Imagination unleashed | Cultivating creativity in kids

Some people may believe a person is born with creativity, but you can cultivate it in your child at a very young age.

Ever wondered why creativity is important for your child?

According to research, creativity can help improve your child’s early development in certain domains, such as language, cognitive skills, mental health, and so on.¹ If your child is in their early developmental stage, they might be able to travel to their fantasy world and relate it to the real world.

Ways to boost creativity in children

There are multiple ways to develop creativity in early childhood. Some of them are listed below.

Solving problems

Do not always rush to solve all your child’s problems. Allow them to think creatively and come up with their own solutions. By intervening immediately, you are not providing space for your child to think. If they are trying to draw a flower but can’t get it right, do not help them immediately. Wait for a while and see if they can fix it independently. If they are not able to, then give them a hint. If they fail to succeed after the hint, show them how to draw a flower correctly.

Curiosity

Curiosity is something a child should have in them to be creative. Only if they are curious will they question everything around them. Encourage your child to wonder about everything around them. Prompt them by asking them questions like, “ Have you ever wondered why all leaves are green or why the sun is yellow? Don’t you want to know?” Such questions can help your child to start thinking about everything around them on their own, and they may ask you questions next time.

Imaginative Activities

To be creative, your child may need time away from screens to kindle their imagination. Engage them in activities that need out-of-the-box imagination. For example, tools such as building blocks or construction boxes are available with which your child can construct houses. With these blocks, using their imagination, they can try building houses. Many such toys or tools are available in the market for your child to play with, which can help enhance their imagination.

Forms of creativity

All children are not interested in the same activity. If one child might be good at playing with building blocks, others might be interested in dancing, writing poetry, or drawing. Identifying your child’s interests first and encouraging them to do more is important. Do not force your child to follow any specific creative path, as embracing all forms of creativity is important. You can also encourage them to try all areas so they know what they like the most.

Remember, creativity is a skill to be nurtured and developed like any other skill. So, let your child take risks and try their hand at new things. With your guidance, you can let their imagination run wild and see where it takes them. 

At byjuslearning.com, we provide curriculum-aligned, grade-level learning experiences for kids between ages 4 to 8, helping them build on skills they learn in school. 

Sources

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND CURRICULUM PROVISION. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.academia .edu/ 37738254 /THE_ IMPORTANCE _OF_ CREATIVITY _FOR_ EARLY_ CHILDHOOD_ DEVELOPMENT _AND_ CURRICULUM_ PROVISION