Encouraging creative activities for young children
Electronic devices are one of the most used tools during this time not just for gaming and entertainment, but for the new modalities in education, referring to virtual, online, and remote learning. Experts urge parents and caregivers to limit the usage hours of phones, computers, tablets, and video games because of the increment in sedentary behavior, health conditions, and obesity. Even, though it's recommended to limit the usage to a maximum of two hours per day for children and teens, for young children, ages 2 to 5, the recommended limit is one hour per day. From the health experts' advice, electronic devices are not the options we are looking for.
Our primary purpose of this writing is to encourage creativity in children's in-home activities using a variety of materials that they can use, express, and create in an easy way to initiate and expand their interest in arts, for example, activities like drawing, painting, and photography. These activities tend to have long-lasting interest and benefits while the children learn, get older, and mature as their love for arts and creative expression increase.
Diana A. Rivera is an Early Childhood Educator, with graduate studies in Educational Psychologist, and author of Be the voice for children. Diana believes and commits to the healthy development, growth, well-being, and learning of all children. The blog posts share ideas and knowledge about educational psychology, child and brain development, parenting, diversity, effective teaching practices, early childhood education, and care to support the empowerment of children and families.
Creativity and child development
Children learn in different ways from one to another, but there are commonalities, and the acquisition of information and learning through the senses is one of them contributing to their growing and developing brain.
The benefits of creative activities for children include fine motor skills, social skills, neural and physical development, problem-solving, concentration skills, and the development of essential intellectual and cognitive skills of reading, writing, and comprehending what they learn.
Another significant contribution is the help and support of their socioemotional development and well-being. Creative activities not only help children to express their feelings and emotions but also to process and understand them. The development of self-esteem, self-acceptance, determination, and resilience is linked to creativity. To complete the list of benefits, children love being creative because it is fun and allows them to be themselves. Moreover, creativity is the foundation of innovation and success that our communities and countries need.
Thereby, the more a child is involved in creative activities, the more they explore, discover, and learn, and the more it contributes to their holistic development and growth.
Let's encourage creativity
First of all, children need to be introduced to a variety of materials and art supplies to develop their interests and explore using varied forms of art. Young children must use child-safe paints, colored pencils, crayons, markers, clay, brushes, sponges, paper, cardboard, fabric, and other materials. Probably you will find these materials in the house with no need to spend too much money on an art supply store. With these materials, expose children to them and suggest some projects, but let them pick what they want to do. Second and very importantly, allow children to follow their muse and support them to execute their vision. Generally, children have a variety of ideas that want to expose through the arts alone without assistance. Let them be and do not intervene unless they ask for it!
Get the best benefit of these opportunities for learning by talking about the children's art and avoiding pressure. Ask open-ended questions instead. Keep in mind to use your conversation to lead your children to appreciate and respect other children's and people's art. When children demonstrate appreciation and respect for the work of others, is time to visit a museum, an art school, a gallery, or a studio to see other art exposures. Explore and examine their interests and invite them to express their opinions about what they see. Begin talking about colors and forms, but always encourage appreciation and respect for the artist and the work.
What's next?
As parents and caregivers, you bring the opportunity to children to learn, discover, create, and express their interest in arts encouraging them to be creative and allowing them to follow their muse. That part results in great benefits in their development, growth, learning, self-esteem, self-acceptance, confidence, and many, many more.
Teaching them to accept and respect other people's works, projects, and expressions through art is the other part for them to learn that they will receive the same respect and acceptance for their work and projects. It results in the confidence they need to be creative and believe in themselves. It also stimulates self-expression and self-acceptance, very valuable for understanding and recognizing their abilities, strengths, and new opportunities for growth and continuous learning.
As children mature and increase their interests in arts, is essential to add other creative art expressions, like visual art, music, dance, and theater. These four are perfect areas for children to discover other forms of creativity, learning, and growth.
Helpful links used for this post
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)_______________________
