Opinions: Can be damning to a child if not managed well
Everyone has opinions, but it’s important to teach children not to base their self-worth on what others think. Gail Smith shares tips on how to help kids understand that they are capable of making good decisions for themselves and should trust their own judgment.
We all have opinions. What we need to teach our children is that you do not judge yourself on what others think of you. From an early age we remind our children that they are worthy of making good judgements for themselves.
Teach your children that:
• What other people say about or to you can only affect you if you believe them. This is all about building their self worth.
• You are in charge of how you feel. When you get others bringing you down keep reminding yourself that they have no value at all.
• No one can make you feel inferior without our consent, said Eleanor Roosevelt. Therefore, you do not give anyone consent to put you down.
• Be proud of your opinions and know that they are valued. Not everyone may believe them but they are yours to own and to express to others. After all success comes from believing in yourself.
• Gravitate around positive people that are not in the habit of bringing people down. This makes for happier lasting friendships.
• People that have strong opinions about others are usually very poor listeners and are not interesting to be around as a friend. In fact they can bring you down very easily as they control the conversations usually in a negative way.
• Choose friends wisely as this will be a big boost to a happy childhood.
Finally teach your children that you are there to listen to them with no judgement and that you value what they have to say. With affirming parenting, they will take advantage of your wisdom.
“Listen to your child’s opinions and applaud their creative approach to life.”
Encourage your child to be different
Encouraging your child to be different not only nurtures their individuality but also fosters critical thinking. Gail Smith shares insightful reasons why empowering children to question the status quo leads to personal growth. By teaching them not to always accept things as they are, we invite healthy curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Let your child be themselves as much as possible. We know that people who make a big difference in the world have their own unique ideas and do things their way.
Encourage your child to see that all their ideas are important and should be respected. Some may come to fruition over time.
Here are some sound reasons why encouraging your child to be different will benefit them in many ways and will invite them to not always accept things as they are. This invites healthy questioning of the world.
Fosters Authenticity and Self-Expression
Encouraging children to be different helps them stay true to who they are, without feeling pressured to fit in. This builds their confidence in expressing their thoughts, feelings, and ideas without fear of judgement.
Benefit: When children feel free to be themselves, they develop a strong sense of identity and self-worth.
Builds Resilience Against Peer Pressure
Children who are comfortable being different are less likely to succumb to peer pressure. They develop the courage to stand up for their values and make decisions based on their own beliefs rather than following the crowd.
Benefit: This resilience fosters independent thinking and reduces the likelihood of engaging in harmful behaviours.
Encourages Creativity and Innovation
Being different often means thinking outside the box and approaching problems in unique ways. Encouraging this mindset promotes creativity and innovation, which can be valuable skills throughout life.
Benefit: Children learn to embrace their originality, which can lead to greater success in problem-solving and creative pursuits.
Strengthens Confidence and Self-Esteem
When children are encouraged to be different, they gain confidence in their individuality. They learn that they don’t need to conform to others' expectations to be valued, which bolsters their self-esteem.
Benefit: High self-esteem helps children take risks, pursue passions, and feel secure in their own skin.
Teaches Acceptance of Others
By embracing their own differences, children also learn to accept and appreciate the uniqueness of others. This cultivates empathy and understanding, reducing prejudice and promoting positive social interactions.
Benefit: Children who value diversity are more open-minded and compassionate, making them better friends and more inclusive members of society.
Encouraging a child to be different nurtures their individuality and helps them navigate the world with confidence, creativity, and kindness.
You can help by being open to their ideas and affirming their thinking when they are on a creative bend.
Your example of being a parent who values difference in your own life will have an amazing impact on how they see themselves and the world.
“Decide to be whatever you decide to be and celebrate your difference.”
Let take a good look at why boredom can be a good thing
Discover the benefits of embracing boredom! Gail Smiths explains how encouraging children to slow down and enjoy moments of stillness can lead to new ideas and creativity. Let's create space for quiet reflection and see the magic it brings to their lives!
Our children at times are so overactive not to mention the incredible hours they put into their social media etc. If we can encourage our children to learn that less can sometimes be better and it can be quite a skill to learn how to do it.
Consider these ideas below that invite us to reflect on how healthy and positive, boredom can be in our life.
Creativity and Imagination:
Boredom can spark creativity and imagination, leading to innovative problem-solving skills and a deeper appreciation for the arts. Just leave lots of magazines, interesting books and crayons around the house. Let their boredom discover what they can do.
