It’s important for children to tap into their creative side so that they find new ways to express their sense of self, play freely and enjoy themselves. Creativity isn’t an innate talent that a person is born with, it is something that can be developed over time and can help us in various areas of life. You can nurture your child’s creativity by providing them with the right equipment and a certain level of encouragement. I have teamed up with an independent girls’ school in London to share some tips.

Set Up a Creative Space

Make sure your child has somewhere at home where they are able to express their creativity. It should be equipped with lots of arts and crafts items, like coloured paper and pens, glitter, glue, paint etc. It’s important that they don’t feel restricted when it comes to their artsy projects; the freedom to explore different materials and equipment will help boost their creativity.

Promote Reading for Pleasure

Reading is another creative hobby because it encourages a person to engage their imagination and think about things without constraint. Let them choose their own books so that they can read something that actually interests them, otherwise they might find it boring. Perhaps you could take a trip to the library together!

Encourage Reflection

Immersing in creative projects is one thing but encouraging your child to reflect on what they have done or how they feel will take their creative thinking one step further. With that said, ask them open ended questions so that they start thinking about what inspired them. Ask them why they made certain decisions when producing a piece of art, or if anything surprised them about the book they were reading.

Focus on the Process

The end result is irrelevant when it comes to creativity. Instead, you should try and focus on the process. Ask your child if they enjoyed themselves and what they liked or disliked about the activity. If you criticise or question the end result, your child might feel reluctant to express their creativity in the future.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.