Every generation has noteworthy artists musicians, painters, and authors who leave a legacy for those who come after them. Most of these talented individuals showed an affinity for their art at a young age. Someone saw something in them and fostered the development of their talent. But the fact is, a child doesn’t need to be an artistic prodigy to benefit from learning creativity. According to Psychology Today, children identified as creative at seven later showed better educational attainment and career success. Keep in mind that creativity doesn’t always manifest as artistic expression. It often shows in how a child resolves an issue, expresses themselves, or plays. Creative people are better problem-solvers, more resilient, and generally happier. So, what can we do to foster creativity in our children?
Give your children the gift of unstructured time. Sounds simple. Our lives are so scheduled, with every minute accounted for or directed. But creativity takes the freedom of time. Unstructured, relaxed time unfettered by adult direction. Provide them with tools to foster creativity: books, writing tools, building blocks, a keyboard, and percussion instruments. Take a walk together and talk about what you see. Let older kids play with their friends without adult interference or hovering supervision. Kids who are allowed to problem-solve, role play, make up games, etc., as a group learns to be creative thinkers.
Give children the chance to explore. Often, as parents, we focus on the finished product. The clean room. The drawing. The essay. But especially in young children, creativity is actually in the process, not the product. Allowing children the freedom to express themselves is critical to becoming creative. For example, technique is less important when a child paints than intuition. Letting them use their fingers, a sponge, or the bottom of a cup rather than a brush may be what sparks their imagination. Or give a child who loves photos an age-appropriate camera and let them take photos of whatever moves them: no framing, no particular subject, no directions - just freedom.
Help children learn to fail. Creative people fail—a lot. Kids who can make mistakes and fail can learn how to bounce back and try again. Kids afraid to fail end up “staying between the lines,” which makes people inflexible. Make sure your children know they can be imperfect in their expression. For kids and adults, failure can teach you what not to do. It can help you decide what you liked and didn’t like about your process. The best creations come from the failures that preceded them. Thomas Edison said it best: “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Accept a child’s work as it is. When a child does present you with a finished product, accept it. Don’t try to correct it or change it. Don’t try to make it anything else but what it is – the child’s expression when they complete the project. Encourage them to keep trying new things, but don’t correct what they’ve already done. Get them to talk about their process and what they thought or felt while creating it.
Model creativity. As with almost every aspect of parenting, being a good model of what you want in your children is the best way to teach it. So make sure you allow yourself to be creative. Think outside the box. Create an environment in your home that encourages the expression of ideas. Spend plenty of time talking, and make sure your kids know it’s okay not to agree with each other on how to solve a problem. Most of all, take time to pursue your passions, whether writing, sewing, or working out. Have your own interests, and encourage your kids to have theirs, too.
TRICIA VLASAK works in law enforcement when she isn’t writing about parenting, hiking with her dogs, or going on adventures with her grandchildren. Tricia received a Gold Award for personal essay from Parenting Media Association in 2022.