The Importance of Creativity

Drawing by a 4 year old

Original text at Crayola.com

Creative people invent, imagine, problem-solve, create, and communicate in fresh, new ways. Every career requires creative thinkers: scientists, engineers, medical researchers, technology innovators, business entrepreneurs, artists, performers, writers and illustrators, designers, inventors, educators and parents. Those with the ability to “think outside of the box” will lead the future and make special things happen.

Seeds of creativity live in everyone. You as parents are kids’ first and lifelong teachers. You can nourish sprouting imaginations into strong, growing creative minds.

Nourish kids with creative experiences throughout childhood with art. Encouraging your child’s creativity can be simple and easy to do and fun for everyone. Try these tips:

1. Provide your children with both planned craft projects and spontaneous, simple art experiences they can do on their own. Create an art center in your kitchen or family room so your kids can creatively express themselves.
2. Encourage your children to try new, unique ways of doing things. Don’t expect their artwork to look like samples others have made. Encourage your kids to come up with their own way to do crafts. Ask, “I wonder what would happen if…” to inspire their imagination.
3. Build your kids’ confidence in their own creative abilities. If they ask you to make it for them, reply that you’d love to see what they create. Children’s fresh and unique styles should be valued.
4. Emphasize the enjoyment and the “process” of creating art, more than the results. The aesthetic qualities of a young child’s works are not as important as the process used to create them.
5. Celebrate your children’s creativity by displaying their art.

Dyango Chavez Cutiño
Oct 17, 2019