How Creative is Your Child?

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Creativity is not measured by intelligence tests, and experts disagree concerning the relationship between intelligence and creativity.  Most of them agree, however, that an individual’s intelligence can determine the quality of the creativity.  But a study at Donald MacKinnon at the Institute of Personality Research found a high degree of self-acceptance and confidence, sheer energy, and a whole-hearted commitment to the chosen task as being more consistent than intelligence in highly creative individuals.  

Creative children have certain traits in common at a young age.  Can you observe any of these traits in your child? 

Is your child very curious?

“How do frogs hop?” “What makes a rainbow?” “Why is cotton soft?”  Some adults may find such questions bothersome, but curiosity is an essential ingredient of creativity as children constantly try to make sense of their world.

Does your child’s play reflect imagination?

Creative children invent new games with their playmates.  They act out fantasies and experiment a lot.  A playful, imaginative childhood is vital to the development of creativity. 

Does your child use analogy in speech?

The use of analogy to express a thought clearly shows a direct expression of creativity in language.  It is similar to seeing dinosaur clouds or lollipop trees. 

Does your child challenge authority?

It is typical for four-year-olds to ask, “Why do I have to go to bed now and you don’t?” These children sometimes rationalize their behavior with what they see others in their life doing.

Is your child intensely animated?

Sometimes a child’s eyes sparkle when describing a playground game.  He or she may wave his or her hands and the cheeks may appear flushed. 

Creative children become very involved in their current project or game.  They are eager to tell of their discoveries, and during conversations they often rush on to complete sentences for others. 

Does you child like to guess outcomes?

Creative children like to guess the ending to the story or the movie.  Before they complete an experiment, they are usually confident of the outcome.  The fun of doing an activity such as drawing dot-to-dot is in predicting what the completed picture will be.  But being wrong leaves them undaunted and eager for more.

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