In working with young children I am always amazed that I can give children a construction paper shape and they can draw houses, people, cars and rockets just around a simple shape. 

Every early-childhood teacher can tell you they have quite an array of tissue-paper flowers, masterpieces full of glue and different odds and ends made with love and many teacher portraits signed or scribbled “I love you.”

When we think of children expressing their creativity, it’s just not drawing, cutting and gluing. Creativity is a foundation block for a child in solving problems, expressing their thoughts, using critical-thinking skills as well and “thinking outside the box” or divergent thinking. Creativity begins when a child is an infant when they are constantly looking around. Toddlers see and touch in their environment.

Tips to encourage creativity:

• You cannot force creativity in a young child. When I give young children coloring sheets, if one asks me if he can turn his page over and draw and color his own picture, I do not stop him from doing this. Creativity is not coloring within the lines of prepared pictures. Coloring prepared pictures just determines whether your child can follow directions. 
• Creativity is reinforced when a child is allowed to “link” or make connections from her body; touching, seeing and feeling things.
• Drawing skills are developmental. When your toddler scribbles and loves to use different colors with lines, this is their way of expressing themselves. Sometimes we may find masterpieces on our wall or furniture, so be sure you have washable crayons or markers around the house.  As children turn ages 3, 4 and 5, encourage them to explain and tell stories of their pictures. Keep in mind that children develop at different rates.
• Free play stimulates creativity. 
• Always keep a supply of markers, crayons, paper, scraps of cloth, toilet-tissue tubes, string, buttons, beans, seeds, old gift wrap, empty egg cartons, dress-up clothes, and old items around the house that children can safely take apart and put back together such as old engines, radios, toasters.
• Spending time with your children and talking to them ignites that spark of creativity. Don’t criticize or evaluate a child’s free creation. Let them freely express themselves with creativity; children are allowed to make mistakes and break rules.
• Have a spot in the corner of your house where children are allowed to make a mess. You can even title it “Kids’ Corner”!

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears regularly in The Bulletin.