Self-Discovery:
Downtime without structured activities allows children to explore their interests and passions independently, uncovering hidden talents and hobbies. Let them roam through the garden, look outside the window etc. In order for them to be reflective, they need to just slow down
Resilience and Patience:
Facing boredom can teach kids to be more patient and resilient when dealing with challenges or waiting for rewards in school and life. Sitting and waiting is something we all should learn to practice.
Enhanced Focus:
Occasional boredom can improve a child's ability to concentrate, making them more effective at studying and completing assignments. We all need to learn patience and be prepared to wait our turn.
Stress Reduction:
Unstructured time can reduce stress, anxiety, and the pressures of constant scheduling, benefiting a child's mental health and overall well-being. Don’t be anxious if schedules are not complete or you are late occasionally. Slowing down is healthy.
Quality Family Time:
Consider the importance of boredom in allowing for quality family time, during which parents and children can bond, have meaningful conversations, and create lasting memories. Idle conversations and no particular agenda when together can be a creative time for families.
Self-Directed Learning:
Children can engage in self-directed learning during their unstructured moments, exploring topics that pique their curiosity and contributing to their academic growth. Teachers always give children unstructured time and it is well appreciated by the students.
Not filling every moment with activities allows the brain to slow down and recover from busy directions and messages. It also creates a wonderful space that can be filled by new thoughts, ideas and dreams.
‘Allow a little boredom into your child’s life and see how it works for them’
- Gail J Smith
Unlocking Creativity: Fun and Imaginative Activities for Parents to Inspire Their Children
Discover the incredible power you have as a parent to spark your child's imagination and creativity! Join Gail Smith, as she uncovers simple yet effective ways to inspire creativity right in your own home. You'll be amazed at what you can create together!
Be creative with your child. It is a wonderful way to engage and to do things together that are memorable and intellectually stimulating.
Consider:
Embark on storytelling adventures with your child. This could involve creating collaborative stories where each family member adds a sentence or taking turns inventing characters and plot twists. This is great for language development as well.
Provide ideas for artistic exploration, such as setting up a "creation station" with various art supplies and letting your child experiment with different mediums and techniques. It doesn’t need to be tidied up regularly.
Share simple and safe science experiments that you can do with your child at home. From creating homemade volcanoes to experimenting with colour-changing potions, these hands-on activities will spark curiosity and encourage scientific exploration.
As a family go on outdoor nature hunts, where your child can use their senses to explore the natural world around them. Consider creating scavenger hunt lists or nature bingo cards to guide their exploration and encourage observation skills. Give them a magnifying glass to explore what’s in the grass. It is great fun.
There are so many benefits of dramatic play in fostering creativity and imagination. As the parent you can set up themed dress-up corners or provide props and costumes for children to act out their own stories, plays, or adventures.
Consider musical exploration by exposing your child to a variety of musical genres and instruments. From creating homemade instruments to having dance parties, there are endless opportunities for musical discovery and expression.
Share kid-friendly cooking and baking recipes that parents can make with their children. Cooking together not only teaches valuable life skills but also encourages creativity and experimentation in the kitchen. Creating mess can be a healthy thing!
Consider building and construction challenges using materials like LEGO, blocks, or recycled materials. You can challenge your child to build tall towers, intricate structures, or imaginative worlds, fostering spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. Find a safe and suitable space in the house to
spread out with all the blocks.
As the parent, offer tips for creating imaginative play spaces within the home, such as building forts, creating sensory bins, or transforming cardboard boxes into playhouses. These dedicated spaces provide your child with opportunities for open-ended play and imaginative exploration.
Cultivate a love for reading and storytelling by sharing a variety of books and stories with your child. Engage your child in discussions about characters, settings, and plot lines, inspiring their imagination and creativity. Try dramatizing sections of the book.
It is amazing how you the parent can inspire your child to be imaginative and creative. Look within your own home to find ways and means to be creative. You do not need to look far.
“A creative, imaginative child has an insatiable appetite for learning.”
The Magic of Creative Thinking
Creativity is about letting your imagination run wild! Discover how encouraging your child's creative side can lead to amazing benefits. Join Gail Smith as she dives into the world of creativity!
Encouraging your child to be creative is such a critical part of their development. Remember, being creative is not about being right or wrong. It is also not about failure. It is all about the ability to express oneself in an open uncompromised way. Encouraging your child to be creative can be in many forms. It can be through art, plays, drama, music etc. It is all about the child expressing themselves and feeling satisfied that they find ways to do just that, be expressive!
