Whether it’s fingerpainting, putting on plays, or playing the recorder, encouraging creative thinking can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning. Even more — creative thinking can encourage critical thinking! By being taught to ask questions, use the tools around them, and investigate things they don’t understand, children become problem solvers. Lake Forrest Prep, an Orlando private school, encourages you to promote creative thinking in your house.

Ask Open-Ended Questions
A great way to get your child to think creatively is to ask questions without answers. Open-ended questions require children to think outside of the box. If there’s not a clear answer, they can use your question to jumpstart their creativity. Ask questions like “How else could we…?” “What should we change?” “What should we do next?” and “What would happen if…?”

Incorporate Creativity
Arts and crafts bring out everyone’s creativity. Encourage your child to draw more; you can even have them tell you a story about their drawing! Give your child watercolor paint and watch as they realize how different colors can be combined. By encouraging your child to create, you’re helping them discover new ways to see the world.  

Use Your Imagination
Incorporating games that require imaginative thinking encourages your child to compare and contrast ideas and connect fragments of information. Try playing with toys that require your child to make the story, like blocks, dollhouses, and legos. Have costumes and props on hand for impromptu plays and puppet shows.

Absorb Art
From music to wall hangings to books, creativity is all around us. Poetry can be used to encourage problem-solving. For example, pause midway through a poem to ask your child what they think will happen next. Music can be used to encourage dance and movement. Exposing your child to different art forms, music genres, and books can help them find mediums that they are truly passionate about.

Creative thinking can help develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Lake Forrest Prep, an Orlando private school, will help your child learn to think creatively. To learn more about our school, schedule a tour at (407) 331-5144.