I find that children in school these days are not encouraged enough to write creatively. Since I was teaching English as a second language to my step-kids this Summer, I gave them activities that involved creativity. Some was drawing, some was creating a card like in Magic the Gathering, they could inspire themselves on cards I owned. My step-daughter, after translating 3 cards (learning to use a dictionary) decided to write, in French, but it's still creative writing, a semi-discovery type documentary commentary about the three creatures, inventing the world, inventing their behaviour, inventing everything but their name and what they look like and she, in this way, created a whole new world. So every time we did English activities, her fun was to write creatively afterwards. My step-son has a bit more trouble focusing on a task, but he enjoys reading a lot and that can help develop creativity as well. He's a bit younger too. My husband and I always encourage that they play games that will enhance their imagination, as in invent a game. I am a very creative person, so I really enjoy exploring creativity with the kids.
Children are not taught to exercise creativity or how to think critically.
One thing I implemented was our nightly dinner table activities. Each person would share one thing they did that day for someone without expectation of return- a random act of kindness (you'd be surprised how many kids drop the contents of their lockers and binders in a week, lol) and then we would have a fun critical thinking exercise. Sometimes it was in the form of a riddle- it's amazing how you can expand your mind by trying to wrap your head around a riddle!
We went through several months a couple years ago when things were hectic and we were not sharing mealtimes. The boys voiced great displeasure at not having our dinnertime routine! They missed it something fierce.
Sounds like fun. We did riddles earlier this Summer. The kids like to play cards, so when it's our weekend with them, we make sure to play cards. My step-son is 9 and he is able to beat me at crib ;) It's a great math game, a memory game, a strategy game, and there is luck involved too. I like playing cards too, so we do that more than board games.
Mine love cards more than board games too! And dice, like ten thousand. But we probably know all of the well known card games! lol your kids and mine will probably grow to be card sharks ;)
haha some of the exercies I was having do, to help with creativity also, was to create their own Magic the Gathering cards, or translate them. One evening they decided they wanted me to teach them how to play. Well, it was more challenging and complicated for me to teach them than it was for them to learn it lol I play, I don't know how to explain the game. But we managed to play a game, they were totally destroying me. What's fun about MTG is that each deck is different, each set of cards is different. They could walk into a shop and play with someone there and the cards would be different from mine. It's a good way to stimulate their brains and keep it thinking and strategising. Five years from now, if they're creating their own decks, I won't complain. Sure, it costs a bit of money, but it's money better spent than going out clubbing and drinking IMO.
it's money better spent than going out clubbing and drinking
~ Exactly
I like that you can turn something like these play cards into a learning experience :)
Some of my friends, who went to school in French and who spoke only French at home, learnt to speak English through MTG or video games. If they enjoy it and are learning, I'm all for it.
Right.
Its true that if you are having fun you retain info better