Making The Grade

Creative spirit needs adult encouragement

Albert Einstein once said, "The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing absolute knowledge."

By CAROLYN SANDLIN-SNIFFEN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 8, 2001

Albert Einstein once said, "The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing absolute knowledge."

This gift of fantasy doesn't apply only to geniuses. We all need creativity to help us find innovative solutions to our problems. In our complex and fast-paced world, being an original and flexible thinker is essential to success in school, in work and in life.

Childhood is a great time to focus on creativity. Youngsters by nature are inquisitive and imaginative because they haven't yet encountered the structure and time restrictions that adults face. Children don't feel pressured to be organized and productive, to make use of every spare minute.

Nurturing that imaginative side early will spill over into every area of a child's life. The ability to make up fictional characters, create fantasy worlds, engage in make-believe adventures -- this is the stuff that gives kids a head start on becoming able problem solvers.

Think of a youngster's imagination as a mental muscle: If it's not exercised, it will wither away. Kids who engage in passive activities -- watching TV, for instance -- are taking in other people's ideas instead of coming up with their own.

A parent's goal is to find a balance between structure (homework, chores, music lessons, sports) and creativity.

Here are some guidelines:

Give kids time to play, think, create and fantasize about who they want to be.

Provide plenty of supplies. You can't go wrong with finger paints, markers, crayons, clay, puzzles, craft kits, things to assemble, things to take apart and reassemble into something new. Furnish clothes and hats for dress-up.

Respect their mess. When children are engaged in imaginative play, they need to squish paint through their fingers, roll and pound clay, cut and paste paper. If you're too focused on their paint-smeared hands, it's hard for them to be creative. Find a place where a mess is easy on your nerves.

Don't ask, "What is it?" Instead, talk about what you see: "There's a big circle of yellow. Do you like yellow?" When you comment without judging, your child will be more aware of what she has created.

Display the art at home. This boosts a child's self-esteem and shows that you value creativity.

Play with the real world. Instead of letting your child lounge endlessly in front of the TV, show him the functions on a camcorder and give him a blank cassette.

Take a hike. When your child gets bored, go walk around the neighborhood. It's a fun way to sharpen a child's ability to observe, sort and make sense of the world. Involve her senses by pointing out the whiteness of a cloud, the smoky smell of a fireplace, the melody from an ice cream vendor or the rough feel of tree bark.

Buy interactive software that allows kids to become explorers and visit exotic locales. Or, look for software that teaches kids how to compose music and write stories.

Don't try to force creativity. Never insist that children engage in arts and crafts projects if they aren't interested. For instance, if you interrupt a book lover when she is engrossed in a story, you may be giving her the message that reading isn't a creative activity. She might be reading not only to understand how other people behave but also how she might react in a new situation -- in a new school (or a medieval castle or an abandoned laboratory) and with people she's not familiar with. Trying on a variety of roles offers a child what reality cannot: limitless exploration with no risk attached.

Participate in creative activities. Studies show that children whose parents play with them develop bigger vocabularies and better thinking skills. Play word games, or tell stories and ask your child to supply a variety of endings.

It is during childhood that youngsters discover who they are and what they can do. With a little guidance and lots of opportunities, all children can learn how to tap into their creative spirits.

Carolyn Sandlin-Sniffen teaches language arts and reading at Seminole Middle School in Pinellas County.

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