Buy toys that unleash your child’s creativity
WHAT toys will you buy for the children in your life this Christmas?
Of course you will want to choose gifts that will delight them. At the same time, however, you are no doubt hoping that what you give them will help them become more imaginative, innovative and creative.
Does that sound like a tall order? In truth, it is easier than you might think – and, even better, such gifts often cost considerably less than many of the “must-haves” that are being intensively marketed.
To establish the best gifts to foster creativity, we need to define this term.
Harvard professor Howard Gardner, who has studied children’s creative and cognitive development for decades, defines creativity as the ability to solve problems, fashion objects, or ask questions in a way that is initially unusual, but that ultimately is accepted by at least one cultural group.
When we encourage creative development, children will also develop cognitive skills.
That is because cognitive development – the ability to understand, process and use information to solve problems and communicate needs – only happens through active discovery.
The Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget remarked that the child must invent to know. In other words, children learn best when they find out for themselves, rather than when they are told to use particular strategies or work to specific outcomes. Therefore, the less the toy “tells” the child what to do, the freer they will be to use it creatively.
Here, then, are some pointers when choosing toys to encourage creative development.
First, go for bits and pieces. Toys that are already fully formed offer little scope for imagination. Art supplies, make-up, and articles of clothing that can be used for dressing up are much better choices. Building materials such as Lego are good, but to maximise their imaginative power, go for basic kits rather than those that offer only the pieces needed to make a specific item.
Look for gifts that will increase awareness of the self and the child’s surroundings.
Diaries, cameras, microphones and other devices fall into this category.
If you are still stuck and nothing you see feels right for the child in mind, give them an experience you can all share and talk about later – a day out at the seaside, or a trip to a museum or safari park. You could include a diary or camera with this promise, so they can record and remember their experience.
Finally, your reaction to what your child does with their new gift is critically important. Try not to specify outcome or use the word “should”.
Instead, ask them to explain what they are planning to do and what sparked their ideas. That way, the gift becomes a toy that triggers rather than stifles imagination. — The Daily Telegraph
● Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist and author of The Key to Calm recording