X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

The Secret To Raising Creative Kids Is Easier Than You Think

5 min read

After this article is out, it won't be a secret anymore! You will appreciate that raising creative children is not that difficult as it seems.

Creativity can be cultivated

Most of us are raised to believe that creative people are born, not made, that creativity is not a skill that could be developed. And it is reinforced by the way we are assessed for the creativity- by competing with others. The problem with this approach is, however, that creativity is often measured in the context of art. A person who can sing, dance, paint, write is thought to be creative. A person who cannot do that is thought to lack it.The Secret To Raising Creative Kids Is Easier Than You Think

In reality, creativity is not just bound to art. And not all art forms reflect creativity. So, a child might play a symphony like a professional, but he might be just repeating what he has been taught. On the other hand, a child who comes up with a unique solution for a problem at hand is quite creative.

This should change your perspective towards creativity. Because it is related to thinking and not performing, you can, in fact, help your child be creative!

What is the secret then?

The secret to raising a creative child involves three broad events. To begin with, it is important that he sees a gap, something that could be addressed. Next, he needs to be aware of the resources he could possibly access. And lastly, he needs to find a way to use those resources to address the gap in the best possible way.

The good news is, you can play a role in these events. The rule - give him his space.

Here are the 5 steps that you should take so that he ends up developing his creativity.

1# Ensure that your child is exposed to information from various sources

While STEM subjects matter a lot, expose him to subjects like geography, ecology, marine ecosystem, astronomy, art and cultures, languages. This does not mean trying to push him to a lot of enrichment centres. Take time out of your busy schedule and read to him a book about each subject. Take him to the observatory. Let him stargaze. This way, he gets to know the extent of his surroundings.

2# Teach him some basic DIY stuff

The sad thing about today's world is that you get everything quite easily. Involve your kids in basic do-it-yourself stuff at home and see the difference in their attitude. Equip them with basic tools, teach them how to use a screwdriver. Invest in magnetic building blocks, but encourage them to go off script!

I encourage my niece to build castles out of Zenga blocks. She has built one with a dolphin pool! Cool, isn't it?

3# Inform them about problems in the world.

Before they go to bed, tell them about how the aquatic mammals are being affected because of the plastic humans throw in the garbage, or the troubles some elderly people face when they have to climb stairs. Don't discuss anything yet. Just let them sleep over the problem and come up with a solution.

4# Ensure that the child has time to get bored.

creativeThis is the most important step towards creativity. Keeping your child engaged is a good thing. However, giving him some time off without a gadget/book would give him time to think and observe. So if he travels by bus every day, encourage him not to play a game on his phone.

Instead, ask him to think about the issue you discussed with him the day before. When you do this, he will not only think about the aquatic mammals but also start noticing how the plastic is disposed all around him. This will make him think laterally and this is a habit you want him to cultivate.

Encourage him to keep a journal and write down all the ideas he has about anything on this planet. Respect the journal and don't ever dismiss any idea as being stupid.

5# Encourage an ideation session with them.

At the end of a week, have an ideation session. Ask him to bring his friends along and discuss ideas he has jotted down throughout the week. Discuss what would be needed to implement the ideas. Encourage the kids to think by asking them 'How would you do that?" at every step.

What to expect

If you follow this, your children would develop a skill commonly known as critical thinking. It is the cornerstone to form a sound judgement. However, it also is very important when it comes to creativity. In addition, you are teaching him how to express himself by engaging him in discussions. He learns to come up with an idea, work on that idea and think about all the aspects around it, and then defend it if challenged.

Mums, being creative is not just an ability to sing or paint. If he practices that, he would excel. Being creative is being able to express himself in some form. And to express, his ability to think and form a judgement is very important. So follow this 5 steps and see the change in your child.

Also read: Adrian and Tracie Pang reveal HOW they raise creative children!

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from sg.theAsianparent.com

https://t.me/theAsianparentSG

Partner Stories
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
Preschool Education is Not as Easy as A-B-C! Here’s What Your Child Really Learns and Why It’s Important!
Preschool Education is Not as Easy as A-B-C! Here’s What Your Child Really Learns and Why It’s Important!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Anay Bhalerao

  • Home
  • /
  • Ages & Stages
  • /
  • The Secret To Raising Creative Kids Is Easier Than You Think
Share:
  • Primary 1 Girl Answers To Math Question Sparks Heated Debate Online On Creativity

    Primary 1 Girl Answers To Math Question Sparks Heated Debate Online On Creativity

  • Heuristics explained: What is it and how to use it

    Heuristics explained: What is it and how to use it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • Primary 1 Girl Answers To Math Question Sparks Heated Debate Online On Creativity

    Primary 1 Girl Answers To Math Question Sparks Heated Debate Online On Creativity

  • Heuristics explained: What is it and how to use it

    Heuristics explained: What is it and how to use it

  • Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

    Wife Forgives Husband Who Had Two Affairs And Got A Woman Pregnant

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.