Kids are mostly fairly creative anyway, they just require
the right environment to flourish. A child's environment (both physical and
social) can have a lifelong effect on the way that they think, act and think.
Knowing this, active parents can take steps to help their children develop
creative thinking. However a lot of environmental factors exist which
discourage children's creative idea and in turn stunt their mental improvement.
Here are some examples:
Being listened to can be one of the biggest challenges to
developing an active mind on your child. After the kid learns that their
thoughts are not wanted, they will only quit coming up with fresh ones and
remain quiet. This doesn't mean they are thinking to themselves. It just means
their mind is blank. A blank mind isn't a creative thoughts and probably never
will be.
Option: We all get busy and do not have enough time to
listen to our kids occasionally. The important thing is simply to listen more
often than not. Ensure that your child understands what they believe and say is
vital. If you are busy, tell them that and ask them about what they wanted to
state later.
By passive, we imply seeing, listening or playing media
without any sort of interaction or thought. A little media consumption is good
for children, it helps them acculturate into a society that is increasingly
characterized by its media. However, television, games and social websites are
similar to ice cream. They are sometimes foods, not all the foods. Kids staring
blankly at a screen and using their ideas dictated to them is not likely to
help them learn how to believe creatively for themselves.
Solution: TV, computer games etc are sometimes activities,
not all the time actions. Don't be a couch potato and your child will follow
your case. Use more interactive websites, like computer games that may be
played while interacting, interactive books that may be read together or media
that educates different tasks, such as exercise or dancing or music or craft.
When you start to keep an eye out for active media types you'll find that they
are everywhere.
Lack of energetic and imaginative play opportunities can be
a real drag on a youngster's capacity to grow mentally. From the absence of
stimulation the mind grows dull and lethargic. Even the most creative men and
women want something to inspire themsome action to do, or some task to tackle.
A dull play surroundings makes for a dull child.
Solution: Fill your house with cool stuff that children can
use to engage in lively, creative and social drama. Rather than the most recent
computer game, pick up some puzzles and board games. Craft supplies, such as
colored paper, pens, glue etc are perennial favorites. There are loads of
creative toys available, everything from knitting kits to science kits to
outdoor athletic gear. The advantage of spending on these types of toys is that
they keep your child busy and creative. When they have used to this sort of
drama, games and TV will have less charm and you won't need to limit TV time.
Your children will do it for themselves. How good would that be?
And now the most important issue of all. Role Models. You
can provide all the creative toys and opportunities you can and still have a
child who does nothing and says nothing. It can be confusing for parents that
think they've done all they can but they are missing one crucial ingredient:
the role model. Kids (and adults) seldom occupy new behaviours before they've
seen someone else doing it. If you want a child to take up a new activity,
you'll get nowhere if you just tell them to do it. Simply take that child to a
location where they can observe other children having fun doing that activity
and they'll nag you to let them. Creativity is the exact same. Have lively
conversations. Create and make things in your home. Read and talk about what
you've read. Have imaginative play sessions with your child. Show your child
what it means and how much fun it is to be imaginative and they'll do it.
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