The Cost of
Creativity
In college I was repeatedly asked the question, “Genein,
how did you become so creative?” This
question was often prompted from my elaborate project submissions throughout
the years, which always went above and beyond the minimum requirements.
It
wasn’t until I won various awards for my creative interdisciplinary lessons,
that I stopped to really think about the source of my creativity and the cost
associated with its development. As parents and teachers, we all desire our
children to be creative; but are we willing to pay the cost?
Here are some tried and true tactics to increase your
child’s creative capacity. To even the socioeconomic playing field, these
tactics were employed by my own mother, a single parent, who raised four highly
creative, successful children (with three of them spending their entire school
years on free and reduced lunch). She decided to underwrite our creative
development with her finances, her time and her undying commitment. The results
far exceeded her expectations.
1) Opportunities, Opportunities,
Opportunities!
Every child is born creative but we have to set up
opportunities to further develop that creativity. Tap into local community
events. Many museums, performances and university events offer free admissions
on certain days or showcase free musical or theatrical patio performances for
families. Even going to a Michael’s Crafts Store on family night can pump up
the creative juices your little ones.
2) Allow Them to Have Access to
the Arts
To
my mother, this was common sense, but to people that currently control the
funds, it hasn’t been that obvious. From placing us in the theatrical ‘Charlotte’s
Web’ to watching us march heel-toe across a football field while playing ‘Oye
Como Va’ during half-time, she somehow knew that exposure to the arts would
have a significant impact on our advanced cognition. Look into school or
subsidized community center programs or even create choreography in your own
living room. To this day, we still do our world renown ‘Proud Mary’ act around
karaoke venues! Of course, I’m Tina.
Singing in the car, clapping to various rhythms or
making up movements to a beloved song will all get your children thinking
creatively. Then, they will take the initiative to start producing their own
art in whichever form they choose. Watch them, support them and the end results
will pay great dividends for years to come (even if they never become the next
Mozart, Picasso or Alvin Ailey).
3) Speak with them!
All children suffer when no one is speaking directly to
them. It has already been shown that students of low-income families enter
school with significantly fewer words than their more affluent peers. I
happened to come of age in the 80’s before the advent of cell phones, so my
mother had to talk to us when embarking on outings and grocery trips. My
siblings and I had to engage in conversation because we didn’t own a GameBoy to
steal our attention. To create better storytellers, writers and thinkers, talk to
your children and have them talk to each other.
4) See The World or At Least Go
Outside Your Neighborhood
Traveling is contingent on finances but somehow my
mother saved a little bit of money during the school year to take us on summer
trips. Though ‘Cup of Soup’ and cheap motels were all we could afford, the
experience of traveling to the Lincoln Memorial on the Amtrak train while
listening to music of the Civil War was priceless. Expose your children to the
wonders of the world around them and you will expand their world and their
imagination. It’s one thing to read about Sequoia trees but an entirely
different experience to walk through them and gaze up. Start local (like a park
or trail) and expand out. Go with groups to reduce costs and connect their
learning to other academic areas. Have them use the arts to showcase their experience.
5) This One is the Hardest One (Not
Really) – Create or Imagine Something! Try – Fail – Succeed. It doesn’t matter. Just DO SOMETHING!
Everything I attempt to do, it is done in my mind first. My imagination is my most priceless
tool. Visualizing a process, a lesson or the way to solve a problem is a key
component in my personal creative development. To strengthen your child’s
cognitive, creative and imaginative muscles, encourage them to use their own authentic experiences to imagine something greater.
Doing these activities for your children takes investment and sacrifice of
your time, energy and perhaps even finances. I’m so thankful my mother paid the
cost for us to develop our creativity. I shudder to think where I would be
without it.
@geneinletford
