Children are like beautiful flowers in a garden. They are like blank papers yet to be written. The early years of childhood is very important for a child. Whatever they learn from their surroundings will directly result in their upbringing. There lies the role of good parenting. Boosting up creativity in a child's life will not only help in developing creative thinking of the child but also help in overall development of his or her life in future.
First of all, let us understand what does it really mean to be creative. Creative does not only mean to be an artist, a painter, a singer, or a dancer, but it is something beyond that. Being creative means to be able to solve problems, explore new ideas, to have a better understanding of the world, and to be flexible. Thus it helps in overall development of a child.
Creative thinking is a very important and interesting concept and it involves both the parent and the child to work together. There are some simple ways to boost up your child's creativity.
- Provide necessary tools and equipment to your child so that your child can explore her creative side. Do not force your child to engage in arts of your choice. Instead, provide him with some basic artistic tools like crafts paper, scissor, color pencils, and glue and see the wonders they create. Let them experiment with colors and papers. This will not only help your child to bring out his or her own unique creative side, but also boost up his or her confidence.
- Do not fuss about the clutter and mess they create during their experimentation with arts. Let them be themselves. They might not make the perfect patterns or the perfect shapes but instead encourage them with their new ideas and imaginations.
- Engage in reading sessions with your child. Help your child to be imaginative. Parent and child reading sessions are very important. Read out books with colorful illustrations and pictures. Listen to their version of the stories and help them to imagine. Allow them to make their own stories and help them to develop characters in their own. Their stories and characters might seems silly and weird, but they are all imaginations and anything is possible in the imagination world.
- Play with your kids. Participate in musicals and play scenarios where both you and your child are playing some imaginative character. This will also help you in bonding with your child and gain trust of your child.
- Switch off the television. Allow your child to watch television once in a while. For e.g. you can encourage him to watch some educational programs which are apt for his age. The rest of the time try not to switch on the television. Too much watching of television blocks his ability of thinking on his own.
- Help your child to develop his hobby. Watch your child carefully. Try to find out your child's interests. If your child is interested in painting encourage him to paint and if he wants to take up volleyball help him to develop that skill too.
- Praise and encourage your child. Everybody needs encouragement and so does a child. Praise your child continuously. It will only boost up his confidence.
Childhood is the most fascinating and wonderful time of our life. It is the time when everything is new for us. During these years a child adventures, explores, learns, and finds out about the whole new world around him. His mind is simple, clear, fresh and free from any prejudice. So it is a parent's responsibility to give full guidance and support so that the child could develop into a good human being. So help your child to be creative as creativity begins at home.