Encouraging your child's creativity is like unlocking a magical door to their imagination. It lets them explore new worlds of ideas, making everyday life more enchanting and filled with possibilities. Be open to all their ideas and place no judgement on their efforts.
Creative activities are like giving your child a pair of confidence wings. As they let their creativity soar, they discover their own abilities and gain the self-assurance to take on new challenges. They become real risk takers.
Creativity is an exciting adventure in the land of problem-solving. It's like giving your child a treasure map to navigate challenges, encouraging them to discover clever solutions with a spirit of curiosity. It also takes away the fear of failure.
Creativity is like having a playground for the imagination. It lets your child swing from the heights of their dreams, slide into new possibilities, and build castles of ideas in the ever-expansive world of their own imagination.
Creative activities offer your child an expressive color palette for their emotions. It's like painting a canvas with feelings, allowing them to express the vibrant hues of joy, the deep shades of introspection, and the bright tones of excitement.
Fostering creativity is like packing a picnic basket of innovation for your child's future. It equips them with a delightful array of inventive snacks, ensuring they're ready to feast on fresh ideas and contribute uniquely to the ever-evolving feast of life.
“The power of imagination will be a driving force for your child’s creative process”
Encourage creativity in our children
Creativity is intelligence having fun. Read on to see how creativity can be a major driving force of learning for your child.
Einstein once said: Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
All great learners were creative. They experimented with ideas, challenged their thoughts, looked outside the square and developed a vision of what they wanted to achieve. As a parent you can find many ways to develop your child’s creativity and of course encourage them to follow their passions. The thoughts below are a guide to reflecting on how creativity can be a major driving force of learning for your child.
Creativity encourages Inquisitiveness and Exploration
Creativity sparks curiosity, prompting children to explore and question the world around them. Let them ask those important questions.
A child encouraged to ask "What if?" might explore science experiments, leading to a lifelong interest in discovery and learning. There is no room for self doubt with creativity.
Creativity develops Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Creative activities challenge children to think critically and solve problems, essential skills for effective learning.
Building with blocks or solving a puzzle encourages creative problem-solving, laying the foundation for analytical thinking. Play games with your child and encourage different types of formal learning such as chess, dominoes etc.
Creativity fosters a Love for Learning
Creative pursuits make learning enjoyable, fostering a love for discovering new things. This is all about following those passions that drive your interest
Engaging in imaginative storytelling or creative writing can make literature and language exciting, creating a positive association with learning. Encourage your child with reading.
Creativity enhances Communication and Expression
Creative activities provide children with various avenues to express themselves, improving communication skills. Think about how wonderful drama is to enrich the spirit.
Drawing, painting, or even acting out stories allows children to convey their thoughts and feelings, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively. Allow your child to sing, dance, recite invent plays etc. It is all about being creative.
Creativity promotes Adaptability and Resilience
Creativity encourages adaptability and resilience by teaching children to approach challenges with an open mind. They should not be afraid of failure but see it as an opportunity to rethink.
When faced with a setback, a child accustomed to creative problem-solving might see it as an opportunity to try a different approach. In fact they enjoy the challenge looking at alternative ways of thinking..
If our children are encouraged to explore and to see the world through creative eyes, they will be creators, innovators, leaders etc. Creativity gives you the confidence to think freely and to take risks in learning that can lead you into new directions. Be the parent that invites creativity into the life of your child. They will be happier and richer for the experience.
‘Creativity is intelligence having fun’
-Albert Einstein
Teach your child about life from outside the classroom
Teaching children about learning beyond the classroom is essential for their overall development. Here are 8 simple steps for parents to assist their children in learning outside of school.
Teaching children about learning beyond the classroom is essential for their overall development.
Here are eight simple but effective examples for parents to help their children learn outside of school:
Remember, learning from the classroom is only one form of learning in what should be a lifelong experience.
Nature Exploration: Take your child on hikes or nature walks. Encourage them to observe and ask questions about plants, animals, and the environment. Use field guides or smartphone apps to identify species. This fosters curiosity and a love for science and the natural world. Have you considered having all the gear? Bikes, walking shoes for hiking etc. Let your child know how you value outdoor learning.
Cooking Together: Involve your child in meal preparation. Teach them about measurements, fractions, and the science of cooking. Discuss nutrition and make it fun by experimenting with recipes. This enhances maths and science skills while promoting a life skill. Talk to them whilst cooking as maths is best taught through conversation, experience and trial and error. Have cookbooks lying around the house.
