One of the many wonderful functions of creativity is that it boosts confidence and self-esteem. Confidence is defined as a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. Creative activities help children build and recognize his or her own abilities in several ways. This article will discuss the ways in which creativity grows your child’s self-esteem. For specific activities for your child, see Creativity Building Activities for Kids.
A Sense of Accomplishment
Perhaps the most obvious way that creativity boosts confidence is by giving children an immediate sense of accomplishment. Have you ever noticed how your child lights up when she’s completed a painting, drawing, or other project? How excited he is to show you his masterpiece? This “wow, I did it!” feeling sparks joy, and the more your child creates, the more joy she feels.
To further boost this feeling of accomplishment, be sure to compliment your child on the process, not the result. When you add your judgment to his masterpiece, even if it’s positive judgement, the shine is dulled slightly because it’s no longer about his own opinion of his work. Rather than “that’s beautiful” try “you really put a lot of effort into that and it paid off!”
Helps Mental Well Being
Creative self-expression is a wonderful way to relieve stress and anxiety and to release negative feelings. Being creative also helps children cope with and process emotions and experiences. Because creativity gives children the freedom to express their feelings and thoughts, it helps to release pent-up negative emotions, allowing more positive emotions such as confidence to flourish.
The benefits of creativity create an “upward spiral” for well being, according to Dr. Tamlin Conner, a psychologist at New Zealand’s University of Otago. She says, “Engaging in creative behavior leads to increases in well being the next day, and this increased well being is likely to facilitate creative activity on the same day.” In a kind of positive loop, the happier we are, the more creative we are, and the more creative we are, the happier and more confident!
A Sense of Purpose and Connection
All people, no matter what age, need a sense of purpose. They need to feel as though they matter in this world and that they make a positive contribution to those around them. It’s very difficult to have self-confidence without a feeling of purpose and belonging. Creative endeavors give children something purposeful to do.
In addition, pursuing creative activities can help connect them to others. Consider art, music, cooking, gardening, or drama classes. When children participate in group activities like this, they quickly form friendships with other children who share their interests, leading to a sense of belonging and a boost in confidence.
Learning Something New
Anytime children learn something new or master a new skill, they’re building self-esteem. Most creative endeavors push children to learn something new, whether it’s a new instrument or a new technique or just learning to think about something in a new way. Scientists say that how highly we value ourselves is dependent on our sense of mastery and self-efficacy. Putting in the time and effort required to get proficient at painting, drawing, gardening, building, sculpting, acting, singing, or any other creative endeavor is going to pay off in the end with a good boost in confidence.
There is much we can do to provide creative opportunities for our children, and it starts with designing an environment to foster creativity. I’ve written about how to create the proper physical and emotional environment here. Children are naturally intuitive and creative beings, and mostly all we need to is get out of the way and watch them soar!