| There is nothing more important to childhood | | | | with one another, whether through sports or |
| development than self-expression. A child | | | | other recreational pursuits, is a great way |
| must be able to express what he or she wants | | | | to help teach cooperation, relationship |
| and how he or she feels with freedom and | | | | skills, and respect for others. By setting up |
| safety. Children that do not grow up in an | | | | reasonable boundaries and rules for playtime, |
| environment of respect, love, and compassion | | | | a parent can safely guide their children |
| often find difficulty opening up to others as | | | | through the motions of responsible play and |
| they grow up and often experience many | | | | activity without interfering with their |
| different mental and emotional pitfalls. It's | | | | development. |
| no secret that allowing your child to express | | | | |
| his or her feelings, emotions, thoughts, and | | | | There are many great board games and |
| creativity in a safe environment is one of | | | | interactive games to play with children that |
| the most beneficial parts to raising a child. | | | | enhance the creative energy and create |
| | | | positive influences. Parking the child in |
| Artistic Expression | | | | front of the television is a poor choice for |
| | | | a number of reasons, the least of which is |
| One of the best ways that kids express | | | | that television is a one-way medium and does |
| themselves is through artistic means. | | | | not encourage any creative or critical |
| Painting, finger-painting, drawing, | | | | thinking on behalf of the child. If |
| sketching, coloring, and writing all have | | | | television is a must, the parent should watch |
| been proven to provide a solid outlet for | | | | television with the child so as to provide |
| many of the strong emotions that children | | | | some sort of platform for genuine |
| deal with. Many psychologists and therapists | | | | interaction. |
| find stunning information about a child | | | | |
| within the drawings or artwork of that child, | | | | Building Expression |
| making creativity one of the most | | | | |
| enlightening and though-provoking experiences | | | | A final example of a great way to promote |
| of a child's life. | | | | self-expression in children is through the |
| | | | building of objects. Dollhouses, model cars, |
| Allowing a child to paint or draw with | | | | and other objects that require construction |
| freedom and without boundaries is a critical | | | | are great ways to promote natural progression |
| component to childhood development because it | | | | and creativity within a certain set of |
| opens the mind and frees the spirit. Within a | | | | boundaries. As the child learns to follow the |
| few moments of coloring or drawing seemingly | | | | instructions for putting together the |
| unrelated objects or shapes on a page, a | | | | dollhouse or model car, he or she becomes |
| child can form thoughts and ideas that may be | | | | aware of the role of instructions and |
| surprising to the parent. This process is | | | | guidelines and is able to employ creative |
| incredibly important in the development of | | | | techniques to produce the end result. |
| communication skills, emotional skills, and | | | | |
| psychological awareness. | | | | Creativity through the guidelines of building |
| | | | an object, such as a dollhouse, is an |
| Playful Expression | | | | important facet of life for children to |
| | | | learn, as many of the real-life situations |
| Another great way to help kids express | | | | they will find themselves in will call upon |
| themselves is through playful expression. | | | | the skills learned through early childhood |
| Allowing children to safely and securely play | | | | development. |