them you love them for being different!
9. Don't say yes right away. When my kids come asking for things like new toys, treats or clothes, if it's something I may say yes to (cell phones need not apply) then I like to have them make a list of all the reasons I should say yes. This is a great activity that can keep them busy for hours, but it also teaches them persuasive argument skills and creativity! Did you know that a case can be made for how new clothes can positively impact school performance?
8. Give permission to be wasteful. As thrifty as I try to be, this really sounds like bad advice. But NEVER give a child art supplies and tell them not to waste them! The fear of messing up a sheet of paper or using up an expensive bottle of paint on a failed project can make even the most daring child retreat. Wasted art supplies are not the end of the world. When a project goes awry, point out what was learned from having done it and tell them that all the supplies were worth that lesson.
7. Ask them their opinion on important things. When asked their opinion, children think. I like to pick out stories from the news and ask my kids what they think about them. If your children are younger, you can ask them what they think about the rules in your house. This is always fun. When they tell you what they don't like tell them why you have the rule, listing out all the reasons. Then ask them if they have an idea of a different way to get the same results.
6. Empower them. My mom always said that you should never do for a child what they can do for themselves. It worked for her because her kids were perfect. ;) But, my kids whine, "I can't do it, I need you to." They have this down to an art that rivals any torture technique invented! So we have a rule, "If you try three times and you still can't do it, then I'll help you." Now that they are getting older, this rule applies to things like friendship problems. When they ask me how to solve their problem, I tell them to come up with three ways they could handle it.
5. Come up with lots of ideas. When a child tells you they are bored, say, "If you could do anything right now, what would you choose? Make a list of 10 things." I did this just yesterday with Jack. He was so bored, it took him an hour to get to 7. I helped him come up with the others by giving him prompts like "go look around your room" and "what things do you like to do outside." Coming up with lots of ideas is great creative practice.
4. Play creative games. One of our favorite creative games to play is to take two completely different things and try to find ways to tie them together. For example, what do a dog and a toothbrush have in common? Another game we love is telling stories where each person adds one sentence on their turn.
3. Be inventive. Let your kids see you solve problems creatively and they will too. I'm not great in the kitchen. We experiment a lot and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. My kids have seen me come up with many creative culinary solutions like washing off salad when the dressing turned out awful and making a bundt pan by placing a glass in an oven safe bowl. In fact, I use glasses a lot since I don't own a rolling pin or any cookie cutters.
Yesterday my girls made peanut butter bars and the cookies sheet they choose was too big for the recipe. They called me to the kitchen to help out. I asked what ideas they had since we didn't have a smaller pan. Kate suggested making more to add to it. Abby suggested just using half the pan and making a decorative edge.
2. Upcycle and fix things. Is it an old tee-shirt with holes and stains, or a new headband with ruffly flowers? Teach kids to see the potential in things and find new uses for what they no longer need.
1. Change the game. One of our favorites things to do is paint with our kids, but pick out something besides a brush for them to use. How can you paint with a credit card? Can you paint on fabric? Do your favorite things, but in new ways. It gets them thinking, keeps them from being bored and is a lot of fun.
PS: Thrifty Thursday will be back when my home doesn't have 18 fans blowing!
