4 Best Ways How To Encourage Creative Thinking In Children

Creative thinking is a skill that goes beyond art and can be beneficial in various aspects of life, including studying, work, and problem-solving. In this article, we will explore when and how to develop creative thinking in children and whether it's possible to awaken it in adults.

What is creative thinking in children

Creative thinking in children involves connecting seemingly incompatible ideas, seeking unconventional solutions to problems, and developing a fresh perspective on the world. It's crucial to cultivate creative thinking skills in children from an early age. Let's now discuss how to do that effectively.

How to develop creative thinking in children

To foster creative thinking in kids, there are several effective approaches you can take. Let's explore them:

1. Encourage child-led development

Creativity emerges when a child creates something new. Although it may appear ordinary when a child builds another tower, their perspective on the world differs from that of their parents. For example, the tower may consist of different blocks today and blocks of the same color tomorrow. This showcases creative thinking in children, even if it may go unnoticed by adults.

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A clear example is with building a pyramid. After learning the sequence of pyramid circles, a child might intentionally arrange them in a random order to see if one block will fit into another. During such moments, it's important not to correct the child or impose instructions on how the blocks should be arranged. This approach is developing creative thinking in children.

2. Incorporate playful learning

It's unlikely that a child will be thrilled when their parent says, "Sit down. We're going to do exercises to develop creative thinking in children." For children up to the age of 4-5, role-playing games, modeling, drawing, and freeform design are effective tools.

These activities allow children to simulate life situations, find solutions, learn to communicate, and prepare for adulthood. Role-playing games also provide an avenue for expressing emotions, thoughts, and trying out different professions.

Initially, children can create simple plots, which evolve into elaborate productions as they grow. The child decides who plays each role, and parents should actively participate by providing the necessary toys or improvising props.

The potential of role-playing games is limitless as they facilitate better retention of information. For instance, playing "store" can teach children about different products, their properties, where they come from, and how they are harvested. This can even extend to learning the names of these items in foreign languages.

3. Allow free time

Another technique to foster creative thinking in children is by giving them the opportunity to experience boredom and idleness. Avoid overwhelming them with excessive intellectual activities, clubs, or extracurricular classes. When a child has free time, they can explore their own desires and discover potential passions in life. Don't underestimate the importance of this aspect if you want to develop creative thinking in children. They need time to recharge and rest from the demands of structured activities.

4. Introduce and solve creative problems

A great way to promote creative thinking in children is by presenting them with open-ended creative problems. These are challenges that don't have a specific solution or a single correct answer.

To begin, you can start with storytelling exercises. This helps children understand that solutions depend on available resources and desires, encouraging them to focus on the desired outcome.

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At this stage, parents can assist children not only in generating imaginative ideas, but also in connecting those ideas to reality and evaluating the effectiveness of proposed solutions. As the training progresses, it can become more social in nature, such as finding quick ways to complete homework or creating a thoughtful gift for a friend using readily available materials.

It's never too late to develop creative thinking in children by yourself, or to initiate creative thinking when training with your child. This fun and exciting process will bring you closer together and enable you to respond effectively to various life situations, finding innovative solutions.