Creativity or Creative Thinking skills play a vital role in the learning and development of children. It’s an inventive thought process which results in developing different perspectives on a particular thing or subject. Trying new ways of doing things helps children in developing critical thinking abilities and fosters creative problem solving.
Creative activities enable children to experiment with thought process, actions and materials and provide opportunities for problem solving, collaboration, teamwork and negotiation – all of which are key skills for life, as they grow older. Encouraging children to approach a task or work or a situation in creative ways by contemplating different resolutions aids in their social-emotional development and boosts their confidence and interaction with others.
Benefits of developing Creative Thinking skills in Children
Children are born creative. Allowing children to use their creativity has many benefits in children learning and development, some of which are as follows:
- Promotes expression of ideas
- Encourages development of fresh perspectives
- Boosts confidence in children
- Improves communication skills
- Develops coordination and motor skills
- Enhances decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
- Advances intellectual, social and emotional potential
Tips to enhance Creative Thinking in Children
Nurturing young creative minds is essential and can be done in several ways by engaging children in varied activities. Learners at Thakur School of Global Education (TSGE), one of the top international schools in Mumbai are not only encouraged to think and solve problems in creative ways but are given space and time to correct their mistakes, approach the task or situation from different angles and generate a pool of possible solutions. Some of the ways through which creative thinking skills can be enhanced could be –
Inculcating reading habits in children – Reading builds and expands imagination and creative thinking abilities in children. Stories and its characters, situations, emotions, and words, all expand children’s visualization and imagination that can be carried forward as learning. Learners at TSGE, one of the best Cambridge schools in Mumbai, are engaged in reading sessions where possible scenarios to the story’s end are discussed with children to make it even more fascinating.
Let them handle responsibility – Giving certain responsibilities to children like taking care of a pet, folding their clothes, packing their school bag, looking after their younger sibling makes children think and act. Pushing children out of their comfort zones at an early age to become independent also boosts creative problem solving in them as they gradually learn to handle the given task or situation in various ways than one.
Spend time outdoors – Spending time outdoors provides countless opportunities for discovery and creativity, and inspires children to think, question, and find answers. Drawing in sand, making sand castles, collecting and making designs with twigs, or simply lying on the ground and looking up at the sky – the benefits of nature for child development are full of unlimited wonder and creativity.
Learning and Development through Art & Craft, Music and Dance –Learners at Thakur School of Global Education (TSGE), one of the top 10 school in Kandivali, Mumbai are provided with enough art and craft sessions that helps the in self-expression through their understanding of texture, space and colors which build creativity and decision making skills in them. Dance and movement, on the other hand, motivates them to express feelings of sadness, happiness, joy or excitement through movement, thereby enhancing creative expression.
Limit screen-time – Nurturing imagination and creativity in the digital age can be tough. Screen-time can be used in a passive way to learn. Engaging children in Kinesthetic Learning or Tactile Learning, where learning takes place by carrying out physical activities, is one of the best ways to control screen-time.
Encourage asking questions – Every question asked by a child is an opportunity to learn. Learners at TSGE, one of the best IGCSE Schools in Mumbai, are encouraged towards critical thinking and analysis through “what-if” questions and situations that trigger their curiosity and let them make the predictions. Cross-questioning brings forth children’s views and opinions, and promotes creative thinking in them.
Engaging children in Creative Play – TSGE is one of the best schools in Kandivali, Mumbai emphasizes creative play for young learners in pre-primary and primary grades that create great opportunities for learning. As children play with blocks, rocks, cardboard, puzzles, riddles, or board games, or with classmates and friends, their interaction with others also boosts creativity through group learning where performing with peers shakes up the creative instincts in children.
The onus of developing creativity in children, thus, rests on parents and teachers; they must value the creative instincts of children at home and in school to encourage self-expression, learning and social-emotional-intellectual development in the bright young minds. Inculcating a creative approach in children at a young age leads to originality, that brings forth unique ideas and flexibility that enables children to think out-of-the-box, thereby helping them become an overall impressive and positive personality.
