CHAPTER
17

The Ageless Art of Creativity

In This Chapter

• What we can learn from kids and their creativity
• How to prevent kids from losing their imaginative edge
• Reversing the negative effects of schools on creativity
• Keeping teenagers inspired and innovative
• How creativity can still stimulate older minds

Age 2 or 3 is usually the cutoff for free admission to attractions, you have to be 21 years old to legally drink in most states, and you usually have to be at least 55 years of age to take advantage of senior discounts. Fortunately for everyone, there is no age limit to creativity. Kids begin to express their own ingenuity before they’re even walking, and adults may continue to follow their own creative path until their final days.

That’s the beauty of creativity—it’s inherent and available to all, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender. You may be responsible for children in some way, as a parent, caregiver, or teacher. If kids are not a part of your world, you can still learn a lot from children about creativity. This chapter starts with considerations of the young and ends with a look at how creativity continues to provide benefits through midlife and beyond.

Supporting Creativity in Your Kids

Children display amazing imaginations and have an insatiable curiosity. One example is getting caught up in the “Why?” game with a toddler whose questions of why and how the world works seem endless. Kids pose questions about matters that aren’t even a passing thought to adults. They have entire conversations with imaginary friends, turn cardboard boxes into trucks, play “make-believe” with just about anything they can get their hands on, and oftentimes get more enjoyment out of the package a toy came in than the toy itself.

Unfortunately, little by little, most kids begin to disengage from their natural states of creativity and show less imagination as they grow older. Some of them become those adults I referenced earlier who say things like “I’m just not creative.” Therefore, it’s imperative to make creativity a priority for kids today so they can experience the inner joys and internal rewards that come with creative expression. If they experience those feelings on a regular basis, they will be more likely to carry creativity into adulthood.

Whether you have one child or more, the following tips are useful in fostering creativity. (I will be using the plural form, kids or children, in stating the tips.) As you and your children explore these, be careful not to let them—or you—become overwhelmed, which can negatively affect creative expression. Do what you can, and remember, it’s not the end product that’s most important—it’s the enjoyment of the process itself.

CREATIVITY KEY

When I talk about the process, I’m not necessarily speaking of the creative process that was described in Chapter 4. Kids’ creative play is usually more fleeting and less structured, although you will probably see some elements of that process in action. For example, they get an idea, they experiment with it, act on it, and (hopefully) enjoy it. As you become more attuned to your own creative process, you’ll notice theirs.

How Encouragement Goes a Long Way

If you ask most adults who think they’re not very creative if they received a lot of encouragement to be creative as a child, their answer will probably be “No.” To prevent that from happening to your kids, be very conscious of the need to offer some form of support every day.

One way is to encourage their curious nature. That’s a quality all kids display when they’re young but can lose quickly because they’re being told “no” so much of the time. For example, while it’s understandable you don’t want your kids to touch breakables in the house, limit the amount that is within their reach and allow them to poke and feel appropriate items and ask questions. They can be curious without touching anything, too. You could show them common kitchen items that are unfamiliar to them and ask “What do you think this is used for?” Notice the different answers they give you and applaud them for their original answers before telling them how you use it.

Another area to encourage is spontaneity. This may be accomplished by not planning every minute of every day. Be sure they have unstructured time each day to choose their own activities. Notice how they may seem to jump from one interest to the next, which is okay, because it allows them to explore and experiment. It’s because of their curious nature they easily switch gears. For example, if they’re coloring a picture in a coloring book, and then decide in the middle of it to go outside and play on the swing set, show support rather than expecting them to finish coloring the picture first. As long as they’re not jeopardizing their safety, be okay with their spontaneous choices.

Promoting your kids’ independence also can aid their creativity. You could start by giving them simple choices, such as “Do you want to wear your red polo shirt or this blue T-shirt?” Having the opportunity to make decisions on their own will build their confidence and self-esteem—two important characteristics of creative expression.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“The hardest thing about reality is returning to it after an hour inside your child’s mind.”

—Robert Brault

Making Art Convenient

Artwork can be a way for children to express their feelings—good or bad—and provides a healthy, creative outlet. You can encourage this by making the tools for art available to your children at any time.

