In school, more emphasis is usually placed on left brain development. Academic subjects such as math and reading are given more importance over arts and crafts. However, it is just as important that the right side of the brain should also be developed so that the child will grow up to be a well-balanced adult. As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Engaging the child in creative pursuits will help him in more ways than one such as:
Increasing his emotional intelligence and boosting his self-confidence
Challenging his imagination, thus, leading to the development of his cognitive skills
Developing his fine motor skills
Below are tips that would help your child get in touch with his creative side:
Let the child experiment. Do not restrict the child with rules such as he should color within the lines or he should only use a particular color (such as yellow for sun). Instead of using coloring books, let him do his own drawing and he can color it after. His imagination is more engaged when he has the freedom to experiment.
Always compliment the child. If the child drew an unrecognizable portrait of you, be sure to praise his efforts. This is not an empty praise since you are not necessarily praising the artwork but rather you are recognizing the effort and ability that the child placed in making that artwork.
Turn everyday objects into something new. Show your child that ordinary things such as a used up toilet paper roll can be turned into something different with a bit of cutting and gluing. Challenge him to think of the possibilities that both of you can make out of ordinary stuff.
Turn off the TV. Staring passively at the TV is one of the best ways to kill your child’s creativity. Nothing is engaged at all when the child watches TV. That’s why it is called an idiot box. But working on creative projects such as arts and crafts will make your child productive and interactive since his imagination is engaged throughout the whole process.
Spend quality time together. Working on an arts and crafts project is a good way to bond with your child. Not only are you creating enjoyable and unique artworks, you are also creating lifetime memories that your child will remember with fondness when he grows up.
Exposing your child in arts and crafts early will help him develop skills that he will need later on in his life. Young kids learn that practice will make them better at what they do and that perseverance will help them reach their goal.
By Summer Roberts
