This is a topic that seems key to me. If we want our children to be autonomous beings in the future, capable of thinking for themselves and of using and applying their imagination to the different tasks they carry out in life, we must make sure to foster the creativity that is innate in all of us.
And what things can we do as parents or educators to develop it? How can we help them become creative people? As #Talentina says...
1.- It seems obvious, but in practice, perhaps it is not so much. Give them space to play, to sing, to simulate situations, to invent songs, to be themselves without any limits... Sometimes we get tired of saying: "don't mess, don't make a mess, don't touch that, don't hurt yourself, NO, NO, NO...". If we want our children to be creative, the first condition is to give them the opportunity to be so... reserving a space for it. If it is necessary to prepare that space first, it is worth doing so to then give them freedom...
2.- Give them time to play. Sometimes we organize their day so much and fill it with so many activities that they barely have time to play freely, to develop their own games... Classes until 5:00 PM and then swimming, English, dancing, etc... and sometimes at just three or four years old... Let's reserve time for them to play freely because it is essential for their development!
3.- Never laugh at or mock their ideas and listen to them carefully... whether they are drawings, songs, stories, how they dance or sing... even if they may seem absurd or funny to us, it is important for the child to perceive that what they have done has VALUE and that we perceive it that way... sometimes we don't realize it and with our comments or attitudes we can limit that creativity and make the child shy away on future occasions. Nothing like making them feel in a comfortable and cozy environment, where they feel recognized and valued, to get them to let themselves go...
4.- Educate them so that they also do not laugh at what others do... only then will we contribute to eliminating prejudices in schools. Teach them that when another child does something new, we should never laugh at it because simply "daring" to do it already deserves our congratulations...
5.- Do not direct their games: let them direct them, let them decide what to do and how to do it. Do not interrupt them when they are playing or when they are telling us a story, dancing or singing a song. Only intervene when they ask for help and in that case, guide them so that they take the reins...
6.- Also provide them with ideas and materials to carry out various activities. It's not about buying a lot of things, there are many activities we can do with things we have around the house: reusing containers, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, etc... will allow us to do endless crafts without having to buy many things... It's also good to have watercolors, paints, play-doh, storybooks, a musical instrument, music, songs, dress-up clothes, etc. at home...
7.- Help them develop critical thinking: to question things, even the most obvious ones... let them ask and together find answers to their questions so they can find the solutions themselves.
8.- Propose achievable challenges and goals, but also difficult enough so that they feel the pleasure and reward of work and effort made. When a child is motivated and having fun, that's when they will try hardest and overcome themselves. Trying to provide this type of situation will help their development.
9.- Provide them with new experiences: through excursions and contact with nature. A lot can be done. You can find more ideas here.
10.-Limit computer and television time, which promote a passive attitude and, in excess, do not help stimulate imagination and exploration.
What other things can you think of to boost their creativity?
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