For example, always have crayons, markers, pens, paper, and other materials available for use. If you have the space, store the materials in a place that’s visible and handy and designate an arts area where you can set up a child-size easel, table, or small desk. For most kids, the old “out of sight, out of mind” principle applies; if you choose a space where most of the family spends its time and keep things in places that are easy to get to, your children will be more likely to go there more often and engage in an artistic activity.

You can also guide them in the direction of artistic creation by deliberately setting a time to sit with them and organize the supplies in a way that’s easy for them to create. If you’re a neat freak, let go of that need and be tolerant of messes. The paints you use should be washable, and you can cover your floor with newspapers or buy an old sheet from a thrift store to use for protection.

Another way to support your children’s exploration of art is to view all materials you may be tempted to discard as usable in a possible art project, such as buttons, pieces of cardboard, greeting cards, corks from wine bottles, old shirts with sequins, egg cartons, and so on. This will stimulate more curiosity in your kids and aid their creative thinking by telling them to look beyond how something is normally used. You can do the same in nature, too, by gathering pinecones, acorns, leaves, shells, and rocks as potential art pieces. Whatever the case, in collecting materials, ask them “How do you think you could use this in your artwork?” To give them more ideas on different resources for art, take them to an arts and crafts show and point out works that utilize common household items (such as spoon art). Museums and Pinterest are two other places to search with your children to get ideas.

As you encourage your kids’ artistic expression, be careful with your feedback. For example, if you said to your son “I really like the house you drew,” he might respond by saying “That’s not a house. That’s a box for my pet monkey.” It’s better to start off with a positive comment, such as “I really like how you used the color red,” followed by “Tell me more about your picture.” This gives children a chance to explain their own thought process and keeps you from attaching a name to the picture. By allowing your children to readily express themselves artistically in a way that avoids judgment, you give them a healing, positive outlet for creativity.

CREATIVITY KEY

Here’s a fun and easy activity for your kids using natural resources: Put a leaf underneath a piece of paper and rub over it with a crayon. Your kids can then add watercolors or markers to decorate the leaf design as they’d like.

Putting a Creative Spin on Everyday Things

Creativity isn’t just relegated to making artwork. There are things you do every day with your children that can be used to engage their creativity.

Chores are not typically something children—or even you!—look forward to. By adding a little creativity, you can show them even important tasks don’t have to be completely serious. For example, in teaching your kids to clean up after themselves, take the opportunity to turn it into a game that will be fun for them. Tell them you’ll time them to see how fast they can put their toys away. Ask them for their ideas, too, not only regarding chores, but any routine tasks they resist doing.

Story time can also be a place to inject more creativity. While reading stories to your children, stop and ask them about the characters. See if they would like to be friends with one of the people in the story and to tell you why or why not. After you’ve read the story a few times, ask them to make up a different ending. If they’re stuck for ideas, prompt them with a question like “What if Cinderella didn’t return by midnight? What do you think would happen?”

Introducing kids to music can also lead to a variety of creative activities. You can show them how to move around and dance with them. Or you can tell them they are the stars of the show and create a stage for them to be the entertainment, letting them pick out the pretend microphone they’d like to use to perform. I can remember my two older sisters and I pretending to be the Supremes because our mom was such a fan of this popular singing group at the time; we lip-synched the songs as we put on a show for our parents. By allowing your kids the fun and freedom of sharing music, you’ll help them create unforgettable moments.

As for television, much has been written about limiting the amount of time children spend in front of the tube. You may use the TV to entertain and babysit your kids on occasion, such as when you are busy preparing dinner, but it’s better if you can select programs that will stimulate their creativity and that you can watch together. Nowadays, you don’t even need to buy videos. There are plenty of choices you can find for free on the internet, such as at watchknowlearn.org, which contains a number of educational videos for kids from kindergarten through grade 12 that have been suggested by educators.

The kitchen is another area to have your kids explore creativity. You can involve them in the preparation of meals, asking them to put the decorating touches on cupcakes or other baked goods. They may also enjoy making their own “play dough.” There are easy recipes you can look up on the internet that call for cheap, common ingredients and don’t involve baking.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“Children see magic because they look for it.”

