Development of a Creative Mind
We all would like our children to be the best and the brightest. We want to send them to the finest schools with first class teachers. As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. It is necessary to nurture the rapidly-growing young mind in a number of ways to maximize not only intelligence, but creativity as well. Creativity allows you to see new possibilities and helps you overcome challenges. A child with a creative mind has limitless possibilities in life.
They are the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders of tomorrow.
Development of the creative mind is dependent on cultivating the following traits in your child:
Confidence:
Children must
have
confidence in their
own abilities in order to try new things. Be sincere while
praising their accomplishments; children know the difference between
false praise and sincerity. Specifically say what you like
about
their accomplishment or behavior, instead of a generic "good job".
Parents need to have self-respect and confidence in
themselves.
Stand up for what you believe in and don't follow the crowd.
Teach your child that it's okay to be themselves, by your
actions
as well as your word. Try new things as a family: go to new
places, try new foods, meet new people. Allow your child to
push
themselves and fully test their abilities, as long as they aren't in
danger. Accomplishing self-made goals will boost their
confidence.
Responsibility: Stress the importance of finishing a project. Marvel at and enjoy the outcome of a job well done. Allow your child to experience the natural consequences of their actions. When they behave irresponsibly, don't just bail them out. Starting from a very young age children are capable of helping with some household chores and doing some tasks themselves. Make sure your child knows the reason they have been asked to do something; the importance of doing their part, the satisfaction gained. Do what you say, follow through, and don't make empty promises.
Patience: Explain and model the value of waiting until the circumstances are right, versus instant gratification. Keep expectations appropriate for your child's development so frustration is a motivator and not destructive. Children will be more patient with themselves if they feel confident that they can accomplish a task. With older children, you can teach them the difference between "wants" and "needs". Earning and using their allowance is the perfect way for your child to learn this basic principle which will help them throughout their life.
Independence: Raising an independent child may be exhausting sometimes, but this character trait will help your child succeed in life. Let your child make many decisions on their own, if they are capable. However, you must explain the rules to your child, appealing to them as an intelligent individual, instead of making demands. Be consistent with rules, rewards, and punishments. Allow your child to make mistakes and learn from them. If you rescue them, they will miss the opportunity to grow from painful experiences. Starting from a very young age, let your child help take care of themselves and with household chores. Their accomplishments will help them become more independent.
Responsibility: Stress the importance of finishing a project. Marvel at and enjoy the outcome of a job well done. Allow your child to experience the natural consequences of their actions. When they behave irresponsibly, don't just bail them out. Starting from a very young age children are capable of helping with some household chores and doing some tasks themselves. Make sure your child knows the reason they have been asked to do something; the importance of doing their part, the satisfaction gained. Do what you say, follow through, and don't make empty promises.
Patience: Explain and model the value of waiting until the circumstances are right, versus instant gratification. Keep expectations appropriate for your child's development so frustration is a motivator and not destructive. Children will be more patient with themselves if they feel confident that they can accomplish a task. With older children, you can teach them the difference between "wants" and "needs". Earning and using their allowance is the perfect way for your child to learn this basic principle which will help them throughout their life.
Independence: Raising an independent child may be exhausting sometimes, but this character trait will help your child succeed in life. Let your child make many decisions on their own, if they are capable. However, you must explain the rules to your child, appealing to them as an intelligent individual, instead of making demands. Be consistent with rules, rewards, and punishments. Allow your child to make mistakes and learn from them. If you rescue them, they will miss the opportunity to grow from painful experiences. Starting from a very young age, let your child help take care of themselves and with household chores. Their accomplishments will help them become more independent.
Flexibility:
It is true
that young children need
plenty of predictability in their day. You can, however, have
flexibility within a predictable routine. Take it easy on
yourself if the day doesn't go as planned. If you forget
something or plans change, roll with it, accept it, move on.
Show
your children how to overcome problems that arise in a positive way.
The goal is not to get stressed out. Both parents
and
children can become extremely stressed today and that's no good for
anyone.
Try
problem-solving
exercises together - new learning takes place when the brain solves
problems. Read stories with problems to solve - stop
and ask your child how they would handle the situation.
Discuss
how the characters solved the problem. Compare and contrast
stories and ideas. Allow your child to solve their own
problem if they are capable. Let them try different ways to
accomplish a task or
clean something up.
Optimism: In order to solve problems and be flexible, your child needs to have a "glass half-full" attitude. We must try to be positive. This doesn't mean that you hide your emotions from your child. It's okay to let your child know you're having an issue, but make sure they also see you come up with solutions. Help your child find a different way of doing a project or a chore, let them know the order can change. Let them make their own choices to some extent; you may need to give young children a choice between only two things. Help children focus on their positive attributes. Do activities they enjoy and also introduce new concepts and activities to try. Solve problems together showing them they can make a difference; recycling, etc.
