Creativity is “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness or imagination,” according to Dictionary.com.
Creativity is often related to artistic fields, visual aids, music and painting. Oftentimes, we hear people say that someone was born creative or that others just do not have the creative “quality” in them.
However, “creativity is more skill than inborn talent, and it is a skill parents can help their kids develop,” according to Christine Carter Greater Good article, “7 ways to foster creativity in your kids.”
Additionally, it is not limited to arts, as it is also necessary for science, math, problem-solving and adaptation, the Greater Good article said.
Developing the ability to be creative, as explained in PBS article, “Creativity and play: Fostering creativity,” is important because it allows children to express themselves better and nurture their emotional health.
“All children need to be truly creative is the freedom to commit themselves completely to the effort and make whatever activity they are doing their own,” the PBS article said.
Nevertheless, in my opinion, it is important for parents to understand that they are not turning their kids into painters or musicians when they allow them to draw whatever they feel like. Instead the children are developing a divergent type of thinking, which acts as the backbone of creativity, according to Carolina A. Miranda’s CNN article, “Why we need to let kids be creative.”
Divergent thinking is what we all use when we need to find solutions to a problem. It happens when the child wants something out of the upper shelves and he climbs to get it. Essentially, we all have the ability to be creative, the difference lies in whether our parents allowed us to develop it or not.
Developing this skill has a lot to do with discovering, exploring and imagining, according to Mary Ann Kohl’s Earlychildhood News article, “Fostering creativity.”
Perhaps, what we need the most to develop our minds is not the video on mom’s tablet, but for mom to read us a story and help us make up voices for the characters.
Creativity is linked to intelligence, motivation and environment. In addition, it is important to give children freedom, support and positive challenges in order to improve their creativity, according to Karen Kersting’s American Psychological Association article, “What exactly is creativity?”
I am not going to say that children do not need limits, because they do. However, it could be good to let them draw, build or talk however they want to for a few hours instead of sitting them in front of the TV where, instead of using their creativity to create images or stories, the final product is already on the screen in front of them.
Children’s brains absorb everything they see or hear.
In my opinion, parents need to allow their children to have the opportunity to explore the backyard, to dress up as their favorite princess or superhero, or give them a sock and glitter to turn into puppets. Most importantly, do not reject any of their ideas.
“Allow kids the freedom and autonomy to explore ideas and do what they want,” Christine Carter said in her Greater Good article.
