CREATIVITY WITHIN

By SUE LAIDLAW

Over the years, I have discovered that I am a person to whom my living and working environment matters.

Two or three years ago –amidst the summer lull from Covid – we managed to go through eight weeks of much-needed kitchen renovation. The lead up to the building work meant that every spare moment was filled with emptying every cupboard and deciding what we really wanted and needed, and included many visits to the charity shop and offers of kitchenware to our children for their future flats!

Such was the cathartic satisfaction of cleansing the kitchen cupboards that it didn’t stop there and, gradually, each cupboard in the house received the same treatment, there was a reworking of my office (which I now love!) and generally enjoying the mother of all decluttering.

My family thought that I was slightly mad, but oh, was it good. I now ensure that everything that I have around me brings joy… well, almost. So, what has this got to do with education, you may ask? Well, rather a lot. Throughout my career in education, I have always realised that developing a child’s creativity, whether through art or other ways, is vitally important. Creative activities offer an outlet of our thoughts and emotions, offer different ways of communication and can provide deep satisfaction and, indeed, a sense of calm (as experienced in my decluttering phase).

Young children never say that they can’t draw or paint, they simply get on with it and embrace the experience. However, once they reach school age, they become more self-critical and gradually many begin to move away from the enjoyment and satisfaction that they found as toddlers. Likewise, little children are creative – they can always find many ways to use a box, for example, such as climb into it, sit on it and squash it, make it into a house… and so it goes on. As they grow, it is all too easy for the open boundaries of infancy to become tighter and more clearly defined – and creativity, in many areas, can become diminished.

Sadly, I believe that the education system, and today’s teaching methods, can add to the demise. As an eight-year-old, my wonderfully creative, free-thinking daughter brought home her summer report. Reporting on art, her teacher wrote that she had actually dared to use her paintbrush the wrong way up. For me it was a triumph, but not so for her rather tight-lipped teacher. The proof was in the pudding – or rather career, however, and the videos and PowerPoint creations that she produced as a young child have led to a career where these are used at a royally high level, whilst collecting exceptional academic grades and a wonderful time at school along the way.

So, in this edition full of creative flair, I would urge you, as parents, to embrace the arts and creativity of all kinds with your children. We all have creativity within us, whether that is manifested in art, music, colour, clothes, ideas – or even enjoying the wonderful opportunity of creating a home or even a room that brings you pleasure and joy.

Enjoy helping your children to grow and express their creativity, whatever shape it may take.

Sue Laidlaw is founder of Laidlaw Education LLP. Sue and her team offer educational advice, lessons and courses for children of all ages through their centres, including Laidlaw Hall supporting children with special needs, and the Laidlaw Virtual Academy. For more information, call 020 8487 9517 or visit laidlaweducation.co.uk