Child Education: Creative Thinking Techniques
There are many techniques for creative thinking that adults and adolescents can utilize in order to gain access to all of the many unique and imaginative ideas hiding in the mind. For small kids, it is often easy to write creatively because they havent yet been exposed to negative critiques of their writing and are therefore freer to explore. As we get older, it is important to access that freedom we had as children in order to tap our creative resources.
Techniques for Creative Thinking and Writing
The key to creative thinking is suspending judgment. This is true whether you are writing an academic essay or simply participating in a writing exercise. When it comes to creativity, we are often our own harshest critics. I dont know about you, but sometimes I can sit for hours trying to perfect a single sentence I keep telling myself isnt good enough.
In order to grow as a creative writer, you positively must stop being judgmental of your own work and just let go. At first this might be difficult (especially for some of my fellow perfectionists). I can assure you, however, that once you suspend judgment you will be able to think more freely, and therefore write more creatively.
An excellent technique I recommend for creative thinking/writing involves writing a brief description of ten of your closest friends. Try to restrict these descriptions to only a paragraph each. When writing, dont worry as much about structure as you do about brainstorming and free association. In other words, write whatever comes to mind. Not only do I think youll be surprised at the creativity of what you write, but you might also gain insight into what you really think of the people you have chosen to use as your subjects!