How do we, as adults, shape whether children see free time as an opportunity or as empty time? Discover ways to encourage creativity without pressure.
Children notice how adults talk about downtime and unplanned moments. If we fill every break with an activity or entertainment, they may come to expect ideas to always come from someone else. Instead, parents and teachers can spend quiet time with them, make materials easy to access, and give children room to play in their own way. When we show interest in what they create without comparing it to others’ work, we let them know that the process of coming up with an idea can matter just as much as the result.
Interested in this topic? Read more: Boredom as a Path to Self-Reflection: How to Allow Children to Experience Holidays Without Unnecessary Distractions and Develop Their Creativity
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