7 Sure-Fire Ways To Squelch Creativity (And An Owain Update)

I recently came across this list from the book The Creative Spirit by the Daniel Goleman, Paul Kaufman, and Michael Ray. I normally like to do my own writing around here, but it was such a great reminder for both teachers and parents that I wanted to share. The book is based on a PBS series from over a decade ago -- I might just have to see if I can find that in the PBS archives.

According to the authors, these are the most common ways that adults discourage creativity in children. To me it reads like a list of the things we do when we aren't putting the child's agenda ahead of our own:

Surveillance — Hovering over kids, making them feel that they're constantly being watched while they are working . . . under constant observation, the risk-taking, creative urge goes underground and hides.

Evaluation — When we constantly make kids worry about how they are doing, they ignore satisfaction with their accomplishments.

Rewards — The excessive use of prizes . . . deprives a child of the intrinsic pleasure of creative activity. 

Competition — Putting kids in a win-lose situation, where only one person can come out on top . . . negates the process [that] children progress at their own rates.

Over-control — Constantly telling kid how to do things . . . often leaves children feeling like their originality is a mistake and any exploration a waste of time.

Restricting choice — Telling children which activities they should engage in instead of letting them follow where their curiosity and passion lead . . . again restricts active exploration and experimentation that might lead to creative discovery and production.

Pressure — Establishing grandiose expectations for a child's performance . . . often ends up instilling aversion for a subject or activity. . . .  Unreasonably high expectations often pressure children to perform and conform within strictly prescribed guidelines, and, again, deter experimentation, exploration, and innovation.  Grandiose expectations are often beyond children's developmental capabilities.

Owain update

Owain’s dad Alex reports mostly good news and everyone is hoping that Owain can finally go home tomorrow. This is how Owain puts it on his CaringBridge page:

"Well, I got the blood transfusion, and my cheeks are a bit pinker and I am feeling a bit better. I woke up and I saw some chips, and I was like 'oh, chips!' I am eating some chips. Nothing much else is going on. I'm not doing much . . . I am reading my Star Wars Lego Dictionary. I hope I can come home tomorrow."