Children are born with the potential to be creative. They deserve to be given the chance to develop their creativity to the fullest extent possible. Parents play an important role in encouraging this. Although creativity can’t be taught, parents can nonetheless create an environment that can encourage creativity in your children.

Ways for parents to encourage creativity

Allow them to play and express their ideas.
Play is an important part of learning which helps develop creative thinking in children. It allows then to experience creativity through their five senses – sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Parents can attempt to simulate imagination and creativity through make-believe and imaginative play.

Provide an environment that encourages creativity.
This can range from making sure that the child is comfortable in expressing ideas without fear of being rejected to making sure that his/her safety is being taken care of so that he or she can focus on exploring the world with little or no disruption.

Ask great questions and do not limit their questions.
It is also important for parents to be flexible with their children’s answers or responses. Even when it is wrong, they need not scold the child. Rather, take the opportunity to teach the child to find the right answers. Problem solving is a vital component of creative thinking.

Stimulate creative thinking with age-related activities.
There are many activities that parents can engage their children in, including arts, music, sports and cooking, Others such as reading books and watching educational television and multimedia programmes may also help cultivate creativity in children.

Benefits of Creativity
Children can benefit from being creative in many ways. They make more use of their imagination, are willing to explore different things, and develop self-expression and ope-ended thinking. Along the way, they may also develop traits such as perseverance, self-confidence, independence, tolerance of ambiguity, and perhaps, a good sense of humor.

Source: Assoc Prof Dr Teoh Hsien-Jin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster

Zhu Zhu Hamster is now available at Toys ‘R Us KLCC for RM 59.90 and included 2 AA batteries. There are four colors to choose from. I chose the brown one because I thought it looks more real than the others and it’s the best color when it’s dirty.

Like many other toys, Zhu Zhu Hamster is not safe for kids under the age of 3, but Jezebelle is a big girl and we will be watching her all the time.

Zhu Zhu Hamster

Zhu Zhu Hamster can move around like a real hamster when you activate the button on its back. It can also squeak and make noises when you click on its head or nose but will automatically stop when it is left untouched for awhile. Its tagline: “I chatter, scatter, scoot n’ scurry like a real hamster!”

Zhu Zhu Hamster

Take a look at the video of Jezebelle chasing after Zhu Zhu: -

Click here to view the embedded video.

We bought her Crayola Washable Crayons. And the fun begins.

rayola Washable Crayons

Baby Jezebelle begins drawing

Baby Jezebelle is artistic

Baby Jezebelle is satisfied with her artwork

The best thing about Crayola Washable Crayons is of course, the drawings created through these crayons are easily washable with water. Crayola Washable Crayons retails at MYR 11.90 in Isetan KLCC.