All facets of child development are crucial, and promoting creativity throughout their development is no exception. Unfortunately, it is all too common for parents to hinder their child’s creativity without even realizing it. This can backfire greatly, as when a child’s creativity is stifled, they grow up to lack: originality, individuality, entrepreneurial mindsets, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills; assets that are critical to a well-rounded human being. Let’s take a closer look at five ways you might unexpectedly be limiting your child’s creativity.
Too Much Screen Time
Too much screen time can be detrimental to one’s creativity. Whether it’s TV, smartphone, tablet or computer games, screen time is a popular method of entertaining young children. While some screen time is okay, it is essential to set boundaries on how much time behind a screen kids are spending. Too much screen time can become addicting, and also it unfortunately does not help develop young minds to their fullest potential.
Overly Busy Schedules
In today’s society, it is considered normal–and encouraged–to jam pack children’s schedules with activities. However, because of this, there is little time for letting their imagination run wild with unstructured play time. When kids have ample time to play, they are able to relax and truly let their creativity flow. When kids are running around all day, they often get tired out and rarely have enough mental capacity for play time. Make sure to monitor your child for activity overload, and also consider reserving time in your child’s life to just do nothing.
Playing into Perfectionism
Placing the constant precedent of perfectionism onto young children can be very harmful, and hinder creativity in the process. When kids are so focused on getting something “perfect”, they will only focus on what they need to do to get those results, instead of creatively exploring the different paths to get there. There is a healthy balance between enforcing high standards and instilling perfectionism in kids. Often, the expectation of perfectionism squashes any chance of creativity.
Having the “Right Way” Mindset
When it comes to low-stakes activities, allowing kids to do things “their way” is not always encouraged by parents. This is because as adults, we understand more efficient ways to complete a task. However, it is important to remember that at the end of the day, there is not always a “right way” to do things. Sometimes it is okay to let go of rigidity, and allow kids to creatively explore in order to learn and experience various outcomes.
Indifference
No matter what, ensure that your child knows you are rooting for them at all times. A noticeable lack of support or indifference in your child’s accomplishments and interests may cause them to lose confidence when making risk-taking or creative choices. That said, it’s imperative they are always aware of your belief in them.
Ultimately, allowing creativity to flow freely throughout all children’s development is extremely important. One of the many excellent ways to help foster your child’s creativity at any age is through drama. Whether it be problem-solving on stage, building intricate sets behind the scenes, or working through fun improv exercises with a partner, drama is a fantastic way to naturally and effortlessly instill creativity in your child.
