You want your kids to be creative, right?
If you don’t, you should. There is a ton of evidence proving the importance of creativity for wellbeing – of children and adults.
The future looks particularly bright for creative thinkers, according to almost all the forecasters. The training for that begins with the creative play that promotes curiosity and problem-solving.
So you’ve supplied the kids with some paper and pencils and maybe even access to a creative YouTube tutorial. Good enough, right?
You’ve probably already heard that encouraging our kids to be creative thinkers is a must to help them cope with our fast-changing, technology-driven world.
There is evidence all around us of human jobs becoming obsolete as technology takes over and changes our very way of living.
Creative thinkers will have the edge over others because they embrace, even instigate, change. That means they can adapt faster and move forward while others are still getting used to the latest development.
So what is a creative thinker and how do you become one?
Have you ever had an outing with your child that you wished could last forever?
Sure, you can take countless photos to mark the occasion and help record the fun. But if you want to prolong the experience even after it is over, you need to think creatively.
Use your imagination to come up with a craft that mimics the experience and you both get to relive the fun.
More than that, just as the handwritten word helps us to remember things, handmade crafts activate the same neurotransmitters that enhance memory.
It all began with a princess who wanted to be a pirate.
Lovely Lilly, as she was called, yearned for adventure upon the open ocean.
So, she set about making a mighty pirate ship to carry her on the high seas.
One of the best things about receiving party invitations is that it opens the door to a wonderful human emotion – anticipation.
Right away you can see yourself at that future event, having fun, speaking to friends and meeting new people.
Creating that sense of anticipation is the first step in designing a fun event.
When your guests arrive full of enthusiasm and anticipation, it sets the tone for the party.
That’s why invitations are so important. The better the design, the more the anticipation for fun will be created.
If I gave you some paper and pencils, you would expect to write or draw.
Paint, brushes and canvas could indicate a picture to be painted.
Coloured paper scraps, scissors and glue would tempt you to make a collage.
But, a cardboard roll or box, a tin can or plastic bag – these represent endless possibilities.
Why is it important to inspire a creative year?
Taking time for creative pursuits improves your thinking, your happiness and your physical and mental health.
You may have already set your goals for the year – a healthier lifestyle and increased success at work. Did you allow some time to create? To paint a picture, learn an instrument, colour in a beautiful mandala?
It doesn’t matter what you choose to do. Or even how good you think you are at doing it. What matters is that you allow some space in your life to create. Get into that zone where everything else fades away and you are truly focused on your creative task.
Aside from the personal benefits, as the quote above says, without creativity there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.
Here are some words of wisdom to help ignite the creative spark in you.
Children are natural creators, inventors, explorers and artists.
They do these things automatically and with confidence.
Somewhere along the line, they receive messages that make them lose that confidence and this can destroy their desire to continue creating. This can be disastrous for the world and for them.
There are a few mistakes to avoid doing if you don’t want to be one of the people transmitting those confidence sucking messages.
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Nature paints us the prettiest pictures day after day. So why is it artists feel compelled to create their own impressions, using nature as inspiration?
Surely, no one can imagine they can improve on the divine art forms that nature provides.
Yet, since cave man times, we have been inspired to record our stories using nature as our stimulus.
Perhaps we have always understood the deep connection between nature and art.
They file into the studio and choose their seats.
They are the latest Wacky Workshops students (aged five to 12) and they’re drawing a picture of their favourite toy.
This was the first activity in a toy making workshop. A way to keep them busy and get into a creative groove while waiting for the others to arrive.
Almost all of the students drew iPads on their sheets and began to talk to each other about their favourite games. The perfect icebreaker.
Friendships were made. The conversation was enthusiastic and joyful.
They discussed the challenges of getting through complicated stages in a game they all knew and loved.
I wondered how today’s activities would stack up against the lure of technology.
It was more curiosity than concern. I’ve never had an unhappy student.
I also knew that during that three-hour workshop, amazing things would be happening inside their brains. Things that don’t happen while in front of a screen.
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