Helping your child develop their imagination and creativity is invaluable. It will not only help them now but in the long run as well . Sir Ken Robinson captures this beautifully in his very popular TED talk Do schools kill creativity? where he states: “creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status”. The cost of undervaluing it is too great to risk. No matter what skills your child is gifted with, creativity and imagination will always enhance their work.
So then how can you, as a parent, help your child develop their creativity and learn to appreciate its full value? The following 5 ideas are not only fun ways to bond with your child, but also activities to help their creativity and imagination grow.
Cook together
When you have a relaxing day, try spending some time cooking together. Cooking together will not only teach your child lifelong important skills, but is also a wonderful, sensory filled, experience that can really incorporate some creative elements. If you have a few set recipes, and your child has learned the basics, try thinking of new ways to tweak the meal. For examples, I regularly make a salmon fillet with a splash of paprika, fresh ginger and Dijon mustard. But one day, when I was in the mood for a sweet and savoury dish, I thought of adding a touch of honey. This small change worked quite nicely with the original recipe, and made the meal taste a bit different, which was exactly what I wanted. The more experience your child has cooking, the more confidence he or she will have trying new ingredients, hopefully enhance many of your classic meals.
Try new cuisines
Exposing your child to different types of cuisines has many benefits. It will not only help them broaden their taste buds, but also open them up to explore other cultures and see all the variations that exist. The more diversity a child is exposed to, the more depth their vision of the world will be. They will also learn to be more adaptable and comfortable with different settings, tastes and smells. All of which will contribute to deepening their understanding of the world. Creativity is born out of making connections between different areas. It “comes about though the interaction of different disciplinary ways of seeing things” (Robinson). Trying new dishes is allowing your child to see that what is “normal food” for them, is not necessarily for other countries. And this exposure will help them make connections and broaden their horizon.
Take alternative routes home
This is a fun bonding activity. Taking different routes home, be it by car on foot or even by bus, will show you new areas and help stimulate creative ways to get back home. It can be like an adventure, as you and your child explore new ways to make it home. Also, giving your child the autonomy to make the decision about which path to take will be exciting for them. It will also improve their sense of direction and show them that they don’t always have to take the expected path, both psychically and metaphorically. Showing them there are many paths to take in life, and it’s up to them to figure out what best suits them will give them the courage and conviction to carve their own path.
Create bedtime stories together
Not only are these fun before bed ritual, but they will certainly also be treasured memories for your children when they grow up. As a classic parent-child activity, telling stories before bed is a tradition in many households. But you can add another aspect to this, by creating your own bed time stories. It’s a fun and easy way to bond, snuggle and boost your child’s creativity. Simply start off the story, and take turns telling the next part. For example, you could start with “once upon a time, there was a little mouse who lived on a hill”. Then your child could say the next part. For example, name the mouse or describe the mouse’s house, or whatever inspires your child. Have fun and be creative! You never know where your story may go…
We can all be artists
Last but not least, drawing can be a wonderful medium for your child to express themselves and develop their imagination. There are many fun ways to explore and encourage artistic abilities. Even if your child isn’t a natural, having the opportunity when they are young to be creative is an important part of their development. Enhancing their creativity is a skill that will serve them their whole life, and a skill that will enhance many aspects of their lives, both in and outside school. As Picasso once said “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he [or she] grows up”. For some cool drawing ideas, check out this list of 12 Kids Art Games for Fun and Creativity.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact us about anything related to your child’s academics. We are always happy to help, be it getting top grades, choosing the best schools, preparing for exams or boosting their confidence. You can reach us at 0203 086 7311 or at info@ubertutors.co.uk.