—Christopher Moore

Finding Creativity Outdoors

Taking nature walks provides many opportunities for children to get in touch with their creative side. It teaches them to appreciate beauty, which can someday be translated into such creative activities as paintings, photographs, and stories. For example, if you’re into gardening, involve your kids in planting flowers and vegetables. Even if you don’t have a full-blown garden, supervise them in planting seeds. They’ll delight in watching the plant grow and take pride that they had a hand in it.

It doesn’t matter what environment you live in; there are plenty of opportunities for creativity. The following are some ideas for a snowy climate:

• Fill a spray bottle with some type of food coloring or dye and water and create snow paintings. Brainstorm with your kids to think of other materials to use to add color to snow and then decide what to create.
• Make a snowman with your kids and ask them to come up with ways to dress him. What can they use for the eyes, nose, and mouth?
• Have a snowman- or snow sculpture–building contest with your neighbors. A friendly competition like this can stimulate creativity.
• Have your kids think of tools and common household goods that can make impressions in the snow and then try them out.

The following are some things to consider if you live near a beach:

• Bring cookie cutters with you and put sand mixed with water in them so your kids can make their own designs.
• Collect different types of shells and make a design in the sand. Or bring the shells home and help your kids create a wreath, centerpiece, or candles.
• Just as you can color snow, you can color sand, too. Use food coloring, dry tempera paint powder, or colored chalk. You and your kids can even do the old classic—build a colorful sand castle!
• Have your kids write messages in the sand with their feet. If it’s a love message, take a picture and text it to the intended person.

Creative Discipline

Creativity isn’t just about rewards and allowing any sort of behavior. In fact, how children develop depends largely on methods of discipline. The “do as I say,” strict disciplinary model that often included corporal punishment, or spanking, was commonplace in the last century. However, today many parents are looking for more creative ways to discipline their children without being too stern or too lenient.

According to parenting coach and expert Ginny Luther, disciplining with shock and awe—such as shouting, shaming, and spanking—will always teach children, but that type of learning comes from a place of fear and doesn’t allow them to access the problem-solving part of the brain. The creative part is letting go of trying to control kids and instead focusing on connecting with their gifts of creativity and then providing guidelines around those gifts.

Luther uses her own son, Bart, as an example. From the time he was 14 months old, he was turning toast into guns and making gun sounds, which was contrary to her belief system. The traditional approach would have been to stop his behavior by threatening, which would have exacerbated his defiance. However, Luther determined what he was really doing was displaying his leadership, a trait that serves children well later in life but can challenge parents to the max in the earlier years. She therefore realized she had to get very creative in how she parented him and began using a technique she calls reflecting, as opposed to using judgment and control.

DEFINITION

Reflecting is a technique used in creative discipline with children in which the parent reflects to children their expressed desires followed by providing guidelines that offer safe choices and redirection.

Reflecting means mirroring back to children what they are expressing and establishing guidelines around that, which includes ensuring safety and offering choices and redirection. Reflecting doesn’t mean you’re giving in; it means you’re stimulating the higher parts of your children’s brain, which enables decision making by them. For example, a controlling attempt might be for Luther to say “Bart, don’t you dare point that at me! That’s not nice. We don’t use guns in this house. They are hurtful.” On the other hand, if she used a reflective attempt, it would be something like “Bart, you like to play GI Joe. You want to help others feel safe. Let’s build a safe place for them so they can be safe.” This empowers him to make a choice that builds free will verses taking his power away.

At 14 months, reflection is more redirection, but if Bart was a 3-year-old pointing the toast gun at his mother because he was mad he couldn’t have candy for breakfast, she would use reflecting by saying “You want me to know how mad you feel right now. You were hoping I would give you candy. It’s hard when you can’t choose candy for breakfast. You may have some eggs or cereal. What’s your choice?” Choice and redirection become something children are willing to listen to. Luther looks at parents as the vehicles for their children’s creative being.

In essence, creativity in parenting is the willingness to step aside and guide rather than control and make it about the parents’ agenda, according to Luther. It still means structure, limits, disappointment, and crying. It’s how parents respond that will make the difference between whether children exercise their own creativity or shut down. The connection between parent and child is that crucial. Luther’s philosophy of discipline utilizes a more creative brain, one that is flexible and sees more than one option, as in whole-brain thinking. So by allowing your children to reflect upon their actions, you bring about awareness and teach them the ability to problem solve the hardest of situations by taking responsibility. This mindful awareness is what builds creativity, not the shoulds and shouldn’ts.

