Let Your Kids Be Explorers

Kids are natural explorers. When left to their own devices, they can turn a cardboard box into a rocket ship exploring space, a fort to fend off attackers or a hundred other things. To a child, creativity comes naturally and the possibilities in the world are endless. Their answer to the age-old question "Why?" is a simple, “Why not?"
Adults often become frustrated at a child's creative endeavors.

*Their monster dust created from kitchen supplies may seem like needless waste of money.

*Their attempts at designing a new style of airplane from pages torn from your expensive coffee table book may seem destructive.

*Trying to teach the cat to talk may seem like a waste of time.

Often, we forget what it was like to be a child. We think back on how we were taught to be practical, not wasteful, and we wonder why these little humans seem so determined to destroy all we have created.

Reining a child in and teaching them to be practical may save money, eliminate messes and even create a more peaceful environment. What, however, is the ultimate cost to the souls of these little adventurers?

A practical mindset did not create the light bulb or telephone. It took imagination to create an airplane that speeds through the air like a bird or a rocket ship that lands on the Moon. All of our modern conveniences came about because some parent allowed a creative little soul to explore the vast expanse of his imagination. Think of all we would have lost had their curiosity been squashed before it hardly had a chance to begin.

Every child is born with a creative soul full of possibilities that could eventually lead to a cure for all diseases, an end to war or settlements on other planets. We will never know what could be if we don't nourish the creativity now, for it is something that can't be returned once it has been destroyed.

Kitchen ingredients can be replaced and so can books. That cat just might surprise everyone and learn to talk. If not, the lack of that happening will send your child off in another direction to find a better teaching method or to study how animals communicate.

Encourage your creative little soul to learn, experiment and grow. Imagine the possibilities

About The Author

Debora Wondercheck is the Founder and Executive Director of the Arts and Learning Conservatory (A&L), a non-profit performing arts and theater school in Orange County, California. Debora and her husband Gary began A&L with one summer camp in 2004. Since then she has produced over 40 productions and helped create highly reputed music and fine arts classes. She loves inspiring and being inspired by children and works closely with parents, staff and community leaders to create a fun, unique and creative environment for all children.