This post will discuss what creativity actually means, the benefits of encouraging creativity and how you can encourage children to be creative.
What is creativity?
Essentially, creativity is a form of self-expression. To be creative means to be unique, to be imaginative or to think outside of the box. This can be achieved by using our imagination and trying new things in order to create new things and even new forms of existence.
When contemplating the nature of creativity we must remember that it isn’t limited to one specific set of people. It’s easy to think that you can only be creative in artistic media such as writing, theatre, crafts etc. In reality however, creativity is key to many disciplines including the likes of maths, science, business and much more. More importantly, we must remember that we can all be creative in our own unique way.
There are many benefits that come with being creative, which will be discussed later. Generally, creativity has a purpose in helping individuals to produce something of value. But where children are concerned developing a sense of creativity is a learning process. This means that much more emphasis should be placed on the entire process than on its outcome.
For example, we should encourage children to see writing a story or making a picture as a goal in itself. The outcome of whatever project they might be taking part in doesn’t necessarily matter, although it may just be brilliant nevertheless.
What is creativity?
Essentially, creativity is a form of self-expression. To be creative means to be unique, to be imaginative or to think outside of the box. This can be achieved by using our imagination and trying new things in order to create new things and even new forms of existence.
When contemplating the nature of creativity we must remember that it isn’t limited to one specific set of people. It’s easy to think that you can only be creative in artistic media such as writing, theatre, crafts etc. In reality however, creativity is key to many disciplines including the likes of maths, science, business and much more. More importantly, we must remember that we can all be creative in our own unique way.
There are many benefits that come with being creative, which will be discussed later. Generally, creativity has a purpose in helping individuals to produce something of value. But where children are concerned developing a sense of creativity is a learning process. This means that much more emphasis should be placed on the entire process than on its outcome.
For example, we should encourage children to see writing a story or making a picture as a goal in itself. The outcome of whatever project they might be taking part in doesn’t necessarily matter, although it may just be brilliant nevertheless.
What are the benefits of creativity?
Here are the top 5 characteristics and abilities children develop through being creative:
1. Collaboration
More often than not, creative work involves working together as a team with a group of your peers. This also improves communication skills i.e. learning to voice your ideas, listening to others, as well as writing things down and planning projects.
2. Discipline
In order to see a creative project through to the end children will have to work hard. Some forms of creative activities, such as playing a musical instrument, require discipline through regular practice. Furthermore, this sense of discipline also encourages focus and concentration.
3. Imagination
By taking part in creative tasks or activities children are likely to become more open-minded to ideas, including their own ideas. They are able to inject excitement into their world by bringing the stuff they fantasise about to life.
4. Initiative
Children are also more likely to take initiative and think for themselves. What’s more they are able to discover things for themselves without a parent or teacher having to tell them. And a significant by-product of creative tasks is children wanting to do things for their own merit and not for a reward or specific outcome.
5. Positivity
There are a lot of positive emotions involved in creative activities. This is mainly because children enjoy what they’re doing so much. This in turn builds confidence and encourages high aspirations. Moreover, children are able to find out what their strengths are or simply develop new interests.
Here are the top 5 characteristics and abilities children develop through being creative:
1. Collaboration
More often than not, creative work involves working together as a team with a group of your peers. This also improves communication skills i.e. learning to voice your ideas, listening to others, as well as writing things down and planning projects.
2. Discipline
In order to see a creative project through to the end children will have to work hard. Some forms of creative activities, such as playing a musical instrument, require discipline through regular practice. Furthermore, this sense of discipline also encourages focus and concentration.
3. Imagination
By taking part in creative tasks or activities children are likely to become more open-minded to ideas, including their own ideas. They are able to inject excitement into their world by bringing the stuff they fantasise about to life.
4. Initiative
Children are also more likely to take initiative and think for themselves. What’s more they are able to discover things for themselves without a parent or teacher having to tell them. And a significant by-product of creative tasks is children wanting to do things for their own merit and not for a reward or specific outcome.
5. Positivity
There are a lot of positive emotions involved in creative activities. This is mainly because children enjoy what they’re doing so much. This in turn builds confidence and encourages high aspirations. Moreover, children are able to find out what their strengths are or simply develop new interests.
How to encourage creativity
The most important aspect of encouraging creativity in children is leading by example. Be sure to display the traits you hope your child will develop by being open-minded, taking risks, allowing them to ask questions and making lots of time for creative activities.
Here are few ideas for fun and beneficial creative projects:
Question-Time
This game encourages creative thinking in particular and will stimulate a child’s imagination to no end. Children can write their ideas down, draw them or just talk about them. The game is all about posing interesting questions such as:
- What would a hamster say if it could talk?
- What will the city look like in 100 years’ time?
- How many ways can you use a plastic cup?
Set up Shop
This game provides the opportunity for you to get to know your child better and for him or her to learn about their own interests and talents. You can take it as far as you want to. They can set up a shop of their choice and make things to sell or set up a restaurant and improve their cooking skills. The opportunities are endless.
Getting Crafty
Crafts are a hands-on way to encourage creativity. You can also use the exercise to teach children other things such as numbers or colours or whatever else they may need to learn. Seeing as it’s nearly Christmas time you could make an advent calendar together or some vibrant decorations for your tree. Check out this page for a tonne of Christmassy craft ideas.
As we have seen, encouraging creativity in children is of the utmost importance to their development. As much emphasis should be placed on creative tasks as other more traditional activities or school subjects. Because creative thinking will benefit your child in many other areas of life, including those traditional activities.
This post was brought to you by MPD Hook and Loop. Our online shop stocks an array of Velcro products suitable for creative projects.
Image Credits: mckinney75402, Purple Sherbert, Zhao
The most important aspect of encouraging creativity in children is leading by example. Be sure to display the traits you hope your child will develop by being open-minded, taking risks, allowing them to ask questions and making lots of time for creative activities.
Here are few ideas for fun and beneficial creative projects:
Question-Time
This game encourages creative thinking in particular and will stimulate a child’s imagination to no end. Children can write their ideas down, draw them or just talk about them. The game is all about posing interesting questions such as:
- What would a hamster say if it could talk?
- What will the city look like in 100 years’ time?
- How many ways can you use a plastic cup?
Set up Shop
This game provides the opportunity for you to get to know your child better and for him or her to learn about their own interests and talents. You can take it as far as you want to. They can set up a shop of their choice and make things to sell or set up a restaurant and improve their cooking skills. The opportunities are endless.
Getting Crafty
Crafts are a hands-on way to encourage creativity. You can also use the exercise to teach children other things such as numbers or colours or whatever else they may need to learn. Seeing as it’s nearly Christmas time you could make an advent calendar together or some vibrant decorations for your tree. Check out this page for a tonne of Christmassy craft ideas.
As we have seen, encouraging creativity in children is of the utmost importance to their development. As much emphasis should be placed on creative tasks as other more traditional activities or school subjects. Because creative thinking will benefit your child in many other areas of life, including those traditional activities.
This post was brought to you by MPD Hook and Loop. Our online shop stocks an array of Velcro products suitable for creative projects.
Image Credits: mckinney75402, Purple Sherbert, Zhao