All children are naturally creative and imaginative. From an early age, they challenge, question, and discover new ideas.
As a parent, we need to provide your children with opportunities that foster creativity. Encourage them to try out new activities that offer room for creative expression.
Creativity is a skill that can be nurtured and encouraged. When children develop this skill, it provides them with a creative outlet that builds their self-esteem and character. Creativity helps children become more imaginative, understand their emotions better, and build confidence. It also enhances social skills by encouraging empathy towards others.
This article will list down the reasons limiting or reducing children’s creativity and discuss actionable steps to stimulate their thinking power.
What Factors Reduce Children’s Creativity?
All parents want children to grow into their full potential. You may ask yourself, how do I set my child up for success? Many parents consider the traditional reading, writing, speaking, and counting methods essential.
If children don’t have space to explore their creative energy, their ability is stifled. Most learners are often overwhelmed with planned activities and a rigorous routine.
Consequently, it seems impossible to balance school, extracurriculars and find time for creative expression.
Here are some factors that hamper children from reaching their creative potential.
1. Academic Constraint
Children are often confined to traditional methods of learning. However, in most cases, the focus is on literacy and numeracy as the route to success.
According to NASA scientists, our education system can diminish our creativity by focusing on critical thinking and facts.
Almost all core subjects like math, science, and history are based on ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. Even though art and singing classes are available, they are considered secondary to the core subjects.
While mathematics, language, science, and history are essential to the learning process, they don’t always define your child’s unique strengths and areas of interest.
As a result, when a child is judged solely on test scores, they lose confidence in their capabilities.
On top of that, research shows that music and the arts can improve academic performance.
2. Restrictive Routines
Children need structure in their day. However, allowing learners free time to do what they want is crucial. It teaches them time management, goal setting, and a sense of responsibility.
Children need time to explore and learn outside the confines of schedules and academics.
Learners are also born with the ability to daydream. Studies indicate that learners who let their minds wander do way better in school.
3. Unfair Pressure
Do you have high expectations for your child’s academic performance?
Pressure can be a positive catalyst, but sometimes, these expectations from parents are beyond a child’s current capability, which creates frustration and can lead to fear of failure.
The most important thing is to understand that your child is a human being, capable of so many incredible things.
Sometimes the best initiative is to let your child’s genius grow on its own and realize when you are not helping.
Your child is perfect, and you can play the ‘pressure’ game, but always remember, they are on their path of self-discovery, and you have enough influence to break them.
Always be mindful of that. Learning how to stay on the sidelines and watch is as important as knowing when to push.
When in doubt, let them be.
4. Lack of Direction
You may give your child the tools and the environment they need to blossom. Is that enough, though?
Sometimes, we don’t see a direction to follow. As a result, we stay unaware of possibilities and get angry when we don’t see the expected outcome.
So try being flexible and open your child to discovering new areas, but don't pressure yourself.
Remember, your children are also learning to follow their instincts, their intuition, and their path.
It’s ok to be playful about it and surrender to the fact that they will hear their calling when the time comes.
Give your children support to be creative. Allow them to explore new skills and ideas that expand their thinking horizon.
This is how a solution like Wimzee can take to another level the number of activities you learners try out. It’s only a matter of time until they connect with ‘their thing.’
5. Low Expectations
Do you push your child too hard? Children can sense when their parents doubt their capabilities. Furthermore, creative expression can be slow to develop and flourish.
Think of creativity as an adventure that takes time and patience. Show your learners you have complete confidence and faith in them. Be their mentor and friend simultaneously!
6. Not Letting Your Children Get Bored
As you become busier and more absorbed at work, you may feel guilty for not spending time with your child.
So you try to compensate for your lack of attention with all sorts of gifts to prevent boredom. However, it’s vital to let your child get bored.
When children are bored, they find ways to fight boredom. That, in turn, is an excellent way for imagination and creativity to develop.
How to Encourage Creative Habits?
You can help your child reach their full creative potential by understanding their needs and wishes. You should involve them in learning new things that trigger their interests.
Moreover, creative people are flexible and good at solving problems. This ability enables them to adapt to technological advances and deal with change.
Children need your support to develop creative abilities. There are numerous outlets for creativity: sports, dancing, acting, yoga, music, and arts and crafts.
At Wimzee, you can engage your child in skateboarding, yoga, and nature hikes activities, among others; check it out!
1. Let Your Child Dabble in as Many Activities as Possible
It’s difficult to know where a child’s interest lies, but again that’s ‘their job’ to figure out.
Your role is to allow them to get involved in as many activities as possible.
How can you know your favorite ice cream taste with certainty if you’ve only tasted a handful?
Interacting with talented and creative people in action can inspire their interest in a particular activity, especially with a teacher that is passionate about what they do.
At Wimzee, you can immerse them in various activities that range from:
- Hip-hop
- Meditation
- Self-awareness
- Reflection
- Yoga
To…
- Beat making
- DJ'ing
- Nature hikes
- And Video Editing
2. Let Your Child Be
Beyond that, Instead, allow your child to discover themselves and don't constrict them in any shape or form.
According to research, excessive screen time during the early elementary school years may reduce your child’s attention span.
Therefore, they may not perform well in school or engage in other activities willingly.
There are innumerable ways you can not only encourage but enable children to think and act creatively.
It boils down to let them connect to their innate creative abilities.
3. Boost Your Child’s Passion
It’s common for us to direct children towards sports or hobbies that we enjoy. But, again, this is because we want them to be good at common interests.
What works for you might not work for someone else. Therefore, expose learners to a range of activities. Allow them the freedom to choose their areas of focus.
The possibility of making a choice can foster their creative mind.
Children will develop their skills and expertise when they are fully engaged in something they like.
4. Trigger Your Child’s Imagination
You can never tell for sure what appeals to your child. Inspire your child to try singing, dancing, telling stories, and drawing.
Creativity flourishes when learners are allowed to practice a variety of pursuits. Find out the kind of resources your child needs. Be attentive and observe what captures their imagination and makes their eyes sparkle.
In addition, give your child enough resources to enhance their skills in diverse areas such as aerobics or visual arts.
5. Encourage Creative Ideas
Children have unique and original thought processes. Therefore, they come up with ideas that may not make sense to you.
However, if you discourage them, you may end up crushing their creativity. Your children will believe thinking outside the box is wrong. Eventually, they will stop developing their very own point of view.
No matter how strange your children’s ideas seem, be open to discussion. Even if you think there is no chance they could work, let them try. Otherwise, you will teach your children to fear failure.
6. Embrace Diversity
Young minds are open, so they view their surroundings with a fresh perspective. Let your child experiment with as many materials and techniques as possible. You may be amazed by the possibilities they come up with.
Find activities that resonate with your child. Motivate your children to engage in multiple activities. This way, they will get a better chance to express themselves and share their vision with others.
Conclusion
When children have creative insight, they can develop new concepts and see past what everyone else sees as constraints.
Wimzee provides a safe, supportive space for learners to explore their creativity. In addition, we make it easier for parents looking for something different this summer or next winter break!
With Wimzee, you'll get personal time with an instructor who's passionate about what they teach and experienced working one-on-one with children.
You can find everything from skateboarding classes to Dj'ing lessons and even mediation sessions- all right on your phone.
No more boring storytime or hours of mundane homework! Wimzee empowers our children with confidence and rad skills.
Do you need exciting ideas to keep your learners engaged and productive? Then, join us today by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don't miss out on all the fun!
Or, you can search and book a wonderfully creative experience here.
