banner - 2020-06-11T134449.551.jpg

Supporting Your Childs Creativity At Home

People are born creative, and this creativity is one of the most valuable qualities we can have, and while an adult may express their creativity differently, children seem to have a natural instinct for it. All children ware born with some level of creativity, however, it remains a skill that needs to be supported. Creativity is a key to success in nearly everything we do, and also a component of health and happiness. Creativity comes in many forms, extending beyond artistic and musical expression, and into science, math, and even social and emotional intelligence.

Lighthouse Explorers Christian Child Center strongly believes in fostering your child’s creativity, taking precedence to encourage children to express their creativity through a multitude of mediums. We provide your child with the tools to get out of the way so your child can create to their heart’s content. Our environment fuels your kid’s creative thinking, but keep reading to find out how you can help nurture a vibrant sense of creativity in your home. Contact us today for nor information about our enrollment dates and how to apply.

Supporting Your Childs Creativity At Home.jpg

Creativity Is More Than Painting and Drawing

Many parents might imagine their child’s creativity to simply include painting a picture of putting on a puppet show, and while, yes, creativity does include these things, it is more complex than that, including problem-solving skills, discovering critters in the back yard, helping you with home repair projects around the house, and much more. Children tend to see the world a little differently, and therefore express their creativity in a number of ways.

Provide The Resources and Time They Need For Creative Expression

The most important part of allowing creativity to flow is providing the time to do it. Kids need a lot of unstructured time to think and play freely, and this child-directed, imaginative play free of any adult direction doesn’t require a lot, if any, commercial stuff.

In addition to providing the time to play, it is also important that children get the space they need to make a mess, whether it’s by playing dress-up and throwing clothes on the floor, or painting and allowing paint splatters to get on the floor. Your child’s creative space can even be the corner of the living room.

Next, supply your child’s creative space with tools like art supplies, costume components, building materials, and musical instruments. Open-ended toys can also add huge benefit, and include things like building blocks, toy animals, and really anything else that can be used for multiple purposes.

Offer Feedback, Not Criticism

Kids will learn how to deal with criticism, but it shouldn’t be about something they’ve created. As parents, try to provide helpful and encouraging feedback instead of judgment. Kid’s creations are not going to be stellar, but if they put time and effort into something that they are excited to show you, that should be honored. Simple statements like “Look at that! You worked really hard on that, how wonderful!” is one way of complimenting a child’s creation instead of critiquing the content.

Make Your Home Environment One That Encourages Creativity

In addition to providing your child with the space, the time, and the tools to be creative, fostering a creative environment in your home is another powerful method of supporting your child’s creativity. This can be done by setting the example yourself because kids learn from their parents do more than what they say. Let them see you try something new and experiment until you figure out what it takes. Let them see you make mistakes and learn from them. Let them see you enjoy your own creative process and what is looks like to face your own fears or insecurities. More importantly, let your children see your imagination roam freely.

Apart of making your home a petri dish for creativity is cultivating the concept that mistakes and failure are O.K., and truly just a part of the creative process, as well as apart of life! Kids who are afraid of failure and judgment will curb their own creative thought. Share a few of the mistakes you’ve made, laughing at yourself when you mess up, which communicates to your children that how you respond to a mistake matters.

Try to Avoid Telling Your Kids What To Do During Their Free Time

Even outside of their free time, try to give your children the freedom and autonomy to explore their ideas and do what they want. In other words, try not to be as bossy in fear that they’re not going to get into a great college if they keep making mistakes or messes during their free time, or that they’re going to be kidnapped if they ride their bike to the neighborhood park. While that fear is justified, the chances are still quite low, and your child can still be successful even if they don’t make it to an Ivy League school.

External restraints can reduce flexibility in thinking, and reduces the creative ways that kids accomplish certain tasks. Instead, try to play a supportive role in your child’s creative ventures, they’ll thank you for it!

Enroll In Our Christian Child Care

Lighthouse Explorers Christian Childcare strongly believes that fostering your child’s creativity is one of the most important parts of their development. We take strides to ensure that we have built an environment that encourages their creativity and imagination, and an environment that supports a Christian curriculum. Contact us today to learn more about our Christian child care, our values, or information about enrollment.