Are You Creative?

For children to be given the chance to be creative they need space, opportunity, encouragement and assistance.
Some adults might shy away from offering this to the children in their care as they feel that they are not creative themselves.
 As Henri Matisse said Creativity Takes Courage
Rather than fear creativity, see it as a challenge -  a challenge which will benefit both adult and child.
If you are feeling
  • I've never been good at making things
  • I wouldn't know where to start
  • I have no imagination
  • I am useless with my hands.......
 Some points to think about
  • You can learn together - good for emotional bonding
  • It doesn't have to 'look 'right - there is no right and wrong
  • Experiment - different materials, different approaches, even different moods
  • It is just for fun - no pressure

Things you could do to inspire and build your confidence in your own creativity
  • Examine art and design in the small world that you live - look in your home, in catalogues, on the internet. Everything once had a beginning.
  • Try to work out how something was made
  • Spend time alone, away from others, doing your own thing, with just your own thoughts, daydreaming.
  • Anything you are about to throw away - think about it, could you make something with it? What could you turn it into?
  • What have you got already that you could add to it to make it better, stronger, suitable
  • Dont shy away from being messy and making a mess
  • There doesn't always have to be an end result
  • If you really do find things difficult, remember that the child might not - children often have vivid imaginations, don't always see things as adults do and might think of things you would never have imagined yourself. During an activity, your part is in encouraging the thought process by talking, asking questions and encouraging.

The more you do things, the more understanding you will have of properties, procedures, organisation, train of thought, possibilities and one day you might find you are not just  giving your child the chance to be creative but that you actually enjoyed it yourself.





Comments

Post a Comment

Questions, comments or ideas always welcome

Popular posts from this blog

Embroidery Stitches for Children

Image
Some simple embroidery stitches that children can learn to do themselves, many of which are variations of one type of simple stitch. Embroidery Stitches for Children The stitches here are purely based on a running stitch (up one hole, down the next)  or a cross stitch (up one then diagonally down one). Depending on the direction, or the angle of the needle, variations can be sewn. Teaching children to thread a needle if your child is right handed, (reverse for left handed), bring one end of the thread round until it meets the other thread, forming a loop and hold in your left hand. Hold tightly between your thumb and finger, insert the  needle into the little loop, eye first, and pull tightly away from the thread to make the loop firmer. Push the end of the loop through the eye of the needle. Threading the needle To begin sewing , turn to the back of the fabric and thread the needle though the raised weave of the canvas for 2 or 3 stitches. Push the needle throug...
Read more

Make Your Own Calendar - Kid's Craft Activity

Image
Will you and the children be making calendars this year? Calendars are a simple gift children can give to their parents, grandparents, relatives and friends.  Using a calendar pad glued on to coloured A4 card, they can be hung with thread taped to the back or by punching holes and ribbon threaded through and knotted.  Something to make as a personalised gift, children can be as creative as they like by decorating the card surrounding the calendar in several different ways. It can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. Calendar ideas for children to make A hand print calendar - have fun printing hand prints with paint, especially suitable for toddlers to do It's me! Im' going to be a drummer! Weaving Calendar Learn to photo edit   Sticker Calendar   Collage Calendar Button Tree Calendar Calendars are a great method of using children's artwork for a purpose. The child will enjoy the pleasure of making something for someone el...
Read more

Making Quiet Critters

Image
Today we have been making critters out of craft pom poms. Have you heard about pom pom critters? So useful if you need to keep children quiet, for whatever the reason. We used glitter pom poms as they look like they have spiky hair all over them, due to their metallic strands. We think they look rather cool! Homemade Quiet Critters Pom pom critters can be used by teachers, in the classroom, or at home to help with behaviour management. They are named 'Quiet Critters' in this instance. For a teaching method of keeping the children quiet and on task, this can work really well. The idea being that all the creatures live in a soundproof container as they don't like to hear a lot of noise. If a child is quiet, they get the chance to look after a critter. If the child, then gets too noisy, the critter will dislike this and need to be moved to a quieter place. Critters do not need feet as the pom poms will stand alone without toppling over. However, if you prefer a cr...
Read more