Why You Can’t Leave Creative Thinking Up to the Schools
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under Helping Parents Help Kids, Imagination, Learning Tips |
Don’t leave your children’s creative thinking up to schools and teachers; they can’t handle it.
This is not to put down teachers or schools, but it is a fact of life. Think about it; there are 25+ children in the classroom, each with lots of needs and each vying for the teacher’s attention. Add to that the need to teach children how to pass the mandated “No Child Left Behind” tests, it’s no wonder that creative thinking takes a back seat.
So, as a parent, if you want to be sure your children can think for themselves—deeply and creatively—you have to shoulder the responsibility yourself, becoming their creative thinking coach. Actually, it’s a fun role, so enjoy it.
Here are some tips for you to try:
- Be sure that creativity and “out of the box” thinking is alive and well in your home
- Be sure children have ample un-structured time so they can use their minds to create constructive activities to fill up the time
- Use libraries for creativity enhancing programs as well as for books
- Buy books and puzzles that jump start the creative process
- Engage the services of clever teenagers, babysitters and/or private tutors to bring creative and enriching opportunities to your children
Parents: You know your children best, so you know what works well for them. Please share your successes with us so other parents will benefit from your experience.
Teachers: Please share your successful teaching strategies with us so other teachers will benefit from your classroom experience.
We’ve been long time proponents of creative thinking. We enthusiastically invite you to take a peek at our Creative Thinking Workbooks for children 5-12 years and our book Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids, which contains numerous tips and strategies parents and teachers.
Linda & Al Silbert
Comments
2 Responses to “Why You Can’t Leave Creative Thinking Up to the Schools”
Leave a Reply
The 162nd Carnival of Education: March Mathness edition
Mister Teacher: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 162nd edition of the Carnival
Great suggestion. There should be constant communication between teachers and parents. If students know both are working together, there will be more continuity of learning in the home and school.