Evaluation - When we constantly make kids worry about how they are doing, they ignore satisfaction with their accomplishments. . . . Rewards - The excessive use of prizes . . . Restricting choice - Telling children which activities they should engage in instead of letting them follow where their curiosity and passion lead . . . Pressure - Establishing grandiose expectations for a child's performance . . . Unreasonably high expectations often pressure children to perform and conform within strictly prescribed guidelines, and, again, deter experimentation, exploration, and innovation.
Grandiose expectations are often beyond children's developmental capabilities.
The most powerful way to develop creativity in your students is to be a role model. Children develop creativity not when you tell them to, but when you show them. Children's lives, just like those of adults, should be compartmentalized. And yes, children need to be taught to regulate their behavior according to situational and social needs. But there should be some sense of balance between the times when children have time for creative exploration, experimentation, and innovation, and the times where choices are restricted, where direct instruction is given, and where children are required to obey rules and conform to social norms.