Written by Holly Peretz OTR/L and founder of otholly.com

The skill that this generation of kids need more than ever

The role of parenting is not only about caring for our children’s current needs but also equipping them with the skills that they will need to be competent, independent adults.

However, in this digital age the future and the skills that our children will need seem to be ever changing.

What will our children’s future look like?

Generation Alpha

Our young children of today are growing up into a working world that is quite different to what our generation or that of our parents knew. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future Job report, it is estimated that 65% of children entering school today will work in jobs that do not currently exist. (The Future of Jobs - Reports - World Economic Forum (weforum.org)).

We know that this radical shift in the workplace has already begun. For example, the top 10 in demand jobs of 2010 were not around in 2004. (The Future of Jobs - Reports - World Economic Forum (weforum.org). As well as several of the popular digital jobs of 2010 (including app developer, social media manager and a user experience designer) not being in existence in the early 2000’s.

How can we as parents best equip our children for a future that we can’t even imagine?

The skill that our generation of kids needs

“Creativity is as important now in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same

Status.” Sir Ken Robinson (Source)

Creativity is often confused with being artistic. However, it is much more than that.

“Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality.” (Source)

It involves being able to recognize problems, think about out-of-the-box solutions, and then be able to create these solutions. Our children will be required to be innovators, to create their own careers, and use the skill of creativity constantly.

Is creativity something that can be taught?

The value of creativity in today’s and the future’s marketplace is undeniable but it does beg the question of how we can foster creativity in our home for our kids. Is creativity something that is taught? Or is it a way of thinking?

Research shows us that kids are generally creative thinkers. In fact, one study showed that when given the Torrance Test of Creativity, 98 percent of kindergarteners score as creative geniuses, while only 3 percent of people remain in that category by age 25.

However, more recent data show that American K-12 students’ Torrance creativity scores have significantly decreased since 1990 (Source).

This paints the picture that while creativity may be innate it does require the right kind of nurturing.

How does play foster creativity?

The good news is that nurturing creativity can be done by embracing one simple thing: Play.

When allowed to play freely children naturally practice problem solving and divergent thinking.

In their simple doll play, construction games, outdoor challenges, and social play children are practicing creativity.

Inside of play children are free to make any object symbolic, recognize numerous problems that need solutions, and practice creating those solutions.

From the outside, the onus on us parents to nurture this creativity by simply creating time and space for our children to engage in play may seem so simple. However with full schedules, a strong focus on early academics, and the ever-present distraction of screens- free play doesn’t always come naturally.

3 Simple ways to embrace free play in your home

Add playtime to the schedule

Prioritize an hour a day for playtime. No screens, no errands - just play.

Less is more when it comes to toys

Simple open-ended toys and a few of them can be great for inviting children into play with overwhelming them with options.

Learn to step back and allow independent play

When children are still learning the skill of playing independently, they often do need playtime to start off with an adult. However, it’s our responsibility to notice when we can remove ourselves from that shared time and allow for our kids to play independently.

If you are interested in learning more about embracing play in your home to nurture this skill of creativity, join us for the Toddler Play Conference.

This free event runs over 5 days (starting April 22, 2021) and features over 30 speakers all equipping you with practical tools on embracing play in your home.