Library Visits: Regular trips to the library expose children to a wide variety of books and resources. Let them choose their reading material, whether it's fiction, non-fiction, or graphic novels. Encourage discussions about what they've read to improve comprehension and critical thinking. Just spend some time together reading at the library. Talk to the librarians who have much to offer.
Art and Creativity: Provide art supplies and encourage your child to express themselves through drawing, painting, or crafting. Discuss famous artists, styles, and the history of art. This cultivates creativity, self-expression, and an appreciation for the arts. Take them on excursions to galleries, art houses etc.
Home Gardening: Start a small garden together, whether it's in your backyard or on a windowsill. Teach your child about plants' life cycles, photosynthesis, and responsible care for living things. Gardening also instils patience and a sense of responsibility. Collect books on gardening and read them together. Visit special gardens that are on display.
Museum Visits: Plan trips to museums, science centres, or historical sites. These outings expose children to culture, history, and science in an interactive way. Engage in discussions about what they've seen and encourage them to ask questions. Let them look up various places of interest to visit.
Find the right moment: When walking together or simply watching television, you will find the occasion to talk about life outside the classroom.
Be Curious about life: Notice things and talk about them. Question why you see birds in trees and notice how the waves change. The more you seem inquiring about outside life the more your child will show interest and curiosity. They begin to be more observant.
Outside the classroom, you open the door to many more learning opportunities. Here you provide direct personal contact with nature which is enjoyable, excites the imagination and encourages inquiry. Outside the classroom knowledge meets adventure and children are easily motivated to learn and explore in a much more natural way.
‘From a very early age. I had to interrupt my education to go to school.’
-George Bernard Shaw
Six ideas to help children focus on learning rather than just completing work
Here are six different ways to promote deeper learning.
Encourage Curiosity: Be spontaneous and look for occasions to be curious. Foster a sense of curiosity and exploration in your child. Encourage them to ask questions, seek answers, and dig deeper into topics that interest them. For example, if your child is learning about space, you can encourage them to research and discover more about specific planets or space missions.
Promote Project-Based Learning: Encourage your child to engage in project-based learning, where they can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios. The more they engage in real life activities the quicker they learn. This can involve working on hands-on projects, conducting experiments, or creating presentations. For instance, if your child is learning about endangered animals, they could create a poster or a short video highlighting the importance of conservation. Help them with ideas and share in their work.
Connect Learning to Real Life: Help your child understand how what they are learning in school is relevant to their everyday life. If they are learning about fractions, you can involve them in cooking or baking activities where they need to use fractions to measure ingredients.
Encourage Reflection and Discussion: Create opportunities for your child to reflect on what they have learned and engage in discussions regularly. This can be done through regular conversations about their school day or specific topics they are studying. Ask open-ended questions and listen actively to their responses. For instance, after reading a book, ask them about their favourite part or what they learned from the story. Watching the news together can be a stimulating time to reflect together on wide topics.
Incorporate Technology and Educational Resources: Utilise educational apps, online resources, and interactive platforms to enhance your child's learning experience. There are numerous educational websites, interactive games, and educational videos available that can make learning more engaging and interactive. For example, you can use educational apps that provide interactive quizzes or virtual simulations related to their subjects.
Foster a Love for Reading: Encourage your child to develop a love for reading by providing access to a variety of books and materials that connect with their interests. Take regular trips to the library, set aside dedicated reading time, and discuss books together. Reading not only enhances their knowledge but also promotes critical thinking and imagination.
You can help your child develop a deeper love for learning and an inquiring approach to life by supporting them in some of the above ways. You are an ideal partner in developing and sharing their love and passion for knowledge.
‘Show your child how passionate you are about learning and watch how that passion rubs off!’
-Gail J Smith
Help your child develop their creative side
It is such a joy watching our children spring into creative moments. These can often be spontaneous and can take on many forms. As a parent, we should support their creative side as it can be stifled so easily with practicality, logic, do the right thing, be reasonable, etc. There is no shortage of sensible reasons why creativity can be stifled.
Of course, everything within reason but children are naturally curious and creative. They love to explore and dream. They are not inhibited to begin with and grow to being free and expressive in their minds and bodies if allowed.
Perhaps you are a creative person? If you are more inclined to demonstrate self-discipline, put things in order, monitor time etc. you may find at times their creative behaviour off putting. This article is to invite you to lighten up in this area. Allow your children to just be and to enjoy the moment.
