Not every child is born a superstar. We've all seen shows about kids who can paint like Picasso or play piano like Mozart. Well, most kids cannot. But we can develop creativity in our children that will dwarf the efforts of Picasso and Mozart. We can teach our children to develop original creativity that will continue to grow with them and inspire them to write, paint, draw and think like the superstars we know they are - and all this can be done without turning them into neurotic messes.
From the age of two, children show a love for creativity with things as simple as stickers. Sit down at the kitchen table with a large piece of white cardboard and some large, easy to handle stickers. Set the stage by proposing a scenario. Tell your child you're going to play circus. Have lots of circus animals and stickers that would suit a circus - a ringmaster, trapezes, cannon to be shot out of, and wild animals in cages.
Let your kids create great scenes and no matter what they look like, verbally encourage them. “Wow, I love the lady on the horse.” “That lion looks scary”. When the collage is finished, don't just tape the picture to a wall or the refrigerator. That's what ordinary moms and dads do for their kids. But super kids should have their art framed and hung on the wall in their room or the hallway of the house. There are lots of frame shops with nice but inexpensive mats and frames. Have your child help pick out mats and frames to go with the picture. Take the hanging materials home and work on the framing together. Then jointly choose a place that's just right for the art work and hand it up.
When your child isn't watching, take a look at his or her face. The pride in having art work hung in your home will light up your child's face brighter than any nightlight.
When it comes time to give gifts to mom, dad, grandparents, siblings, teachers, prepare in advance so you child can purchase materials and make gifts. Even young children can make simple clay beads and put them on cords for necklaces or bracelets. A flat picture frame can be easily decorated with markers, stickers, silk flowers with glue on the back. Add a picture of the child and give it to daddy for his desk or mommy for her's.
The self-esteem that children develop from these activities is nothing less than astonishing. As their confidence grows, they are more likely to take on projects that stretch their imagination and their intellect.
Almost every community has classes in art, music, gymnastics and other activities from which children can benefit. Don't overburden kids with a class every second of ever day, but two classes a week in something they really enjoy, e.g., art and ballet, or painting and glee club, can really make a difference in the life of a child. Many of these classes are either free or low cost. If for some reason there aren't any low cost classes in your neighborhood, get together with some other parents. Find someone who's really talented in art and provide the parent with a place to have a class. Parents can contribute with supplies and act as assistants. Another parent may have a great voice and can work with kids to set up a glee club - set a goal - singing carols in the neighborhood for Christmas.
Super kids don't become that way because their parents sat around waiting for schools to discover what their children can do well. You are the best judge of that. Find what your child can do well and let your child take off with it, making his or her talent the lynchpin of his self-esteem. And twenty years from now, your very confident, young adult just may surprise you with his career plans for a productive “super” life.
