Creativity in a child is something you definitely shouldn’t suppress. When a child’s imagination runs free, they come up with innovative ideas that brighten their and your day, they have a better time playing with friends and by themselves, and they get by easier as adults. To a creative mind, the world is never boring or drab, and there are always opportunities for fun. You should channel your child’s creativity while they’re still young so that they can gain new skills and be more capable and smarter adults.
1. Let them disagree with you
Just because you’re the parent doesn’t mean you’re always right. Your child should have the opportunity to state their own ideas and thoughts and express their feelings regardless of if you share them. They don’t have to have the same opinion as you on any topic, really.
The important thing is that they give you structured and logical arguments behind their opinion. Challenge them, but don’t reprimand them. Not only will this support their creativity, but it will also teach them that not everyone needs to think the same. They’ll be much more tolerant as an adult, and they won’t have a hard time changing their opinions if someone proves them wrong.
2. Ask questions
The best way to get a child thinking is to ask them questions. Whenever they draw or make something, ask them about it. They’ll surely be proud of their creation and bring it to you to show off as soon as they finish it. Don’t just tell them it’s nice- genuinely take interest in what it is, how it works, and why they came up with it in the first place.
They’ll be glad to tell you everything and the conversation will get them thinking. This will inspire them more and get their imagination running. Soon enough, they’ll have an elaborate story behind every invention or drawing, and they’ll run to you right away to share their genius. A simple “why?” can have a lot of effect and encourage your child to think about everything they do.
As they get older, this may transfer to other things. They’ll think of stories behind people’s smiles, they’ll come up with a story for the flower they found when they were coming home, and they’ll have the most brilliant essays in school.
3. Teach them a new language
Children learn languages best when they are young. They’ll pick up the grammar and the vocabulary much faster than adults, and they’ll have a much easier time using it. If English is their mother tongue, they might benefit from courses which let them know the language on a deeper level. If not, it’s best to enrol them in a suitable course. English for kids is a great way to teach your children the language and equip them for the world. Everybody today speaks English, and your child will surely use this language as they get older.
If it turns out that they’re quite good at languages and like learning them, you can find courses in French, Spanish, German, or anything in between, too.
4. Set a free area at home
Allowing your kids to be free and creative around the house sounds good in theory, but it’s not so fun when they ruin the furniture, the walls, and stick you with the mess. Still, you shouldn’t be so bossy. Allowing them some freedom and autonomy will let you know what their interests are, get you closer to them, and show you how they express themselves.
A good idea is to set a certain zone in the house and let your kid go wild in it. It can be their room, the yard, the garage, or any other area you think of. The important part is that there is no
Conclusion
The key to bringing up a happy child is understanding their likes, dislikes, and how they think. Recognizing your child’s creativity is the first step in nurturing it. You’ll have a lot of fun figuring out what activities they like best together. More importantly, you’ll get to watch them grow into a happy and capable individual who has a wide skill set and can do anything they set out to do.