What a welcome sight and sound yesterday when the rain arrived! I’m sure the gardens and farmlands will be thirsting for more, but at least it was a start. All we want now is a fine day for Meidy and Paul’s wedding tomorrow! The weather impacts on our lives in so many ways, affecting our moods, our plans and in some cases our livelihoods. It is something over which we have no control; it can be calm, beautiful, unpredictable, upset our plans, too hot, too cold, too humid, and so on and we mostly learn to go with the flow, be flexible, adapt, be prepared for, realise when its beaten us . It occurred to me that bringing up and educating children can be like that and when we try to coerce, control, and organise every second of their lives, we are missing the reality of the amazing innate capabilities of each child who, if we allow and provide the encouragement, will learn more through play, creativity, inventiveness, experimentation, curiosity than we as adults can ever teach them.
Children are natural innovators with powerful imaginations and creativity benefits us intellectually, emotionally and contributes to our health and wellbeing – Hauora. Children’s imaginations may help them cope better with difficulties. Creativity also helps children be more confident, develop social skills, and learn better. Some ways that parents can encourage their children’s creativity:
Keep it simple. There is no need to create an elaborate play area nor have the latest and greatest toys either. Simple games and activities work well and, as an example, when playing with Lego don’t insist that children follow the instructions- let the wheels of their imagination spin and build what they want.
Allow for “free time.” It’s also important to that children have unstructured time so they can spend a few hours at home without activities scheduled , when they can just potter around and play.
Help your children activate their senses. Expose them to the world so they can use all of their senses. This doesn’t mean costly or complicated trips. Go to the library, museum and outdoors. Ask them to imagine what traveling to faraway places, such as the African safari, might be like. What animals might they see? What would the safari look like? What would it smell like? What noises would the animals make?
Cultivate creative critical thinking. Involve your children in problem solving; ask them how they approach certain problems and how they might do things differently, Have your kids brainstorm their ideas on paper using words or pictures or use a tool like mind-mapping
Avoid managing. Children have an amazing innate ability to be creative when they play freely on their own, and unfortunately, the act of over-parenting/over -teaching dampens or even wipes out that innate ability. It’s important to figure out how to facilitate your child’s creativity without managing it.
Help children pursue their passions. Pay attention to your child’s interests and support and encourage their passions, preferably by letting them take the lead, not by enrolling them in another class, club, activity or purchasing expensive equipment each time the “passion” changes!
Take the time for your own creativity. Since kids learn from watching their parents, be creative, too. Children love to help and also experiment in the kitchen. Join your child when they’re drawing or building or colouring, resisting the temptation to takeover and do it “perfectly” or “correctly”!
