Date: 23, April, 2022

“Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world” – Einstein

This captures the importance and power of imagination and highlights the limitations of knowledge. When I think of this quote more deeply, I realise that knowledge is something that can be attained and acquired at any time, but imagination is something that needs to be nurtured. It requires other character traits to be fostered such as perseverance, being able to visualise and courage. 

Creativity is using the imagination to come up with original ideas to create something, improve on/ or to solve something. It is a free form of self-expression. 

We are all born creative and have innate creativity within us all. It is particularly obvious in children but as we get older we somehow lose it. Why? Because society expects us to live, think and act in a certain way. Society creates these boundaries that limit what is possible. This is why it is important to continue to foster this creativity.

Creativity finds Solutions

With a creative mindset, children alter the way they approach problems. For example they see problems and failures as opportunities to learn and grow. It means that they are more likely to be grateful when failures and mistakes occur. Not only are they excited about the challenge, but creativity allows them to come up with various ways of solving a problem in innovative ways.

Creativity Boosts Confidence

Creativity gives children the opportunity to freely discuss their opinions in a safe and open environment. This gives them a sense of confidence, achievement, value, and belonging. When I observe the kids in my class during free play I see creativity at it’s best. They exhibit freedom of expression, feel a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and pride in the work that they do. For example, they want their creative work displayed, they take care of their masterpiece and they feel more ownership and responsibility for it. Children also have an innate concentration when they are doing something that they are interested in. 

Creativity Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Creativity is a form of rest. When children are being creative they are able to relax, enjoy what they are doing and find joy. Creative activities involve just being “hands on” which allows children to connect themselves with “doing” and “being” rather than thinking. This is also a form of rest as suggested by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of ‘Rest’. 

Developing an Innovative Mindset

Children with an innovative mindset create based on the needs of others or an unmet need of their own. They are usually empathetic because they realise problems that others have. For example, one of the children I taught came up with the most amazing drawing of a building that he was going to build when he grew up. He explained to me that this building was a community, it had schools, it had antenna’s at the top so that people could get an internet connection, it also had old people’s homes and a homeless shelter. He wanted to build a community where all people from all walks of life could feel safe.

Children with nurtured creativity are innately curious, which results in good questioning skills and risk-taking when discovering methods that are outside the box. They become observant and constantly create connections in the world around them. Children who have innovative mindsets are resilient and reflective, they don’t give up easily, they keep trying until they come up with the solution to their ideas and often reflect on how they did, what they could do better and how to move forward. 

Creativity gives you a voice

Children who are creative are more independent because they are able to think for themselves. They aren’t afraid of sharing their opinions, they don’t worry about what others think of them and their opinions because they have developed resilience. Like Joseph Chilton Pearce says “To live a creative life we have to lose our fear of being wrong”. 

Adaptable in a fast-changing society

Creative kids are also more flexible, are solution-oriented and are able to come up with different ways of solving the problem, which in turn helps them to stay ahead of the game. Children in my class who are more creative are able to quickly adapt to any changes I have made to the lessons, the timetable and the day. They are always the ones that come up with a different way to do science experiments etc. I also absolutely enjoy including the class in the lesson planning process during carpet time when I am looking for suggestions that spike their interests.

Collaboration and Teamwork

Children with nurtured creativity work better in teams and become better leaders. This is because they are able to adapt to change quickly through their solution-oriented and innovative mindset. They are also able to find different ways of inspiring and motivating others which make them into great leaders. For example, I remember a little boy in my Year 1 class years ago who had a group where many of the members strengths were talking and not listening. He stopped the group, explained to them that he wasn’t able to hear them all talking, drew out numbers on pieces of paper, scrunched them up and got them to choose.

Number 1 would talk first whilst everyone listened and then number 2 etc. What a great idea! Creativity within a team also encourages the team to become more productive, particularly when they work together to brainstorm different ideas and options. The same boy got everyone to discuss their ideas and then asked them all to vote for ideas to see which solution was best. What a great leader!

It’s More Fun!

Make life fun!! After all, isn’t that what life is about? We should be enjoying the life that’s been given to us and have fun all the time: whilst learning, working and living. Help your children develop this value of fun and happiness as they grow up and into adulthood by developing their creativity. Creative people exhibit the freedom of expression and that’s why life is so joyous for them. They are always in a space of passion, creativity and see all the beautiful things life has to offer.

By: Ivy