Creativity in Kids - How to Encourage It

In addition to learning to read, write, and do math, kids also need to develop creativity. It's good for brain development. And it's an important skill they'll need in college and later in their careers. And, best of all, it's fun.

Seems that schools are so busy teaching basic skills and testing kids on these skills that there's little time for encouraging creativity. That means creativity is up to you, the parents.

Start by looking for examples of creativity and inventiveness. Then ask what your child could create or invent based on what they just saw.

How about the dress made from 1000 origami whooping cranes? If you're in London, you can take a look at it in the London Science Museum. The question you might ask your child is "what kind of costume could you make for your teddy bear using some weird material?"

Another great example is the two college students at Rice University who used a simple kitchen salad spinner, yogurt cups, a comb and a glue gun to make a centrifuge for separating blood to test for anemia.

The professor told the class to invent a cheap medical device that didn't use electricity and could be used in developing countries. They didn't just get an A for their class project. This summer the two young women, Lauren Theis and Lila Kerr, are traveling in Africa helping clinics test their device!

Ask your child what everyday kitchen item could you use to make something entirely different. Give them a simple example: turn a pot upside down and put it on your head. Now it's a hat.

I'm not suggesting your kids are going to come up with inventions like the origami dress or the centrifuge that helps diagnose anemia (of course, they might), but they certainly can work on developing their creative talents and have loads of fun doing it.

Creative Activities for Kids

One classic and fun way of creating is putting a bunch of junk on the kitchen table, setting the timer for 15 minutes, and saying "Go." The challenge is to make something from the stuff on the table: tape, paper clips, a couple of small rocks, a broken shoe string, a lone earring, some stickers, and a potato, for example.

If you've got several kids playing, have a contest. They can take turns selecting the stuff.

Inventing games works also. Give kids a couple decks of card, a piece of cardboard, some crayons or markers, and trinkets for player pieces. The rule: Make up a board game. Or make it simple by making up a card game with just one deck of cards.

Be sure to suggest ways to move creatively or make up games that require lots of physical activity. And for more suggestions to encourage physical activity, I invite you to check out "Wake Up the Brain" at http://smartkidssmartparents.com/move-to-learn/.

Discover strategies, tips and Brain Games to help ADHD kids and ALL kids do better in school and reach their Smart Potential. Sign up today for your FREE subscription to the "Smart Learning" newsletter. http://smartkidssmartparents.com/sign-up/

from MaryJo Wagner, Ph.D. - The Learning Doctor, helping you help your kids learn quickly and easily every day in every subject even if they have ADHD.

Got a school or PTA newsletter online or offline? A website? You can reprint this article. Just be sure to print all of the article and include my name and the information above.