| | | | | seems to totally absorb them. When you ask them |
| Creativity is essentially a form of problem-solving but it | | | | what they are drawing or painting, they look at you |
| involves solving problems in which there are no easy | | | | with a puzzled expression. The idea that it had to be |
| answers. This is a critical skill for success in school as | | | | anything never occurred to them. |
| well as adulthood. There are parenting skills that can | | | | Creative Exercises for Parents and Children |
| encourage creativity to develop in our children. | | | | -Play some music and ask your child to paint a picture |
| Provide an environment that allows your child to | | | | based on how the music makes them feel. Encourage |
| explore and play. Playing is the way your child learns | | | | your child to listen to the melody, rhythm, and words. |
| and explores creativity. If your child is going to | | | | -Collect magazines from friends and family. Help your |
| participate in a painting activity, put down plastic or | | | | child cut out pictures from the magazines to make a |
| butcher paper to protect floors. Conducting messy | | | | collage that represents their favorite things. You can |
| activities outdoors may also be an option. Set aside a | | | | also ask your child to paste some pictures on a piece |
| play room if you have the space in your home. | | | | of paper and to write a story about the pictures. |
| Adapt to your child’s ideas at times rather than | | | | -On a warm spring or summer afternoon go outside |
| trying to structure their ideas to fit your own. Accept | | | | with your child and lay on the grass. Look up at the |
| unusual ideas at times without passing judgment or | | | | sky and create a story inspired by characters you |
| being critical. These positive parenting messages can | | | | both find in the clouds. This is a great way to connect |
| be vital in fostering creativity in your children. It’s | | | | with the Earth and your child while exercising the |
| important to dedicate time for creative exercise with | | | | imagination. |
| your children. What were you doing the last time your | | | | -Find a recipe in a cookbook or online. Encourage your |
| child was coloring a picture? Were you paying bills, | | | | child to make adjustments to the recipe to make it |
| talking on the telephone, or doing laundry? Of course, | | | | more original. Bake cookies or cupcakes and use |
| all of these things can be important, but you may be | | | | unusual items to decorate the baked goods. Ask your |
| missing out on opportunities to foster creativity in your | | | | child for suggestions. Cooking is a way to explore |
| child. Interactive creative time together can be a golden | | | | creativity in an everyday activity. |
| opportunity for fostering creativity. | | | | -Encourage your child to write a poem using the first |
| Another important parenting skill is to emphasize | | | | letters of their name. Work together to write a poem |
| process rather than product when interacting with your | | | | based on the first letters of your name or on the |
| child. Children often do this naturally. They can work on | | | | letters MOTHER. This is a great introduction to poetry |
| an art project for hours. The process of creation | | | | writing. |