All children are born with a high degree of creativity but, unfortunately, little by little their creative abilities end up irretrievably fading, as a result of the little stimulation and support exerted in this regard . In this sense, as parents and educators we should ask ourselves … what are we doing wrong?
The fearsome “killers” of creativity
- Creativity already rewards children with fantasy and the desire to explore the world around them , so if we reward children in other ways, such as gifts for good grades, they are likely to do their best for getting a good grade but not for improving and learning more or for continuing to advance once the exam is passed. We must be very clear that awards made in this context destroy the pleasure that accompanies creative activities , and ideally children are excited and motivated by their own learning and discovery, and not by seeing a notebook without red annotations.
- The constant presence and control of ideas , even the most insignificant, negatively affects the creativity of anyone, and especially in the smallest. If we are always behind the children helping them, it is likely that they will not learn to take risks and appreciate the benefits of making mistakes as an integral part of the creative process.
- Restriction when choosing. We put children in a system that all it teaches is that there is only one correct answer . Most toys have a set of instructions for their use, and we rarely allow them to play the way they want. The opportunity to explore new things is at the root of non-standard thinking, and so creative children feel free to offer alternative solutions, always fueling their curiosity.
- Excessive planning. Schedules, homework, homework, extracurricular classes … childhood has never been so restrictive or under so many demands as now. We are so busy with excess stimulation and entertainment that we forget the need for any child to suffer and savor boredom. We should not forget that boredom serves to feed the imagination , nurture ideas and creativity, and learn to value much more everything we have. Right at that moment when we dedicate ourselves to “doing nothing”, our minds attend to the most brilliant ideas that there can be. Why not allow the children then to experience this state?
Creativity thrives when things are done for pleasure and not for a simple act of perfection and / or obligation. Let’s forget what we need to “do the right thing” and give our children the opportunity to explore, to make mistakes, and to take risks so they can feel free to express all their wonderful ideas.