Some Final Dos and Don’ts

Most children are very sensitive and impressionable, and what you say to them can last a lifetime and potentially lead to creative blocks (see Chapter 6). Therefore, I’d like to close this section with some general dos and don’ts for supporting your kids creatively:

• DON’T make comparisons. Just as you should never compare yourself to anyone else, never compare your child’s creative works and efforts with a sibling or anyone else!
• DON’T pressure your children to perform on command. If you sense they just need a little prodding, that’s okay, but overall, let them initiate their sharing.
• DON’T judge. Judging can make your children feel like they’re being evaluated and not living up to your expectations. This could then cause them to limit their creative efforts and focus more on pleasing you than being original.
• DON’T try to relive your childhood through your children. What appeals to you may not interest your children. Expose them to different opportunities but do not expect them to gravitate to your passions.
• DON’T expect perfection. It’s okay for you to encourage your kids to do their best work, but do not ever expect or demand they strive for perfection. Be proud of your children—no matter the outcome of the project.
• DO be a role model. If your kids see you engaging in creative activity, they may wish to join you or be inspired by you.
• DO emphasize the fun aspects of creativity. For example, you can inject humor into creative play by telling knock-knock jokes and having your children make up some of their own.
• DO praise your children. I can’t emphasize this enough. Praise, and then praise them again!
• DO allow them to have imaginary friends. If your children want to invite them to the dinner table, go along with it. It’s their way of exploring and it may be comforting as well.
• DO give them gentle guidance. It’s okay to give basic instructions, but once you do, allow your children to proceed on their own, even when you notice them doing it incorrectly. If you see them getting frustrated, you can offer to help. Honor their answer. It’s always important to supervise to ensure safety but the more independently they can work, the more it will build their confidence.

CREATIVITY KEY

The ideas I’ve provided are just some of the considerations to promote creativity with your kids. Be creative yourself and think of some more ideas. Perhaps one of the tips prompted you to think of others already. If you had a creative upbringing yourself, revisit your own childhood to recall what helped your imagination soar.

Reconnecting Teens with Their Creative Nature

Some of the same principles that have been addressed regarding younger kids apply to teenagers, too, but teenagers also have their own additional considerations. The main difference is that most teens are grappling with establishing their personal identity. They want to conform and at the same time they want to buck traditions and become their own person. They want to stand out without sticking out—out of place, that is. Hanging out with Mom and Dad isn’t usually high on their priority list, yet they also need to know you support and love them. Figuring out who they are and what they stand for is a creative act. However, one study showed that while 98 percent of 3- to 4-year-olds use divergent thinking, only 10 percent of teens do so. One of the biggest reasons is because of the pressure they feel to fit in. As their parent, what can you do to support them in their quest to be unique yet accepted?

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

–Sophia Loren

First, understand their fear of failure and looking stupid in front of their friends can override everything else and keep them from stepping out too far from the perceived “normal.” To counteract that, let them know that healthy risk-taking is not just part of the creative process, but a big part of life overall. If they make a mistake, show them you love them unconditionally no matter what. You can even share your own vulnerability by telling them about some of the things you’ve attempted that didn’t work out the way you had expected. Talk about your feelings and how you overcame the negative experience, including the lessons you learned and how some of your failures led you down a better path. This will not only make your teens more likely to take risks, it will also make them trust you through that personal sharing.

You should also ensure your home feels like a safe place where your teens can have both privacy and a comfortable space in which to explore their creative interests. As was discussed earlier in the chapter, supply the necessary materials so they can experiment. These can actually be the same as what you put together for younger children, as adolescents (and adults, too!) can also have fun with things such as scented markers and crayons. There may be a few items that are different from a toddler’s creative basket due to safety concerns, such as a whittling knife if they’re into carving, or more expensive paints and brushes if they’re more serious about painting. The point is, making creativity convenient for them may inspire them to engage in it more often.

