How to Encourage Creativity in Kids

Helping children to become successful, happy adults has a lot to do with the education they get, but it also depends heavily on how creative they are. A creative adult can think outside the box to come up with novel solutions to problems. Here's a few ways to encourage children to think more creatively.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Let the child or children tell you stories. Regularly coming up with original stories may sound daunting to an adult, but most young kids live largely in their imaginations anyway. Coming up with a new story each day on the way to school, right before bed or after dinner will teach them to look inside themselves for something new and original.

2. Teach creativity by letting the children get hands on experience with creating. Instead of giving them a craft project, hand over some supplies and tell them to make something. Some Popsicle sticks, glue and a few pieces of construction paper can be used in a million different ways. Let the kids explore the possibilities.

3. Ask them what they see in the clouds. It may sound like a no brainer, but sometimes life gets so busy that adults forget to stop and look at the shapes in the clouds. Point out a cloud and ask about the pictures they see.

4. Sing alternate lyrics to songs. When kids hear an adult doing this they love to do it as well. It teaches kids to think fast and to choose their own words to fit into the song. That kind of quick, creative thinking may get the child out of a few jams in the future when they have to think on their feet to supply a creative answer or solution.

5. Let them think up their own endings to books. After you've read the children a story, ask them how else the book could have ended. It shows them that their creativity is just as good and important as that of the book's author. Encourage them to write their own book if they seem interested in it. A cute book can be made with construction paper, a market and a stapler.

6. All children to design their own rooms. Even a very young child can think of things they'd like to have on their walls or where they'd like their rug to go. If you own your own home, let an older child paint on their walls. It sounds scary, but if you ever list the home for sale you can always take a picture of the masterpiece and paint over it. Painting their own walls gives kids a creative outlet and will encourage them to discover their own tastes. it also allows them to change their environment as they grow. The bear they painted at seven may get painted over by a guitar at 12. A four-year-old may want to paint hearts, smiley faces or his own name on the wall. Those paintings are a kind of self expression that will instill pride in the child as well as helping him to think creatively to come up with things to paint.

[thesquirrelymom]

on 12/5/2008 Good advice, kids are so creative!