Does society influence you?
From the moment that we’re born, the process of socialization begins. Humans are social animals, and we crave acceptance from society. To become accepted by the people that we love, we need to start changing things about ourselves from a young age.
Everyone’s been through these stages.
We learn how it’s not appropriate to eat with our hands, to have meltdowns in public because we didn’t get that toy we wanted, etc. As we age, we become more and more acceptable by society.
But, during this process, do we lose touch with our creative self?
In this blog post, I want to talk about how you can nurture and reinforce your child’s natural creative self and appreciate them for who they are.
Let’s begin.
How to Nurture Your Child’s Natural Creativity
Have you ever looked back at some of your old school projects and realized how creative and unique they were?
I like to call the process of socialization the cooking cutting machine. Keep in mind that I am, in no way, saying that socialization is a bad thing--it’s essential, and it’s how the human race has survived and thrived for thousands of years. However, you do lose your uniqueness as a consequence. That being said, are you wondering why I call socialization a cooking cutting machine?
Well, the truth behind that lies in the fact that this process tries to cut us all into the same boring shape.
So that all of us look identical. You’re supposed to color inside the lines. You can’t play with your food!
Aren’t those the things that we tell our children? However, by teaching our kids these things, we’re unknowingly a source of hindrance to our kids natural creative self. Let your child be the cookie he wants to be.
Appreciate the Effort It Took
Has your child ever made you a unique card that you couldn’t understand?
What might look like crooked lines, maybe a lot more than can comprehend which is why I want you to try and understand the effort something took for your child to do. Don’t just praise them for making the card!
Look deeper into it and appreciate your child for the heart and soul that went into making it. You can point out the choice of color in the picture, the beautiful arches of the heart drawn or the cute expression on the face of the character drawn. This acts as a reinforcer to the little artist or creator that’s inside your child. And allows it to bloom and grow. Your praise and acknowledgment is a positive reinforcer.This creates an excellent base for your child to succeed later in life.
Acknowledge Your Child’s Growth
Growing is synonymous to living.
As a child grows up, there are certain milestones that they’re supposed to meet---such as sitting up, standing, walking for the first time, etc. We, naturally, expect our child to meet these milestones and see them as something universal but, fail to acknowledge their personal growth.
Acknowledging your child’s personal growth is crucial.
This reinforces them to keep on going and learning by motivating them.
You can say something as simple as, “Remember, last year at this time you were just learning to swim! Now, look at you! You’re so good at the breaststroke! “
In frustrating times, this can be the light that guides your child.
Especially when they feel that they can’t do something.
Harbour Uniqueness
You’ve heard it a thousand times.
Maybe more.
Every human is unique.
That’s true but, as we start getting older, we lose some of the traits that make us unique to be more socially acceptable.
So, look at the unique things that your child does, such as the pillow placement, or the slight tuck of the sheets into the mattress when you ask your child to make the bed. Children often put loving thought into most decisions that they make.
You should try to make sure that these small yet significant details don’t go unnoticed.
Acknowledgment and praise from you make your children feel worthy and proud of their work.
In Conclusion
Don’t let your child be another cookie on the block!
In this blog post, I shared some ways in which you can help your children unleash their creativity and encourage them to want to do more and be more creative in life. Children are creative beings who put a lot of effort and thought behind their work. Don’t let things go unnoticed.
Appreciate your child for getting the work done but, also the thought that they put behind it.
Let them be their unique selves!
Do you have questions? Leave them in the comments.