Want To Raise A Creative Thinker? Start With These Daily Activities

Creative thinking is an essential 21st century skill, and is defined as "the capacity to generate many different kinds of ideas, manipulate ideas in unusual ways, and make unconventional connections to outline novel possibilities that have the potential to elegantly meet a given purpose" by the Australian Council for Educational Research. Creative thinkers find solutions to problems, generate new ideas, and think outside the box. They are also curious and eager learners.

Who doesn't want to raise children to become creative thinkers? However, in a global assessment by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Philippines is in the bottom four of the new Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The test evaluates 15-year-olds in terms of their competence in reading, mathematics, and science.

Given this, what can parents do? Learning starts within the home, so we can help our children develop creative thinking through these everyday activities:

How to teach creative thinking among kids at home

1. Teach your child to ask "What-If" questions.

Instead of asking your preschooler questions that are answerable by yes or no, you can encourage a child's curiosity by asking hypothetical questions, like "What if penguins lived in the Philippines?" or "What if there were people on Mars?"

We can also ask questions about relatable daily experiences, such as, "What if you were president for a day? What would you change?" or "What if you planned our one-day holiday? What would we do?"

Children love to imagine things. We can help develop creativity by asking such questions. The Dr. Seuss's book, Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? can also help, as it allows them to think about comical questions they could relate to.

2. Ask your child open-ended questions.

An article by the Minnesota Children’s Museum highlights the power of asking open-ended questions, which can also spark their curiosity and imagination.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask:

About Their Day:
- What's the best part of your day?
- What is the not-so-good part of your day?
- Tell me your favorite thing to do and why.
- What is the funniest thing that happened to you and your sibling today?

Conversation Starters:
- Would you rather go to the zoo or carnival?
- Have you ever had an imaginary friend? How do you describe them?
- Tell me about your favorite TV show. What episode did you like best?
- What qualities make a good friend?

Nowadays, parents seldom ask questions like these. Remember, children are capable of engaging in smart conversations.

3. Spend time outdoors.

Pediatricians Dr. Danette Glassy and Dr. Pooja Tandon said in an article that there is scientific evidence that playing outdoors improves a kid's health, and children of all ages love it. "Playing outside promotes curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and focus. Studies have found that children who spent more time exploring nature had improved learning outcomes."

It doesn't have to be field trips; simply going out in the neighborhood—walking in the streets, stepping out of our home's doorsteps, going to a public park, and playing outside—will do wonders.

4. Read fairy tales to children.

Albert Einstein once said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." Imagine a scientist encouraging others to be engrossed in literature!

The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien states that creating images as imagined in fantasy is “not a lower but a higher form of art, indeed nearly the most pure form and so the most potent." That's why reading books to your kids is a routine that would help them improve their creative thinking.

In the book, The Uses of Enchantment, Bruno Bettelheim claims that enchantment is used as a tool to rouse imagination, which attunes the anxieties and emotions of a child. The themes, metaphors, and reflections of life present in fairy tales portray several issues in our world, which help children understand how the world works.

These books help children imagine new worlds or ideas and strengthen their character connection, helping them better associate with people. You can start with books by Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, Hans Christian Andersen, Eric Carle, Lewis Carroll, or any other writers who have excelled in children's literary works.

5. Don't solve all their problems.

When children cry, us parents want to give instant solutions—like giving gadgets, candies, or anything that would distract them. We can help them be problem-solvers by normalizing boredom for children, allowing them to find something to do when they feel bored, or validating their feelings and letting them figure out what they want.

A study cited in a 2023 USA Today article reiterates that adults should not always solve their problems. For instance, if they had a fight with one of their friends, let them cope and don’t be too quick to give advice.

6. Limit their screen time, and encourage free time and creative play.

Experts have warned us about screen time, which halts focus and overloads the sensory system. By limiting screen time to at least one hour per day or, depending on your house rules, children can find time for other activities, such as free time or creative play.

Playtime is the language of learning and coping for children. Dr. Lourdes Carandang, a Filipino child psychologist, also believes that playtime is therapeutic for children who undergo stress and even trauma. Offer your child a piece of paper and crayons and allow them to fill that page for an hour. Provide various open-ended tools, like blocks, clay, paint, chalk, or any interactive toys.

Creative play includes arts and crafts activities, building or construction toys, collaging or experimenting, role-playing, music, dancing, and other games great for self-expression.

As parents, we can be intentional in what we allow our children to fill their time and space with. The world offers many choices, but we can help them by filtering what traditions we bring into our homes. Allow creative thinking by letting them explore the world around them through play and meaningful conversations. Learning always starts at home, and parents can work together so Filipino children can excel as creative thinkers, too!