We all need some rules of course. Rules help to keep children safe and teach them how
to behave in a considerate and thoughtful way. Many parents, however,
instinctively impose rules on children which aren’t strictly necessary, and when it comes to fostering creativity, it
is vital to carefully consider rules before you impose them.
For example, a classic
rule which stifles children’s creativity is that they must colour in between
the lines. It is a good rule if you’re trying to teach fine motor skills and
encourage your child to follow instructions carefully, but when it comes to
encouraging them to express themselves and ‘think
outside the box,’ it quite literally reins in their natural creativity. Sometimes
the rules we set can inadvertently impose our judgments on whether a creative
effort is ‘good’ or not. At other times, we impose unnecessary limits which
restrict a child from really letting go and experimenting freely with the new
materials and inventive techniques. Rules are good (“Don’t play on the road”) but don’t impose unnecessary rules (“The sky must be coloured in blue”).
Lord, Give Us Today Our Daily Idea(s)
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