I'm endlessly fascinated by children's ability to create worlds full of amazing nooks and crannies. Mine can be lost for days roaming with dinosaurs or taking high-tea at parties or trekking in jungles or visiting with fairies or saving endangered species... on and on and on goes their childhood voyage.
I've written before about how important I think creativity is in life, so we do everything we can to nurture childhood imagination. Hoping against hope that we find a way to solidify these magical worlds so that they may remain with the tsunamis for life. Their rooms are havens for creating and all inventions are proudly displayed. Paints and pencils and glitter are always within easy reach (my carpets do not agree with this tactic). Within reason, the tsunamis are free to wander and explore their hearts' desire. We talk about night dreams and day dreams and in-between dreams. We break up our routine and let our hair fly in the wind as often as we can.
Will this be enough? Will the expectations of schooling and society mean the tsunamis' unique take on the world will be stifled and lost? What more can we do to help them stay in the vast, endless worlds they create for themselves?
Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for helping children hang onto their wondrous creativity? How do you nurture creativity in your own children, or even in yourself?
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