How do you encourage creativity in your elementary-aged child?

[Anonymous]

I feel like most preschool children are extremely creative, but that creativity sometimes goes away as they enter formal education. My sister was like this, always creating amazing art projects and doing science experiments when she was young, but that as she got older she became less open to experimentation. She is incredibly successful, at least by DCUM standards,with a Harvard BA, Yale MBA and a great job, but we were talking the other day and wondering what kind of life she might have had if our parents had encouraged her to explore her creative side more. Our parents are wonderful, but they weren't really into using the left side of the brain.

We want to make sure our kids don't lose this magical ability and are wondering what other parents do help encourage their children to think creatively as they get older?

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of after-school time to do creative activities. Set up pre-school style arts and crafts opportunities, follow your child's lead in what they like to do--building, baking, sewing? Expose them to traditional creative arts that school no longer teaches. When I was little my sisters and I were always embroidering, sewing, drawing, baking, etc. Just make sure there is enough down-time for this stuff and limit computer time, TV, and too many structured activities. If your kid is good at something, support that. If they like creative writing, buy journals and look for ways they can practice that, have art shows at home, etc. It's fun for them if you get into it too.