How Art and creative thinking help in Child Development

Every child is born with an imagination. Thinking process of children is creative and not necessarily follows a logical framework like us adults. Like they believe that brown chocolate milk which they drink comes from brown colored cow.

At times, parents and adults nurture children's imaginations and take joy in their creative thoughts and acts. Other times, we might (deliberately or unknowingly) not pay attention to children's imaginations.

Allowing children to use their imagination is necessary and this really helps in child development in the right direction. Restraining their creative thinking can largely effect their overall growth.

Imagination plays critical role in child development.

Every parent should nurture and encourage creativity in their kids.

Imagination is integral part of learning process. Imagination is the door to possibilities. It is where creativity and thinking out of the box begins. Imaginative and creative activities help children to learn about the world. During such activities, their right side of the brain activates. Thus it helps in inculcating art awareness, creativity, imaginative skills, etc. There are some activities which can help in the enhancement of creativity and imaginative skills in children like creative play with dolls, vehicles, blocks, rocks, cardboard, boxes,etc. Also activities like playing with clay dough, they will recognize the different colours, making sand castles with sand and water, working with art materials, dipping their hands in colors and making different forms using vegetables, fruits etc. for stamping, or pretending to fly with child can their development.

Creativity for Kids:

Tips for Nurturing Creative Minds

• Spend time outdoors. The benefits of nature for child development are endless. Because nature is ever changing, this helps children to explore new things every day. The natural world inspires children to think, question, imagine, and develop creative minds. Children can draw in sand, make designs with flowers and peddles, build castles on sand, or simply lie on the ground and look up at the sky, to observe different shapes of clouds.

“NATURE is painting for us, day after day,

pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.” - John Ruskin

• Encourage art activities. Art is creative expression that nurtures imagination. Through activities like painting, sculpture, collage, clay, drawing or any other medium we can enhance child’s creative skills. Art is also a way for children to work through emotions, make decisions, and express their ideas. Such activities provides children a sense of freedom to express their feelings, thoughts and also encourages focus and concentration. Art activities build confidence because children gain a sense of mastery over art materials resulting in a new creation.

“Art is as natural as sunshine and

As vital as nourishment” – Mary Ann F. Kohl

• Ask thought-provoking questions: Asking questions that provoke imaginative and creative thinking is an effective way to invite your child to express his ideas and share his visions. With this also giving him the confidence that his ideas are important.

• Limit screen time (television, movies, computer, tablet, smart phone, video games, etc.): Nurturing imagination, especially during this digital age can be tough. Focusing on a screen for long time restricts their mental growth, thus restraining the learning for children. An alternative would be to encourage children to create something new and different. Engaging them in a manner using their entire bodies and their five senses also opens the mind.

Provide children with the opportunities to imagine and create.

Gradually these habits will become part of their personality.

Thus making their minds creative and helping them become a great artist.

Early childhood is the peak time to nurture children's imaginations. So if your child comes home and says, "...and then we drank brown milk that came from a brown cow," or something similar, offer encouragement for their creativity and imagination.

“Children are naturally creative. It is our job to give them the freedom, materials and space to let their creativity blossom to its full potential.” – Jean Van’t Hul