I’m delighted to be hosting #BlogFlash2012 – 30 Days, 30 Prompts 30 Posts.
If you’d like to jump on board, it’s not too late!
Don’t forget to leave your “Day Fourteen – Children” post link in the comments below so I can stop by!
#BlogFlash2012: Day Fourteen – Children
“We are all creative, but by the time we are three of four years old, someone has knocked the creativity out of us. Some people shut up the kids who start to tell stories. Kids dance in their cribs, but someone will insist they sit still. By the time the creative people are ten or twelve, they want to be like everyone else.” — Maya Angelou
We love our children. We want to protect them, hold them tightly, keep them close, guard them. Yet if we want them to become creative, independent adults, we have to let go.
As writers and artists, we constantly try to force ourselves out of habit, loosen our inhibitions, free our mind. To create, we must escape the boundaries learned in childhood, the restrictions placed upon us by world that devalues the act of creation-and disparages rule-breakers.
Yet creativity demands breaking rules. If we hope to foster creativity in our children, we must give them space to imagine. We must grant the freedom to explore, give them room to breathe.
Word count: 110
Terri, so true what a great post!! Sorry I haven't done one in the last few days but here is mine on remembering when my daughter was little. http://candylittle.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/promp…
Thank you so much, Candy! Don't worry about missing – this is about inspiration, fun, and connecting with others. No pressure at all!
Already I have a little bookworm on my hands, but I'm trying to make him more outgoing. He's shy and cautious, meaning he won't get in the wrong van or fall down the stairs to find out if it hurts, but sometimes he holds back too much.
But this is about a fictitious kid:
http://eightysixthepoet.blogspot.com/2012/08/blog…
Also, only one day left on a Goodreads giveaway for me:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/977341-august…
Oh he sounds like a lovely kid! You're obviously doing a great job with him, Eighty Six! Thank you so much for the link!
My parents were more worried about the mechanical things i could do at age 1 than the stories I made up for them. I will be forever greatful for that and for them allowing me to practice theater lines (loudly) without judgement.
This is also from my WIP. It is condenced for this blog's pupose, but the idea is there.
http://runesandothersecrets.blogspot.com/2012/08/…
Thank you so much for sharing, Heidi! It's fantastic to get a glimpse of people's WIPs!
Great sentiments Terri! I'm so glad my children have grasped their creative opportunities and learned that it's Okay to be different!
http://thelastkrystallos.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/b…
Thank you, Lisa! I'm excited about today's 'Children' post after yesterday's 'Forest' revelations!
How very true. I was lucky, my parents didn't try and stifle my creativity however, in the early stages, they didn't exactly encourage it either. It wasn't until I went to school as got comments on my reports about my wonderful imagination they began to encourage me and I'm so grateful for that. Fab post, Terri!
Here's the link to mine http://wp.me/p1UhOl-8m
I've tried something a little different again today. It's great having the opportunity to push our own boundaries in a semi-structured way. I'm so pleased I signed up for this event!!
Thank you so much, Carlie! Your piece for 'Children' was lovely – you captured those everyday but important moments perfectly.
I love listening to my daughter play by herself. She does come up with such creative ways to entertain herself and her sister. I brought her first painting home from preschool today and I love it :-)
I went with a picture post today.
Angela, I can't thank you enough for sharing those photographs. They are absolutely beautiful!
Great post today, and I love the quote you used!
Here's my day 14: http://christinakrieger.com/2012/08/14/blogflash-…
Thanks Christina – and thank you for the link!
Hi Terri! This is my first day here and I am so glad to find y'all! I look forward to reading more and getting to know everyone by reading and commenting the blog posts. I went a bit over the 100 words but not by too much (I hope!)
Happy Tuesday!
Thank you so much for joining us, Julie! It's great to have you on board. I can't wait to read your first post!
Terrific post!! One of the great joys of living in the same house with my grandchildren is that I get to see, experience and foster their creativity!! :)
My link for the day is here: http://www.sweetbananaink.com/2012/08/14/blog-fla…
That sounds wonderful, Ruth! Although having just spent two weeks with my grandchildren, exhausting too I imagine! Thank you for the link.
Terri, I thikn this is a wonderful point. I often find myself focussing on structure and order when that was the very thing I loathed as a child. It is difficult as a parent to support our children without stifling their creativity and small freedoms.
I found today to be a difficult post to write. Maybe becasue my kids are only 4 (today *sniff) and 7 I feel like I still have so much to learn!
Here is my post for day 14:
http://www.melinagillies.com/2/post/2012/08/blogf…
Thank you so much, Melina! I hope your youngest had a wonderful birthday. Birthdays are so much fun when they are small!
Great post, and I couldn't agree more. I think kids' time is too structured these days. Certainly they need some structure, but they need room to explore too.
Here's my entry. http://surlymuse.com/blogflash2012-day-14-childre…
Thank you so much for the link, Daniel!
It's so true Terri! I wish schools were a bit more understanding towards being different, a creative individual if you will.
I wrote about the same sentiment but in a different format:
http://word2live.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/childre…
Looks like this prompt has spurred a bit of nostalgia in your followers!
I've got a quick photo-response today:
http://lovethebadguy.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/day…
Thank you so much – the photo is beautiful!
Beautiful post. I am cutting the apron strings and widening my son's boundaries. It is a learning curve for us both but then if he is to grow, blossom and be creative then that's what needs to be done. Very proud of him and the choices he is making. I trust him completely so think doing an ok job!
Here's my link, but have visited my childhood which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is late by GB time but stateside, i'm still on time. Woo hoo and I went over the word count very slightly. But as you say, rules are meant to be broken ;-) xxx
http://40somethingundomesticateddevil.blogspot.co…
That’s so true, Lizzie! Thank you so much for the story links – I loved your post!
Once again a day behind…but almost 1/2 way thru and still here!
http://joykeeney.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/blog-fl…
Thank you so much, Joy!
Great post Terri. I agree that there needs to be more freedom for creativity and expression.
Thank you so much, David!
I have joined #BlogFlash2012 today. Completely looking forward to the fun.
My Day 14's entry : http://blackandwhiteheart.wordpress.com/2012/08/1…
will be visiting as many of the other entries as possible.
#KeepWriting.
Thank you so much for joining us! I’m looking forward to your posts!
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[…] Read other #BlogFlash2012 entries for today here. […]
My day 14 post is finally up! :)
http://www.jblearnstowrite.com/blog-flash-day-14-…
Thank you for the link, JB!
I agree, Andrea. We must accept that children – and adults for that matter – learn in different ways. There is no 'one size fits all' for education. Thank you so much for the link!
[…] every day. Related articles (external)Have You Heard the Rumors about Mothers & Daughters?#BlogFlash2012: Day Fourteen – ChildrenChildren #BlogFlash2012 DAy 14Children & LearningBioTwitterFacebookGoogle+Latest PostsDonna […]
Almost caught up.
Thanks Terri
http://wp.me/p2pf5s-1nh