Is Your Kid Creative?

Is your kid creative?  Now that I am in the creative kids business, I’ve found it interesting to get a reaction from parents from this kind of question. Most parents know their kids pretty well and can answer with either an emphatic “Yes” or “No.”

The “No” answers come in a few varieties, but they usually have a common perspective on creativity. Creativity, they think, is painting flowers, coloring outside the lines, or making extravagent play-doe cookies - the kind that kids really expect you to eat. The “No” parents often think their kids are too sporty, too studious or too mature for such things.

The people who answer "Yes" usually exclaim with joy about how creative a particular child is. Indeed, these kids love our shop and can spend hours here. I never get tired of seeing what they come up with. But the “yes” parents often subscribe to the same thoughts about creativity as the “no” parents: That it’s all about coloring, painting, making things. It is much more than that.

As a former teacher, it was important for me to open our shop on a strong foundation of theories about creativity. In my research I found that creativity is about more than art: It is about making connections between concepts and ideas. It is about finding solutions to problems. It is about being open to the ideas of others and embracing diversity. Who doesn’t want their children to be able to do such things?

So the next time you pause to consider the creativity of your children, remember that it’s not all about art, and that encouraging their creativity can help them develop important intellectual and social skills. Help your kid kindle that creative spark that all kids are born with and you'll have a happier, healthier kid!  

Kids' Create is a Naugatuck organization that works with children to find creative play opportunities for social and intellectual development. It is located at 677 Rubber Ave., Naugatuck. For more information, visit the Kids Create website at www.kidscreate-ct.com.