Have you ever thought about this: Why most children lose their creativity when they grow up?
Imagination and creativity are not exclusive to any particular culture or nationality.
Sometimes, they begin with the simple act of painting “a blue apple.”
In our quest to provide the right answers to our children, we often unintentionally stifle their imaginations.
We restrict them with adults’ rigid standards of the world and don’t allow them to draw a weird “blue apple.”
However, this could be a moment when you stop them from being creative.
Today, we will explore the importance of nurturing imagination and creativity in art education.
The Criticised Blue Apple and Steve Jobs’ Colorful Apple
Once, a father scolded his child for drawing a blue apple, saying, “Haven’t you eaten apples before? Why did you color it blue?”
The child’s face turned red with embarrassment, like a guilty apple.
Chances are, the child would never dare to paint an apple blue again.
In their world, apples could only be red because their father believed in a single version of the truth.
However, Steve Jobs’ apple was different.
The iconic logo of his company, Apple Inc., features a colorful apple with a bite taken out of it.
Jobs’ innovative and imaginative thinking revolutionised the tech world.
If parents do not even allow children to paint a blue apple, fearing it to be wrong, how can their unique creativity and imagination be acknowledged and given room to develop?
Do Not Let Standard Answers Kill Children’s Imagination
We often provide children with standard answers, inadvertently closing the door to their imagination.
In a traditional parent-child class, when asked why it snows in winter, one child answered that it’s because the cold turns clouds into small ice crystals that fall as snowflakes.
Before another child could describe snow as a warm blanket from the sky, the teacher interrupted, insisting that the first answer was the only correct one.
While scientifically accurate, this teacher’s hasty judgment prevented children from imagining romantic scenes like a snow god or other imaginative ideas we never thought of.
Creativity and imagination should not be stripped away from children.
Imagination is an Inalienable Right
In 1968, a mother in Nevada sued her daughter’s preschool, claiming it had robbed her child of her imagination.
The child, Edith, recognised the letter ‘O’ on a gift box as an “open” sign.
Her mother was surprised and asked how she knew.
Edith said her teacher taught her.
The mother’s lawsuit argued that the preschool had taken away Edith’s right to imagine.
Before learning the letter ‘O,’ Edith had seen it as the sun, a football, or an egg.
The Nevada legislature took notice and amended the Civil Education Protection Act, mandating that preschoolers have the right to play and ask “why.”
Yes, for children, imagination is an inalienable right.
Do Not Dismantle the Beauty of the Children’s World
We are accustomed to thinking that if something is not right, it must be wrong.
However, this narrow mindset often stifles children’s natural curiosity.
While admiring the moon, a child asked her father when the osmanthus tree in the moon would bloom.
Her father quickly corrected her, explaining the moon’s distance and the illusion of shadows.
Without realizing it, the father had shattered the mystery and beauty of the children’s world.
Albert Einstein once said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Imagination is vital for the progress of humankind.
So, at an age when children are naturally curious and imaginative, let’s nurture their creativity and encourage them to explore their world in art classes!
Tree Art: Let Imagination Flow Freely
In conclusion, nurturing creativity in children is essential for their overall development.
Parents and educators should encourage imagination and provide opportunities for children to express themselves in art classes.
By doing so, we can help them become innovative and confident individuals who can contribute positively to society.
At TREE ART, the largest art school in Singapore, our goal is to inspire a lifelong love for art in students.
We believe that art is not just a part of life, but something even greater.
We see art as more than just creating artists. It’s a way to boost a child’s personal growth and understanding of beauty.
In our art classes for children, kids can share their lives through painting and tap into their imagination.
Our focus is on children’s freedom and self-awareness, helping them grow as lifelong learners, independent thinkers, and aware global citizens.
Here, every child is free to explore, to express, and to draw the world in their unique eyes.
For more information about our art courses, please refer to our website or contact number.
We welcome your inquiries!
