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Creativity can be expressed in a variety of ways. If you’re a creative person, you know firsthand how much fun it can be. Formal education certainly has its place, but encouraging self-expression is just as important.
Here are some ways to help your child experience the fun of creativity.
#1 Take a Trip to An Art Museum: An art museum can expose your child to a variety of creations from other people. Seeing so many types of art and realizing that famous people didn’t’ gain recognition and success by always being compliant and following rules without ever venturing out in a new direction.
#2 Encourage Trial and Error: Things don’t always go as planned, so when it happens to your child, help her discover new ways to solve a problem. Making mistakes is sometimes the best way to learn. When your child makes a mistake, refrain from reprimanding, as this could deter her from trying something new later on.
#3 Be Silly: Take time to play with your child. Be silly and play an air guitar or sing into a pretend microphone. This is a great way to unlock your child’s creative imagination and help him discover new interests. Pretend to be characters from a favorite book or movie. Let your child do your hair or makeup without any input from you. The more you play around with your child, the more he will be encouraged to explore his imagination and creativity.
#4 Give Freedom: Before you raise your eyebrow, this does not mean “no holds barred,” but instead have specific rules and boundaries in place so your child can be freely creative. For instance, provide him with plenty of paper and crayons and let him draw or color whatever he wishes, reminding him that he must draw on the paper, not the walls, table, or floor. Add other materials as age appropriate for your child, including ribbon, egg cartons, glue sticks, etc. Collect large cardboard boxes and help him build a castle, playhouse, or fort.
#5 Offer Opportunities to Make Choices: Depending on your child’s age, allow independent choices. A toddler can choose between two books or two toys. A kindergartner might choose an outfit from pre-selected pieces. Older children can be given opportunities to choose their own room décor, etc. This form of self-expression will help them understand their personal likes and dislikes.
Each time your child shows you a self-made piece of art or shares a creative idea, encourage the innovation and self-expression.
Thought Starters:
- Planning a Visit to an Art Museum: Consider organizing a family trip to a local art museum. Think about how you can discuss the various artworks with your child, encouraging them to observe different styles and techniques, and asking them what they think about certain pieces or what ideas the art gives them.
- Encouraging Trial and Error: Reflect on ways to create a safe space for your child to experiment and make mistakes. This could involve setting up a dedicated creative area where it’s okay to get messy or make 'mistakes', and thinking of activities that allow for experimentation, like mixing paint colors or building with blocks.
- Engaging in Silly Play: Brainstorm playful and silly activities you can do with your child, such as having a pretend concert with air guitars, role-playing characters from their favorite stories, or having a dress-up day where you both wear funny or mismatched clothes.
- Creating a Freedom-with-Boundaries Environment: Think about how you can provide materials and opportunities for creativity that are age-appropriate and within set boundaries. For example, you could provide various art supplies with the rule that artwork is to be created on paper or designated areas only.
- Offering Choices for Self-Expression: Consider ways to allow your child to make independent choices appropriate to their age. This could range from choosing between two books for a toddler to selecting their own room decorations for an older child. Plan how you can incorporate these choices into daily routines to encourage their sense of personal style and expression.
Suggested Questions To Ask Your Child:
- What did you like most about our visit to the art museum?
This question relates to the suggestion of taking a trip to an art museum. It encourages the child to reflect on their experience and share what artwork or style caught their interest, promoting further discussion on creative expressions.
- Can you show me a new way to use these art supplies?
In line with encouraging trial and error, this question invites the child to experiment with art materials creatively. It supports the idea that making mistakes is part of the learning process and encourages them to think outside the box.
- What kind of character shall we pretend to be today?
This question is inspired by the suggestion to engage in silly play, such as role-playing. It allows the child to use their imagination to come up with fun and creative ideas, fostering their creative storytelling and character creation skills.
- What would you like to draw or create today?
Pertaining to giving freedom within boundaries, this question gives the child a sense of autonomy in choosing their creative activity, while implicitly understanding the boundaries set (like using paper for drawing).
- Would you like to choose your outfit or the book we read tonight?
Aligning with offering opportunities to make choices, this question lets the child express themselves through personal choices, whether in dressing or selecting a book. It reinforces the concept of independent decision-making and personal preference, important aspects of self-expression and creativity.
