by Exactly

Created on: September 16, 2008

Children are born with great ability to think different and see things differently than we do. In order to keep your children in a state of creative thinking you want to integrate a few thoughtful techniques. The key here is start when they are young. One is to play along with them, two is provide them with guidance and lastly just let them be.

Play Along

We have all heard children playing. They are already creative. When you are playing or talking with your little ones and they tell you they see something that isn't there. Don't tell them you can't see it or it isn't there. Just play along.

The imagination of a child is uninhibited and so clearly played out in their world. Why take that away. They have created a world with limits without reasoning. It is much more fun to pretend and play in there world for just awhile because then we don't have chores, work or bills to pay. Give into these moments.

My daughter loves to talk in different voices, pretending to be someone else. She has created several characters. When she is doing that I don't talk with her, I speak with her imaginary characters. She is nine now, this all started when she was about 4. Occasionally, she still does this, but it has progressively lessened. They grow up and things change. They learn on their own that at this age it is not as common.

I never once told her that she was being silly, the person she was referring to doesn't exist. To stop because that is wrong. I just let her be and played along.

Provide Them Guidance

Giving children the opportunities they crave. Let them explore and learn. Give them something that challenges them. Please do not make the mistake of just allowing them to watch hours of television. Engage yourself with them. Take time to read to them. You know the books with colorful photos and drawings. The lift the flaps and discover books. This creates an element of interaction that they are craving. Sure you may not be able to read thorough the whole book or even part of it. That isn't the point here.

Talk with them in the car. In our car we don't have music on. Why because I discovered early on that my kids want to talk with me. I can't hear them or talk with them if the radio is on. They ask me questions about what they see, where we are going and randomly make comments. This is the best time to asks questions back, simply ask them. You will be surprised.

Take them to a museum, the park, the zoo, really anywhere. At these places ask them what this and that is. Ask them

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