There are so many interpretations about the term 'creativity' ranging from it being an adjective to describe someone who is good at art and design to someone who exaggerates the truth or is even duplicitous (a 'creative' accountant, for example).
And yet, creativity has been dubbed one of the most important skills for people to have in the 21st century. It is a skill that is in high demand now and will be essential for individuals and organisations to survive in the future.
But what is creativity and why is it important?
Creative people can solve problems. They can solve problems because they spend time thinking. They are not confident about solving a problem because they know lots of information; they are comfortable with ambiguity and use their imaginations to work through challenges. They revise their ideas, they feel comfortable working within constraints but accept that they are not on a quest for the one 'right' answer. They have a growth mindset and play Simon Sinek's infinite game.
Young children that are given the opportunity to be bored find ways to create their own fun by using their imaginations. There is indisputable value in helping to nurture a passion, sport or other pursuit in a child, however this needs to be balanced out with time for the child to play alone or play in a free manner with their peers.
Children need guidance but they also need to be allowed a degree of freedom to allow them to be themselves and grow into the person they can become. Here are some ideas to get kids’ creative juices flowing:
Creative writing
Creative writing is fantastic for developing a child's self-expression, creativity, empathy, imagination, confidence and communication skills. If your child is interested in writing, do not be tempted to correct the spelling. They must be free to express themselves without fear of being corrected.
For ideas or writing prompts, I use this site and like this one for a more interactive approach. Also recommended is the most brilliant magazine, Aquila, whic his educational, inspirational and. It allows children to explore new ideas beyond their school experience and to escape into a fantasy world or reflect on their own world.
Painting & Drawing
Finger painting, potato painting, oil paintings, whatever your child is into, there’s a paint for that. If they have painted a picture, try not to offer too readily a description of what it is. Instead, ask them if they can tell you a bit about it. This will avoid any upset in the event that you say "What a lovely butterfly!" when the child has actually painted something else.
Sometimes a child can feel deflated with their creative output, so try one of these fantastic step by step illustration guides from Usborne:
Crayola has some brilliant colouring in pages for kids that are free to download. Check them out below:
Free Disney themed colouring in pages
Free Plants and animals colouring in pages
Crayola also has a fantastic free tool that includes 52 Creative Ideas for 52 Weeks of Fun! Download the creative activity plan here.
Fashion Design
It’s our passion, so we couldn’t forget our own creativity booster! PopKits are a range of creative activities that help children to develop their creative spirit. Mess free and affordable, our T shirt projects are a brilliant boredom buster for kids aged between 3 and 11. Ideal for a rainy day, party, holiday or after school activity, the design kits are perfect for little hands and as no scissors are required, you can rest assured they can create freely! Find our latest range here
Stimulating children’s imaginations, listening to their ideas and spending time doing creative activities together are keys to their success. So let’s get drawing, making and writing to turn the dial up on creativity at home!