Risk Taker: This one may be difficult as parent because you want to protect your children from pain and rejection. Taking some risks is necessary for growth and innovation. Children must have confidence in their own abilities and feel safe enough to try new things. Be sincere while praising their accomplishments. Children know the difference between false praise and sincerity. Parents need to have self-respect and confidence in themselves. Stand up for what you believe in and don't follow the crowd. Teach your child that it's okay to be themselves, by your actions as well as your word. Try new things as a family, meet new people, and go to new places. Allow your child to push themselves and fully test their abilities, as long as they aren't in danger.
Focus: It may seem difficult for children to focus today due to distractions, stress, even ADHD. Getting children to focus is essential for ultimate learning retention. A good place to start is healthy nutrition. Eating a good breakfast, healthy snacks, complex carbohydrates, and drinking plenty of water will help energy levels and memory function. Music (especially classical) can also have very positive effects on alertness and attention and may also boost memory. Children are more likely to focus on learning that comes natural to them. If your child is curious about a certain topic, go with that. You can build on what they already know, adding new concepts. When new learning is built on previous knowledge, it will be easier for your child to understand and remain focused.
Optimism: In order to solve problems and be flexible, your child needs to have a "glass half-full" attitude. We must try to be positive. This doesn't mean that you hide your emotions from your child. It's okay to let your child know you're having an issue, but make sure they also see you come up with solutions. Help your child find a different way of doing a project or a chore, let them know the order can change. Let them make their own choices to some extent; you may need to give young children a choice between only two things. Help children focus on their positive attributes. Do activities they enjoy and also introduce new concepts and activities to try. Solve problems together showing them they can make a difference; recycling, etc.
Risk Taker: This one may be difficult as parent because you want to protect your children from pain and rejection. Taking some risks is necessary for growth and innovation. Children must have confidence in their own abilities and feel safe enough to try new things. Be sincere while praising their accomplishments. Children know the difference between false praise and sincerity. Parents need to have self-respect and confidence in themselves. Stand up for what you believe in and don't follow the crowd. Teach your child that it's okay to be themselves, by your actions as well as your word. Try new things as a family, meet new people, and go to new places. Allow your child to push themselves and fully test their abilities, as long as they aren't in danger.
Focus: It may seem difficult for children to focus today due to distractions, stress, even ADHD. Getting children to focus is essential for ultimate learning retention. A good place to start is healthy nutrition. Eating a good breakfast, healthy snacks, complex carbohydrates, and drinking plenty of water will help energy levels and memory function. Music (especially classical) can also have very positive effects on alertness and attention and may also boost memory. Children are more likely to focus on learning that comes natural to them. If your child is curious about a certain topic, go with that. You can build on what they already know, adding new concepts. When new learning is built on previous knowledge, it will be easier for your child to understand and remain focused.
Imagination:
A
good imagination can help your child to have a richer vocabulary,
develop problem-solving techniques, and practice life-skills. Limit
TV so your child creates their own images and ideas. Tell
made-up
stories together. Sing silly songs together or make up new
words
to familiar ones. Explore different types of art, using a
variety
of materials. Pretend with your child and encourage them to
pretend with peers. Children build on each other's
imaginative
ideas. Help your child by adding more details to their
pretend
play. Don't conform to the laws of reality; allow your child
(and
yourself) to make up whatever rules you wish. Find new ways
to
play with simple toys or objects. Don't limit their play or
belittle their ideas. And you must tolerate mess!
See our Play to Learn article.
See our Play to Learn article.
Sources:
"Your Creative Genius Mindset: The Essential Qualities for
'Outside the Box' Thinking", Adam Sicinski, Sept. 3, 2008.
Lifehack.org
Start Smart! Building Brain Power in the Early Years; Dr. Pam Schiller
Early Childhood Education, Birth-8: The World of Children, Families, and Educators; Amy Driscoll & Nancy G. Nagel
Start Smart! Building Brain Power in the Early Years; Dr. Pam Schiller
Early Childhood Education, Birth-8: The World of Children, Families, and Educators; Amy Driscoll & Nancy G. Nagel
Back to Creative Mind
Contact Us:
danielle@fullcirclechild.com
©Copyright 2009 Danielle Schreck, Full Circle Child
Information on this site is not intended to replace the care or advice of a pediatrition or other healthcare provider. You should consult your doctor regarding your individual healthcare needs.
