Parents Prepare Future Generations of Creative Kids

Author: Cate Rocchi - Perth Media Date Posted:2 March 2016

Why is creativity so important in the growth and development of our kids?

Clever parents aren’t waiting for schools and universities to churn out kids fully equipped for the modern age of innovation, they are fostering creativity themselves.

Here are some tips from two of the smartest mums I know.

In Western Australia, Charlie Caruso is the mum of two girls. She is also a media executive, writer and author of Understanding Y. Interestingly, Charlie herself had an unusual schooling at a primary school based at Perth’s Pioneer World in Armadale. Apart from the usual subjects, Charlie attended school in period costume and spent her recesses panning for gold and riding horses. Far from being a setback, this unconventional childhood schooling may have contributed to her career success. In her early twenties Charlie worked for a multinational plastics company and then founded Puggle Media. She is now at Curiosity Productions and has a professional reputation for thinking outside the box.

So how is she raising her own kids? What does she think is important?

“Creativity and agile minds will be the key,” says Charlie. “Problem solving and strategy are skills we need to teach them. I play card games with the kids nearly every day – it's great for mental math and strategy. My daughter loves chess and we encourage her to play games like that – it all matters.”

“Once I told my eldest daughter (she was probably seven at the time) that there are simple differences between those who are successful and happy and those who are unsuccessful and resentful. It’s about the little choices we make in life. The little decisions which seem like nothing but culminate to result in the biggest differences. An example might be to choose to eat a carrot instead of a sugar treat. The difference to read a book for an hour instead of watching TV for an hour. The difference between taking the dog for a walk or ‘meaning to’.

“The difference between working on a hard problem until you finally get it, or giving up and complaining that it's too hard. Those decisions kids as young as mine make matter and – as soon as they are aware of the control they have right now in their lives – the more empowered they become. It's an important lesson to teach them early, and remind them that they actually have control over their lives right now.”

Another of the most creative, successful businesswomen I know, is Jacquie Baker, of Gone Creative, in Western Australia. She has three young children and is passionate about helping them develop healthy minds. Jacquie is currently preparing a scientific case arguing that tablets should not be introduced at her local school for year fives. She believes in putting strict limits on screen time for a whole host of reasons. If her children are bored, they are encouraged to play chess, engage in a creative activity, find a new book or set the table for dinner, perhaps.

One of her favourite quotes is by Albert Einstein in his book of Ideas and Opinions (1954),

“It is vital to a valuable education that independent critical thinking be developed in the young human being, a development that is greatly jeopardized by overburdening him with too much and with too varied subjects. Overburdening necessarily leads to superficiality”.

US-based Dr Christine Carter, author of Raising Happiness, argues creativity is not an inborn talent, but a skill that can be developed.

She says kids need time and space for unstructured play, including a room to make a mess. Dr Carter warns parents not to be too bossy and says kids should have the opportunity to express divergent thought. It is healthy for them to disagree with you. Finally, emphasize the process, rather than the finished product.

So hang in there over the holidays parents: set up screen-free, messy zones and find ways your kids can develop their brains creatively. Craft activity anyone?

Parents Prepare Future Generations of Creative Kids

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