For most teenagers, their friends are of utmost importance, so if they have friends who have similar interests, let your teens know it’s okay to invite their friends over to share in the activity (as long as you have the space to do so). When it comes to spending time on their own, encourage them to write their feelings in a journal that they don’t have to share with you. I remember that I first started journaling when I was 14. It’s a great way to deal with tender feelings that surface and cause confusion at this age that doesn’t have to leave the privacy of their room.

Another way to encourage creativity is to discuss your teens’ dreams and passions with them and show your support of these pursuits. For example, if they show an interest in learning to play an instrument, rent or buy what they desire to play and (if you can swing it financially) pay for private lessons. At least offer this as an option to show that you’re behind them 100 percent.

Exposing your teens to a variety of options will open their minds to experiences they may not otherwise know about. For example, drama and dance workshops are an effective way teens can explore self-expression. Instructors who teach six-week classes in these and other disciplines say kids display more confidence at the end of the session. It’s also a great way for them to learn teamwork. Technology is another option for expression. For many adolescents with camera phones and action cameras, it has opened up a whole new world where they can post creative videos on the internet. On the flip side, teens can explore nature explore creatively with projects that might include carving wooden utensils, decorative pieces, and furniture, or weaving baskets out of tree bark and pine needles. Another way for teens to engage their creative abilities is through community outreach opportunities. Many high schools require a certain amount of community service. Whether your teens’ school does or not, getting your children to become involved with a need in the community helps build character. It’s an opportunity to personally shine while helping out a good cause.

CREATIVITY KEY

While you may want to encourage your teens’ involvement in different creative activities, also keep in mind the pressure of taking exams and their possible involvement with college prep or other plans after graduating. Just as you need to keep your life balanced, so do they.

To bring all of these creative outlets together for your teens, explain the concept of divergent thinking and how it will help them generate original ideas they can further explore. And when they approach you with a far-out idea, resist the temptation to immediately react negatively. After all, you encouraged them to think outside the box! Naturally, as their parent, you’ll have to still weigh the pros and cons and check in with your own comfort level. If you decide against having them pursue a particular idea, be sure to explain the reason very clearly and simply—don’t just slap it down with a flat “No.” Maybe there’s an aspect to their idea that may still be implemented.

Remember, teens often become rebellious because they’re trying to form their own identity. Expect them to experiment with different things, such as hairstyles and outfits, and give them as much creative freedom as you can. Oftentimes the things they want to do are part of a fad that will pass. Plus, being rebellious is one of the common traits that creative people have; you don’t want to completely squelch it. Ultimately, if you can come from a space of being a supportive co-creator having fun with them, rather than with an attitude of “I know more than you,” this will help to foster a healthy and respectful relationship that is bound to advance their creativity even further.

Encouraging Creativity in Students

In Chapter 5, 12 common traits of creative people were discussed. If you saw the trait apart from this book—curious, adventurous, spontaneous, energetic, rebellious, and playful—you might think it was a list that describes children. It should come as no surprise that they exhibit many of the same characteristics of productive adult creators. However, a study by Kyung Hee Kim, PhD, a professor of education at the College of William and Mary, revealed that the United States’ creativity levels among all age groups have been decreasing since 1990, with the most noteworthy decline being among young students.

What happens to derail these natural attributes that just about every kid exhibits to some degree, and how can it be corrected? The following takes you through the many reasons for stifled creativity in the educational setting and how you can counteract it as a teacher.

The Decline of Creativity in Education

While school systems and teachers cannot be blamed entirely, there are consistent findings that show kids lose their creative nature because of the ways they are taught in school. Traditional teaching methods are authoritative, which is focused on strict adherence to rules and regulations. This kind of organization is uninspiring to students and can lead to questioning of the established rules. When students challenge a teacher’s authority, they’re often viewed as rebellious, difficult, and disruptive. Before you know it, they’re being sent to the principal’s office. With each creative instinct that gets pinched—or, even worse, punished—children’s creative expression begin to erode little by little.

CREATIVITY COMPASS

While Deb was teaching an art class of ninth-grade students, she observed that many of them had doubts about their creative abilities and were extremely sensitive, with some reluctant to try the activities due to low confidence. To help turn them around, instead of focusing on their grades and drawing ability, she encouraged them to give their best effort, which would allow them to grow as a result. She continuously supported them by offering positive feedback and told them how much she believed in them. She also chose activities that helped the students make a connection between their emotions and expression in the creative process. She found this approach shifted many of the students’ attitudes about their own creativity.

