e d uca t i o n
| by Natasha Biem
Seven Ways to Give Your Child Well-Rounded Skills To complement what your children are learning in the classroom, get them involved in activities that foster creativity, culture, and independence. The only way your children will be creative as adults, is to allow them time and opportunity to explore their creativity.
Let Them Play!
Teach Responsibility
At school, children spend the majority of the day “doing as they are told.” Creative thinking is crucial in today’s job market. Employers are looking for individuals who are able to think outside the box and can come up with solutions and resolve problems as they arise. Make sure your child has plenty of time throughout the week to play (that’s right —play). Equip them with building toys; Lego; clay; art supplies; journals; dress-up costumes, and all kinds of papers for drawing.
Knowing they are being counted on to help run the household makes them feel like an essential part of the family. My sons can choose from either cooking dinner or setting the table and clearing the table when the meal is done. If they cook dinner on their own, I set the table. If they help me cook dinner, then I help them set the table. We started this before they were in kindergarten. Chores should not be viewed as an opportunity for parents to tell children what to do. Instead, allow them to take ownership of their responsibility.
As your children grow older, encourage story writing, movie making, photography and activities that they can do alone or with friends. If they like video games, find games focused on creating and inventing.
Keep Them Socializing Having friends over not only allows children to engage in creative, undirected play, but allows them to build social skills. Meaningful
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www.surrey.ca/recreation