How parents can encourage their children's creativity

Creativity is the ability to design, create something new and think productively. Creative people have an active perceptive faculty and good social behaviour. Because they accept problems primarily as a challenge, they are usually problem solvers: they are active, original and have the courage to deviate from the beaten track.
Creativity helps healthy mental development and the development of strong self-esteem. Artistic design options and forms of expression are also important in dealing with difficulties and problems and in finding one's identity.
The joy of «making» also encourages the desire to communicate: the child explains its picture, talks about a song it has learnt or about the piece of music it is currently practising. The child's creative and imaginative skills and spatial thinking are also trained without realising it. And last but not least, creative children want to understand, analyse and question. These are important skills for life that will later be in demand in many professions.
However, if children are not adequately supported in their creativity, they can lose confidence in their own artistic skills over time. That's why it's important that you, as parents, support your child's creative development by believing in their abilities and encouraging them to be creative.
Observe your child. What is their play behaviour like, how is their imagination developing? Does he or she enjoy singing, painting, reading or dancing, or are they particularly good at expressing themselves with words? Once you have identified what your child is particularly interested in, you can support them in a number of ways.
Perhaps you can provide or borrow the necessary materials or special equipment - for example, a musical instrument, a colouring case or craft materials. If it becomes apparent that the child really wants to immerse themselves in a particular activity, look for appropriate training opportunities. Depending on the activity, the cost can be expensive - don't hesitate to seek advice and, if necessary, financial help.

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Let the child decide

Leave it up to your child to decide which creative direction to take. Then support your child by advising them and obtaining information to help them realise their interest. If the child wants to stop after a short start-up period, you should not agree straight away. Your child should have the opportunity to try out their own abilities, gain learning experience, feel joy and pride in what they have achieved and worked on - none of this is possible if they give up straight away. However, if it becomes apparent after a while that, for example, the wrong musical instrument has been chosen or that the pottery course was not the right thing after all, you should help the child to find a field of activity that suits them better.

Praise them. Even if the picture does not correspond to your idea of art.

Through your own involvement, you can further encourage your child's motivation and interest in artistic activities. Take your child out into nature, collect materials in the forest or on the riverbank that you can use to make something. Show the child how to fold paper or how to put on theatre plays with hand puppets, how to develop a sequel story by taking turns, how to focus the eye on a particular detail when taking photographs or how to move in dance. Visit museums with your child, show and explain pictures that are particularly dear or familiar to you - there are so many approaches to creative activity and experience.
And don't forget: when you collect impressions with your child, talk to them about them, exchange ideas and always strengthen your relationship with your child.

Should we also praise ugly pictures and weird sounds?

Show a genuine interest in your child's artistic activities. Take your time and give your child your undivided attention if they want to show you a picture or drawing, play a piece of music they have just practised or recite a poem. If possible, always go to your child's school performances, competitions or concerts.
Praise them for their efforts and refrain from reprimanding or criticising them, even if they miss a note or the picture doesn't necessarily meet your expectations of beautiful art. If the child does not ask you specifically, leave suggestions for improvement to the teacher in charge.
Encourage your child to show or demonstrate something in the family circle - but don't force them if they have inhibitions. If your child gives you a picture or has moulded a sculpture out of clay with clumsy hands, don't let the work disappear, but display it. You can also display or frame works of art that your child is very proud of in a special place.
Developing creativity is not about perfectionism or ambitious goals: The child is allowed to be independently creative. It's about the joy of discovering, inventing and designing. This is why parents need to support and encourage children's creativity.

Read more:

• How do you praise in a way that helps the child and doesn't harm them? Jesper Juul and Fabian Grolimund have commented on this on our website.
• What makes children strong?
• How can parents help in everyday life?
• How does resilience develop? Why does nothing seem to knock some people down? Our main article on the topic of resilience
• We spoke to resilience experts Fabian Grolimund and Stefanie Rietzler for an hour and also fielded questions from our readers - the live recording of our event in Zurich