Here are some reasons why creativity, given plenty of scope enlivens and strengthens the wellbeing and mental health of the child and stimulates amazing learning.
Our child’s spontaneous creativity enlivens and enlightens our adulthood.
Being creative gives the child the right to express themselves. Great authors, painters etc. needed creative time to explore and develop their talents.
Children will make mistakes and this is part of experimentation in being creative. Without error, a child cannot grow and learn in new directions. A child who is celebrated at home for their creativity, feel free to keep exploring. They love the fact that you acknowledge and affirm their creative spirit. This spurs them on.
If a child is stunted with their creativity, they can become quite unhappy and mental health issues can creep into their life. It is not natural for a child to be uncreative.
When children play, they are actually being creative. Encourage it and join in the experience. It will make for better family time.
Never tell a child that their creativity is not satisfactory. There is no assessment or value placed on being creative. By nature, it is free and can develop in any direction. No surprises that teachers are always looking to strengthen the child’s creative disposition. They know that from such a journey comes insightfulness and real learning.
Think about the people you admire. Is creativity part of their world? Often creative people are very expressive and not inhibited by controlled thinking. Don’t be put off by people that seem to see life from different angles. Even your own child may be seeing life from a different lens than your own.
Often, we say, think outside the square. In today’s workforce people who think differently offer a great deal to companies who are not seeking more of the same. The workforce seeks and demands creative employees who can look at problems in different ways.
If a child is encouraged to see the world from practical eyes and not to value creativity their world will shrink and only predictability and reliability will be valued.
A child by nature of being a child sees the world creatively. They are generally not inhibited by nature which gives them the optimum chance to see the world from many angles and to create new dimensions in that world.
We can learn from our child’s spontaneous creativity and this enlivens and enlightens our adulthood which can be driven by order and control. In simple terms it allows us to lighten up!
“Those who do not think outside the box are easily contained.”
Crazy creative ideas for long stays at home.
I have been giving this some thought and I want to tell you a story that may trigger some ideas. Many years ago, when I was a young teacher and very interested in developing the creative side to my class, my students and I all decided to turn the classroom into a pirate ship. We had been reading an adventure book on pirates which captured the children’s imagination. This was an extraordinary adventure. We took at least one week to build the ship and surrounds. We researched what an old ship would look like and found all sorts of pieces with which to put it together. Desks were removed from the classroom. The whole room was the ship. Much to the displeasure of the Principal, we were determined to keep this room alive and for the next few weeks we learnt all about the ship, how winds moved and influenced sailing. We learnt about tides, wrote poetry etc. It was an incredible adventure and a joy in all of us building a slow steady piece of art from which we had so much enjoyment and learning. Years later, I met up with students who still remembered the experience. This became a powerful learning tool.
Need some creative ideas during self isolation?
What I am saying here is, consider doing something quite innovative at home. Given the length of time you may be housebound, let your house become the creative space. How about setting up a room which can be converted into something creative where the children can experience play and learning?
Perhaps a game room?
Invite the children into brainstorming what that room could look like and using all sorts of scraps etc. Be generous enough to let them experiment.
Also consider painting a room. Under instruction, a child can assist.
The garden is an extraordinarily creative space. How about the children making an art piece for the garden? This could take some time, perhaps several days. The joy is in the process. How about painting the rocks, setting up a chicken coup etc?
Of course, cooking especially baking is a wonderful creative exercise for children. Consider it hospitality 101 at home.
Are there arts and crafts you can teach your child such as knitting, sewing? I hear macramé is back in fashion. Check out places like art and craft shops, junk yards, op shops, etc. that can offer cheap supplies for art and craft activities.
I have recently heard of a dad building a bike with his children using old parts.
Do you have old bikes, toys etc. that could be used for the creation of an art piece? Children love pulling apart old equipment.
If your home will be your total sanctuary for several weeks, set it up to accommodate movement and space for the children. Remove objects that will create stress when damaged. This is important for your sanity. Accept that for a few weeks the home will be a different space in which to live. It will be a space for active living.
Can you build a cubby house with your children, a go-carts etc? It is all about doing activities that require a focus, time and patience.
How about technology. Look online for some short courses that are enjoyable and have a learning aspect to them. Of course, minimise screen time.
How about making home videos, writing songs etc.
Children thrive on being creative and if you create a home environment that enables them to express themselves, they can entertain themselves in unique and intuitive ways over longer sustained periods.
“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.”