by C.J. Simister, Future-Smart     In her final of three articles, education expert C. J. Simister reveals another of the sixteen ‘future-smart™’ skills that, she argues, will determine how successful a child will be in achieving their potential and dealing with that exciting, but unpredictable ‘life beyond school’. 

Offering ideas for entertaining, easy-to-use games and activities, she shows how parents can play a valuable part in supporting the development of one of these ‘magic ingredients’ – a creative and innovative mindset.  

Here’s something to think about.  What if it were the case that, to prepare our kids for the sort of future they’re going to be facing, the vital 3Rs now stood for reading, (w)riting and (o)riginality?

Well it is.  At least, that’s according to Sir Ken Robinson, government advisor and international author, who argues that, ‘Creativity is now as important in education as literacy – and we should treat it with the same status.’  

But can that really be true?  The problem is that for most of us ‘creativity’ still conjures up images of painting, story writing and making imaginative things out of cardboard boxes!   All perfectly valuable activities – but, as the people who are raising the next generation, we need to recognise that creativity goes much, much further. 

It’s about ideas – ideas that may sometimes be turned into extraordinary paintings, poems and plays, but that equally could result in scientific breakthroughs, ingenious new products, improved methods and procedures, innovative management styles, ground-breaking policies and laws, previously undiscovered solutions to complex problems…  Progress basically.

Einstein was clearly on to something when he said that ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ 
And so it’s absolutely crucial that our children are encouraged to develop their early creative impulses. 

Many of us will have noticed that, as children start to grow up, they often become more self conscious and less willing to say or do things that might be considered embarrassing or wrong.  They learn what it is to blend in, to accept what they’re told (though it may not always seem like it!) and to follow instructions.  And this is all the more true today, when schools so often feel obliged to focus on exam success above all else, force-feeding children with the facts required to waddle through hoops, rather than encouraging an independent, resourceful and creative mindset.  The problem is, by fitting into this system, our children become less likely ever to stand out.

There are all sorts of things we can do to help.

As mentioned in a previous article, using the phrase ‘I wonder’ a lot is a great strategy to get your kids thinking creatively.  It creates a safe environment where you and your child can explore ideas together rather than you being the know-it-all adult – and this makes it much more likely that your child will begin forming theories and making suggestions.

And there are no end of possibilities!  I wonder… why trees have bark, what aliens would think if they landed on Earth, whether it’s always right to tell the truth, why teapots are the shape they are, what the next generation of mobile phones will do?

When your children begin asking ‘I wonder’ questions too – and then trying to come up with theories to answer their own questions – that’s the moment to go out and celebrate!  You’ve created a habit that will help them throughout their lives.

Here are a few more ideas you might like to try:

1. Alternative Uses

Why use a cheese grater simply to grate cheese?  It could be a model for a skyscraper, a new type of bird-feeder or a musical instrument!  Choose a random object - for example, a corkscrew, a paper clip, a cotton reel or a coat hanger - and have fun with your child thinking of alternative uses for it.

2. Loony Logic

For this game, simply think of a proposition that no one would ever consider and take turns to set each other the challenge to persuade someone as convincingly as possible that it’s a good idea!  This is great for developing communication skills, as well as reasoning and lateral thinking, as you need to turn off your normal ‘logical mode’ and look at the situation from a completely different angle.  For example:
How would you persuade someone that…
… by law everyone should wear purple?
… there shouldn’t be any seats in trains?
… no one should ever be allowed to look in a mirror?

3. Improve it

Pick an everyday object – something we tend to take entirely for granted, like a coat hanger or a television or even an elastic band.  Consider its features first of all – what is it made of, how does it feel, what colour and shape is it, what functions does it have?  Then think about its limitations – what’s wrong with it? 

When I play this with a class, we stand in a circle and the children pass the object around, taking it in turns to point out what it can’t do.  Ideas can be as sensible or silly as the children want: ‘The problem with this elastic band is…that it smells horrible’; ‘…that it pulls your hair when you have a pony tail’; or ‘…that it can’t fit around an elephant’ (which, of course, begs the question – when might it be useful to put an elastic band around an elephant?’ and you have your next creative thinking challenge!).

This sparks all sorts of ideas for the next round – where the children come up with suggestions for how to improve its design. They might suggest covering the elastic band with a soft, slippery material, for example, or creating a range of bands that smell of different fruity flavours!

Point out that this is how new inventions are born – simply by people who don’t accept the status quo.  You’ll be able to think of all sorts of examples of this - eg fitted sheets, the Swiss penknife, spreadable butter, mobile phones with internet access, wheelie bin covers, spectacles with television screens inside them… Encourage your child to look out for these too. 

4. Go shop!

A walk around a department store is a fantastic way to stimulate an inventive mind.  Set a challenge of some sort – or, better still, get your child to think of a really interesting challenge for both of you.  For instance:
What are the five most bizarre/useful/ridiculous items that you can find? 

If you could be the inventor of one item in the shop, what would you be most proud of?  Why?  Can you find three things you never knew had been invented?  What score out of ten would you give them?

Let your child take a digital camera along to record their discoveries.  That way, on the journey home, they can be narrowing down their final list to present to you!

The point of this is to teach your child that the world is not something that needs to be accepted just as it is, that situations are malleable and products changeable and that they have exactly the right creative thinking skills and character to make a real difference.

Other articles in this series:

Intro: Are Your Kids Ready to Face the Modern World?

Part 1: Helping Your Child to Think Independently

Part 2: Teaching Your Kids to Take the Right Risks

About the author

C.J. Simister is the Director of the innovative ‘Cognitive Development Programme’ at Northwood College, UK, Jane’s driving passion is to help children of all ages become more independent, more critical and more creative in their thinking.

The author of two books, ‘How to teach thinking and learning skills: A practical programme for the whole school’ (SAGE: 2007) and ‘The Bright Stuff: Playful ways to nurture your child’s extraordinary mind’ (Pearson: 2009), Jane works with schools and parents in the UK and internationally, offering practical support and advice in raising children who are active, resourceful thinkers, equipped with the skills and intellectual qualities necessary to allow them to make the most of their potential and to face and flourish in an exciting, but increasingly competitive world.

This series of articles remains under copyright of C.J. Simister. Link: Future-Smart

About the book

Click here to read more or to order.

Praise for ‘The Bright Stuff’:

“A really excellent resource for parents looking for imaginative ways to illuminate young minds. I will be using it with my own children” - Dr Stephen Law, author and Editor of the journal of the Royal Institute of Philosophy

“If my parents had had this goldmine of a book, I’d be a brighter and happier person. Buy it, read it and sprinkle your child’s life with its wisdom” - Professor Guy Claxton, author and Co-Director of the Centre of Real-World Learning, University of Winchester

“This is a super book - no sweeping generalisations, easy assumptions or join-the-dot prescriptions, just damn good advice and ideas” - Dr Barry Hymer, author and educationalist

“This is a practical handbook for parents about encouraging their children to be original and daring - when it makes sense. Many of those I most admire have few formal qualifications, but do exhibit all the qualities that are the focus of C. J. Simister’s book. As a parent and a risk-taker, I applaud her work” - Luke Johnson, entrepreneur and Financial Times columnist, Chairman of Channel 4 & the RSA

Register now to join YourKidsEd for e-updates with new feature articles, links, and inspiring ideas to educate and enrich your kids! It's FREE!!