With prior permission from Zaynab Olin Twaddell herself, I have the privilege of posting her wonderful article here.
Article for Beijing Little Star Magazine on "Children and Creativity" for the Children's Virtues Development Project (CVDP):-
CHILDREN AND CREATIVITY
I have a friend I would like you to meet. I call my friend imagination, and whenever my friend and I get together, we often bump into our mutual friends beauty, creativity, and love. We play; we share, and make new friends together. My friend imagination is like a river, and it is always flowing. I often play by its banks. I dip my little fingers in the water and watch the ripples I make. Sometimes, I bring my bathing suit and I jump right in!
How often do you see your friend imagination? Do you seek out beauty in the people you meet, in the petals of a flower, in the arrangement of a piece of music? When it comes to love, do you let it flow freely, do you let it be the force that guides your thoughts and your actions? Do you honor the creativity in historical figures that changed our lives through their inventions, or appreciate the great power of the universe to create order?
One morning not too long ago, I was sitting in a chair looking closely at a group of children working in a classroom. To my delight, a young child stood beside me staring at a painting on the wall that was at her eye level. After a few seconds of quiet, she exclaimed to no one in particular, “This is a beautiful painting!” and walked away. Had I noticed that painting that was hanging in graceful silence during the 30 minutes prior to the child’s comment?
I will let you guess!
I cherish this reminder that children naturally appreciate what is beautiful. They have been molded out of love, and are themselves expressions of the beauty of creation. When you look at creativity in the big picture, children are actually the most active participants in the creative process. Because this process is at work long before children begin to talk, we tend to forget that it is happening. The very acquisition of language and the refinement of movement during childhood are two cycles of creation that adults in all their years of work and effort cannot match. Most of the creative work that goes on in childhood is unconscious, and effortless. It is no wonder then that children, who are inseparable from the process of creation, have such a close relationship with the virtues of love and attraction to beauty that in turn feed their creative powers.
Since we understand that creativity and imagination are innate powers (and perhaps different expressions of the same power), here are some ideas for giving children the right support for keeping the magic of creativity alive, so that it hopefully becomes a part of their own adult lives and in turn positively affects the lives of others around them.
--- Create a space for creativity. Bring creativity into your home by clearing out a room or making a place in your garden where painting, sculpting, listening to music, writing or meditation can take place without interruption or worry of making a “mess.”
---Involve children in setting up the space and buying the materials they need to express themselves. If they are interested in cooking, take them shopping and choose the ingredients together. Consult on a creative menu, and involve them in the responsibility of caring for the kitchen environment. If they are painting, show them how to clean up the paint with a sponge if it spills on the floor, and where to put away the paints when they are finished. This allows them to feel ownership for their work and gives them the freedom to express themselves through their medium whenever they want to use it.
---Use the language of the virtues to encourage your children in the creative process, and not to focus on the end result. “I saw your perseverance when you tried many times to mix the right colors for your painting.” Or “Thank you for your courage when you willingly shared the poem you wrote with our guests!”
--- Give children real experiences to fuel their imagination. We do not fully understand the power of imagination, but we know that the clearer and more accurate the child’s experience of reality, the better they are able to express themselves creatively. Many great people who made useful contributions for the advancement of civilization first had a solid grounding in one or many fields of knowledge that they used as a springboard for their contribution. One notable example (who himself spoke highly of the power of imagination) was Albert Einstein, not only a distinguished physicist and mathematician, but also an experienced violinist.
---Invite your children to spend time with nature. Nature is imagination’s playground. Nature has inherent order and beauty, and children are naturally attracted to it.
---Don’t confuse imagination with television. Watching TV shows and cartoons is not a helpful way to encourage imagination. In fact, many studies have shown that watching TV at a young age affects brain development, no matter the content. As a general rule, avoid exposing children to television under the age of 6.
---Give your children the gifts of singing and storytelling. Children universally enjoy stories and songs that reflect reality, and these stimulate the development of language. Choose stories and songs that reflect the virtues you want your children to live by, and that have rich, beautiful language. Homes where books and music are abundant for all the family to enjoy provide fertile ground for creative writing, sharing, and can help strengthen the bonds of love. Use your creativity to tell stories of your own family life, and compose songs together to perform as service for others.
---Take the time to develop your own talents and abilities as a parent and educator. We cannot expect our children to thrive in an environment that stifles our own creativity. Use courage to break old patterns and create new patterns of life that honor beauty and are powered by love. Share your creative accomplishments with your children, and work on creative projects together that bring joy to others.
By Zaynab Twaddell
For The Children’s Development Virtues Project
For more information on The Children's Virtues Development Project visit www.virtuesinus.com and www.thefamilylearninghouse.com for the school.
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