While the need for this is understandable so the classroom environment does not become chaotic or dangerous, some who have studied this subject say breaking the rules not only should be endured and encouraged, it also should be taught. Why? Because it promotes creativity, which is becoming one of the driving factors in business today and carries with it many life-giving benefits (see Chapter 2 for a refresher on those benefits).

Beyond the issue of rules and regulations, oftentimes children are taught to memorize material, which forces linear, noncreative thinking. In his book A Whack on the Side of the Head, Roger von Oech talks about how our schooling trains students to look for the “one right answer.” This begins in preschool and continues through college and beyond. While math equations may have only one correct solution, when it comes to innovation, limiting students’ search for answers and ideas can be a creativity killer. Even teachers complain about the expectations placed upon them, a “teach to the test” mentality, where scores on state-sanctioned standardized exams have become the priority because it’s tied to funding and other rewards.

However, studies show this authoritative nature of direct instruction greatly affects how students approach learning and creative expression. Too much of that limits their ability to solve problems on their own or come up with innovative solutions. Instead, they merely imitate what they’ve been shown. When given some leeway to think on their own, they are able to offer creative solutions.

One study, The Rainbow Project by Dr. Robert Sternberg, set out to see if more learning would take place if students were taught with creative teaching techniques and instructed to think creatively about a problem rather than using the typical, passive lecture approach. The results showed that those who were taught in the nontraditional, creative manner received higher final grades than the control group who were taught with traditional methods.

So while kids need to learn certain facts that can be taught directly by their teachers, they also need to be given opportunities to arrive at their own answers through a discovery process. This encourages divergent thinking, which allows for ambiguity rather than one right answer. This is an important skill for students to develop over the long haul so they can continue to develop their creativity.

DEFINITION

Ambiguity is to be unclear, to have multiple possible meanings, and to have a subject matter that’s hard to grasp. Learning to be at ease with such uncertainty is a key ingredient of creativity.

Creative Teaching Methods

So is there a way to maintain a necessary structure and order in the classroom, teach certain facts and figures that really do have only one correct answer, and also encourage creativity in students? One way to start is to become more aware of what fosters and what destroys creativity. If you’re a teacher, the following are a few simple guidelines you can follow to get back to the basics of creativity:

Give a few tips on a given subject or skill that’s being taught and then allow time for students to explore on their own. Take something as simple as the definition of a line. You can teach students the Merriam-Webster definition—“a long, narrow mark on a surface”—and move quickly on to the next point or topic. Or you can stimulate their creativity by following that up by telling the kids that a line can be associated with an emotion. For example, if you’re teaching an art class, tell your students to close their eyes and visualize a time when they were angry; you can then tell them to draw an angry line, which may be done with a heavy hand and appear dark and bold. Next, you can tell them to close their eyes and imagine a time when they felt happy, and have them draw a line representing that emotion, which might be drawn as a light, upward wave. By giving them time to experiment, they can play with their creativity.

Encourage students to ask questions and do not put them down if they ask a question that appears to have an obvious answer. One of the worst experiences I can recall from my high school years was being told by a teacher, in front of the whole class, that I asked a dumb question. He said “There are no dumb answers, only dumb questions.” Funny how I can still remember that years later. That’s how impactful it was for me. Therefore, keep in mind how your encouragement—or lack of it—can impact your students when they’re exploring an idea through questions.

Challenge your students with situations that will motivate them to examine and experiment with finding their own solutions. They may protest and want you to hand them the answer. Don’t give in to that. Let them know this is for their own growth, so they can tap into their own creative expression.

Let your students know it’s okay to make mistakes. Help them to see that negative outcomes are learning opportunities that will help them grow. Give them ample time to explore how they can do it differently next time. During this contemplative process, they may even have an a-ha moment in which the “mistake” leads them to a far better solution.

Answer students’ questions with a question. This technique works especially well for parents and their young kids, but also may be applied in the classroom. In other words, when students look to you for a solution, before answering, ask them what they think. Reward them with praise, even if the answer isn’t correct, and then provide a proper explanation. If the answer is either right on or it’s creatively crafted and could possibly work, reinforce that thinking even more with additional positive feedback.

