Creativity is a skill that can be learned and developed like online casino games, but it’s also something you have to practice to get better at. The more you do it, the more your brain will develop new pathways and connections, which in turn makes it easier for you to learn new things. So how do you inspire creativity? Here are nine ways to encourage kids to be creative:
1. Play with them.
If you want to encourage your child’s creativity, play games together. You don’t need to spend hours playing board games or video games; just make sure they’re doing something fun with their hands.
2. Let them try out different ideas.
When you let children experiment with different activities, they’ll gain confidence and start thinking about what else they could do with their time. This is especially helpful if they’ve been struggling with an idea or project.
3. Encourage them to take risks.
If you notice that your kid isn’t taking any risks when trying new things, then encourage him/her to try something scary or dangerous. It might not work out as planned, but it will help them grow and become more confident.
4. Give them some space.
Kids thrive on independence, so give them some freedom to explore by letting them stay up late, go to bed early, or even sleep over at friends’ houses. If you worry they’ll miss out on important social interactions, then set up regular family times where everyone gets to talk and hang out.
5. Make them feel special.
Kids love feeling like they’re part of a group whether it is a sports team or a school club. When you recognize them for being creative, they’ll feel proud of themselves, which will lead to more self-confidence.
6. Help them find their passion.
Most people think of passion as something you either have or don’t have, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Passion is actually a state of mind, and you can teach your child how to find theirs. Start by asking questions like What did you enjoy most growing up? and What made you happiest as a child? Then look through old photos and videos to see what interests your child has had throughout his/her life.
7. Teach them how to problem solve.
Problem solving skills aren’t taught in schools, and many adults struggle with these skills when faced with problems. However, teaching kids how to solve problems can help them become more independent and resilient. To begin, ask them open-ended questions such as how would you fix this or why didn’t you do this? Once they’ve answered these questions, provide them with options and possible solutions.
8. Show them examples of other people’s creativity.
The Internet is full of inspiring stories of people who have done amazing things, so show your kids some of these stories. They’ll be inspired by seeing others succeed, and they’ll realize that anything is possible.
9. Be patient with them.
Creativity doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes time to build upon a skill. So while you may not always get what you want right away, keep working toward your goal.
10. Don’t force them into a career path.
While we all hope our kids will follow in our footsteps and pursue careers in medicine, law, engineering, etc., there’s no need to push them down one specific path. Instead, allow them to discover their own passions and strengths.