Siblings Without Rivalry Encouraging Creative Thinking in Kids Sonia Smith, Assistant Director Mt. Vernon-Lee Child Development Center Creativity means more than an interesting art project or imaginative writing. Creative thought appears in nearly all aspects of life, from the way a parent consoles a crying child to the method a scientists uses to find a cure for a disease.
Parents can encourage their children to think and solve problems in creative ways.
A child who is being encouraged to think creatively needs to feel free to make mistakes. The child should feel that his or her ideas are being respected. Children should be given choices rather than having choices made for them. The child's surroundings should be as lively and varied as possible. Research has found that children often look around their classroom or playroom for clues that can help them solve a problem.