By using these preceding techniques, you will allow students of all ages to develop their divergent thinking. Yes, they’ll still need to expand their ability to think convergently as well, as that is part of the creative process, too, but there will be plenty of opportunities through the traditional learning methods that will allow for that. Just as modern medicine is beginning to take a more integrated approach to healing, advances in education to support students’ creativity also will benefit from a multidimensional system, one that still allows for structure along with the free flow of exploration and independence.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“Creativity is an area in which younger people have a tremendous advantage, since they have an endearing habit of always questioning past wisdom and authority.”

—Bill Hewlett

Creativity Knows No Age Limits

If your children are grown or you don’t have kids, you may be in the position of caring for an aging parent or another loved one. While they may believe they’re too old and missed their creative opportunities, studies tell a different story. After reading about the interesting research that follows, you can help them remove any reservations they have and remove any doubts you may have as well.

Research shows that creative expression actually stimulates and benefits older brains. Francine Toder, PhD, psychologist and author of the book The Vintage Years: Finding Your Inner Artist (Writer, Musician, Visual Artist) After Sixty, has been studying the field of neuroscience for years. She concluded that “novelty, complexity, and problem solving” were the three main keys to maintain the brain’s vitality. She interviewed folks who took up art after the age of 55 and determined the expression of a fine art form is “inextricably connected” to brain health.

In other research, Dr. Gene Cohen, a psychiatrist and director of George Washington Univer-sity’s Center on Aging, Health and the Humanities, was the principal investigator of the Creative and Aging Study from 2001 to 2006. The results pointed to improved health and disease prevention when older people participated in community-based art programs run by professional artists. The study also showed this process reduces dependency and may have positive effects on maintaining independence, such as decreasing the risk factors that are tied into long-term care.

Any kind of arts participation for midlifers and beyond, including a more passive involvement, such as listening to music, helps to support overall well-being on all fronts—emotionally, mentally, and physically—and may alleviate symptoms. Other benefits that have been revealed in studies of those 65 and older who took part in arts programs were self-sufficiency, independence, increased intellectual activity, and emotional improvement. They also decreased doctor visits and had better health—mentally and physically—and didn’t fall as often as those who didn’t participate. Even people with dementia who participated in a painting program showed more engagement, enjoyment, and confidence compared to other, more typical activities.

Does any of this research surprise you? I found that it confirms my own experiences and beliefs. Some of the most creative people I know personally are over the age of 50 and are at the height of their creativity. It’s never too late to get started or to continue to develop creative expression. So if you are caring for your mom, dad, or another loved one, what can you do to encourage them to pursue their creative expression? Here are a few tips:

• Don’t let them get away with the excuse, “I’m too old.” This was covered in Chapter 6. Share some of examples that were given and come up with some of your own.
• Inspire them by sharing Rhoda P. Curtis’s book with them. She wrote a memoir titled Rhoda: Her First Ninety Years and makes a case that all people, regardless of age, are hard-wired for creativity, and this remains the same throughout the years.
• Talk with your loved ones about any creative opportunities they feel may have passed them by, and then do what you can to make at least one of them happen. For example, if they always wanted to paint, buy the necessary supplies. Perhaps you could make this an activity you can do together.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Creating for the mere fun of it offers a feeling of freedom. By assisting your loved ones to engage with their creative sensibilities, you may see a light turn on inside of them that you haven’t seen in a while.

The Least You Need to Know

• As a parent, caregiver, or teacher, make it a priority to do all you can to promote creativity in kids. Role model, offer praise, and supply the necessary tools are just some of the actions you can take to support this effort.
• Recognize that many teenagers are struggling to establish their personal identity. Proactively supporting their creative efforts will assist them with their self-esteem and the everyday peer pressure they experience.
• Creativity levels have been on the decline in education for the past couple of decades. This will continue unless changes are made within the system. You can help by consciously encouraging students to engage in creative activities and divergent thinking.
• The benefits of creativity are not age limited; in fact, studies have shown people 55 and older who are involved in arts programs can enhance their overall health.