Though many believe that creativity is inborn, it is actually more practice & skill than talent. Every child is creative in their own way and depending on the environment they get, their creativity shows in the later stages of life. It is thus important as parents to provide your kids with the right environment to foster their creativity and help them grow.

Creativity is a crucial aspect of growth for any kid. It encourages problem-solving in them, enhances their social & emotional intelligence, and even enhances their academics. Creativity has lasting effects on kids' personalities. Here are a few things you can do to foster creativity in your kids.

• Give them the right resources
  By resources, we don't just mean the commercial resources your kids need to create something. The key component is time. Give your kids enough unsupervised playtime every day, where they can do anything they like. When kids work in their own unstructured way, their creativity takes flight and they create truly amazing things. Also, ensure that your kids have a space where they can enjoy this playtime to the fullest. And be prepared for a mess after they are done playing. After all, creativity doesn't always thrive in an organized manner.

• Generate a creative atmosphere
  To foster creativity in kids, you must constantly provide them with an atmosphere where they learn and grow. Have conversations with your kids about their creative interests & also share your choice of literature or art with them. This will help them learn and also create a safe space where they can confidently discuss their creative thoughts. Let your kids plan what they want to do and let them fail too. You can share your own little failures with them to help them understand that it’s only normal to fail sometimes.

• Give them the autonomy to explore
  It's okay if your kids have a different taste than you. To encourage creativity in your kids, you must give them the autonomy to explore what they like. You can't always ask them to color between the lines as this would suppress their creativity. Try not to control your kids' creative choices & let them examine their options. On the contrary, boost problem-solving by asking them to try & discover new ways to solve the problem whenever they hit an obstacle in their work. Assist them in problem-solving rather than giving a solution. The key is to make them feel they have the freedom to explore their choices.

• Encourage learning about arts
  Though academics are necessary, it is equally necessary that your kids get access to information regarding their preferred creative choices. One way to do this is by having wholesome discussions with your kids and giving them more information on the subject. You can limit the TV time from their daily schedule & allocate that time to reading. You can also assist them in rehearsing plays. Remember not to discount technology altogether in the process. Instead, use technology to provide access to a bigger knowledge bank to your kids.

• Appreciate, don’t reward
  We know it sounds odd, but incentives can actually meddle with your kids' creativity, making it a give & take process. This would end up deteriorating the quality of their creative work. But this doesn't mean that you mustn't acknowledge their efforts. You should encourage your kids & appreciate their efforts, motivating them without rewards. You can also get involved with them, this will help them feel appreciated & would motivate them to learn more.

• Take them out
  The more kids explore & experience, the better they will learn. Take your kids to concerts, exhibitions, museums, performances, events, plays & more appropriate for your kids' age. This way they can observe various forms of art in action & explore their interests better. Also, it would inculcate respect & interest in them for various forms of art, which would later turn them into connoisseurs. Also, share your own experience with your kids & have discussions.

At DYPDSS, we understand the importance of creativity in the holistic growth of students, and that's why we organize activities that help them learn new things & get creative. We hope these tips help you create an environment of learning for your kids where they can explore their creative side. Stay tuned for more such content.