by Jo Ann Wentzel

Created on: May 07, 2009

Fostering Creativity in Children

Fostering creativity in children is important if you wish them to grow up to be independent, flexible, resourceful, and imaginative. Why are these traits so important you may ask? Because these very same traits are often found in people who are successful and happy.

When you foster creativity it helps kids develop independence because they have discovered some things for themselves. They have been free to explore ideas which give them the confidence to try things on their own.

Flexibility is a very good trait to have since a flexible person is not so set in their thinking. That person is willing to explore a variety of answers or solutions. They are unafraid of being wrong since they are sure that one of the many solutions will solve the problem. People with inflexible thinking are not usually team players and are hard to get through to when trying to help them think outside the box.

Resourceful people know that you can reach the same destination by many routes. They have a good idea of where to get answers if they do not have them. This very element could make this person a valuable employee some day.

Imaginative people see things in ways others do not. They see the trees, not just the forest. Their minds work differently than those without creativity in their make-up. A whole slew of possibilities fill their minds whenever a challenge is raised.

How do you produce kids with creativity? You let them create. You allow them to start to experiment with their own ideas at a very young age. Of course, you can only allow them freedom in certain areas, but do so wholeheartedly if we are talking about safe arenas.

For example, parents are quick to point out to young artists that the sky should be blue and elephants are usually grey and birds cannot fly on the ground. So what, you can point these things out, but add it is up to them. They are the ones creating the picture and in art whatever you 'see' is okay. We want them to learn the real truth about things, but difference does it make if the elephant is red and the flowers are growing upside down. If you ask young children about what they made, they may have explanations that surprise you. It is harmless to let them create whatever they please in their own way. Do not put limitations on this activity.

The same thing goes for playing pretend. Let them decide what that world is; do not dictate truths to them. There is plenty of time for that later when they must embrace

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