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Creativity In Learning: Don’t Raise A Child Who’s Afraid Of Mistakes

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Creativity In Learning: Don't Raise A Child Who's Afraid Of Mistakes. A teacher pointing out a mistake to her student.

By Sarah J. Brown

Do you have a student who doesn’t want to write?

Do you have a student that fears math?

Does your student dread school time?

Maybe they are afraid that they will be in trouble over their childish mistakes! If they freely write the stories that are in their hearts, their joy will be squashed when we point out the errors!

Children fear and dread writing and sharing because adults always point out the problems and focus on the mistakes. We think we are helping, but we are not. We are causing stress and humiliation, so look for talent not perfection! They will build skills over time. The more the read and write for the joy of it, the better they will become!

 

Who wants to raise a perfectionist who is afraid to be creative?

In traditional school kids often lose the joy of writing for fear of making mistakes.

The worst thing that happens in school are “mistakes”, and children need to be free to learn to write creatively, practice writing, and let the story flow – without worrying about the mistakes. Encourage your child to use a journal and to write stories – and then don’t criticize their work… if they trust you enough to share their stories with you.

Don’t pressure them to let you look at their stories.

No child can write like an adult, but we often expect perfect spelling and grammar. To expect a ten year old to write perfectly is like expecting every child who takes piano lessons to be able play Mozart flawlessly in two years. Let your child learn freely and naturally and don’t take away the joy of reading, writing and even calculating by focusing is on the child’s mistakes.

 

Fear Of Mistakes

People grow up fearing mistakes because of critiquing parents and teachers who are just doing their job. People who fear mistakes are afraid to take chances, be creative and innovative. Give your child freedom to be creative, make mistakes and learn freely. They will perfect their skills and grammar over time.

Homeschooling Parent TIP – If your child shares a story with mistakes, enjoy and praise the story. You can take note of the mistakes – when the child is not aware. In about a week, you can teach the child how to spell those words or improve the grammar in a fun way- but keep it unrelated to the story that they wrote.

 Mrs. Abney

When I was in 5th grade my teacher, Mrs. Abney, gave us 20 minutes every morning to write freely in our creative writing journals. Sometimes she would give us a writing prompt. Once a month she would meet with each child after lunch and the student was encouraged to pick one story from creative writing time to share with the teacher.

She didn’t point out the mistakes.

 

She talked with each student about the story, our feelings and our ideas. She encouraged creativity – I looked forward to sharing my stories with her, and would always try to polish the stories that I planned to share with her. I would share my best stories, and I began to love writing in her classroom.

After a year in Mrs. Abney’s class I always kept a journal. She was a brilliant teacher, she even read the Chronicles of Narnia to the class every day after lunch while we rested, with the lights turned dim. I also loved how she would write logic puzzles on the chalk board every morning. I never had another teacher like her that encouraged creativity, imagination and logic… until I began homeschooling at age 13.

Yes, adults believe they are helping children by pointing out all their learning mistakes – but what really is going on is that the children feel ashamed or embarrassed, and they soon begin to pull away from adults – not wanting to share what they write and create with adults. Eventually they stop creating and stop being open with the caring people who constantly critique them – for their own good.

One hard part of being a homeschooling parent is that we as parents try to take on the “teacher” role, and teachers are expected to always make sure children see their mistakes and are graded on a bases of what they are able to memorize and apply.

Parents who become teachers can compromise their relationship with their children by expecting perfection in the child’s work.

Allow Creativity!

The child will begin to feel like they can never do anything right, and unless they get 100% their work has no value and then they feel like they have no value. Many children grow up feeling like they will never be “good enough”

How many adults do you know, who grew up in this system of education, who constantly feel like they will never be perfect enough?

 

Children WILL Self-Correct

Children, if encouraged, will self correct – if they are exposed to good quality reading materials, just like they self corrected the speaking mistakes that they make when they were three year old.

Some people believe that unless someone is taught a fact they will not learn it, and unless they take a test they have not learned sufficiently. This method of education, that focuses on mistakes, does not serve to encourage people to become emotionally healthy, happy, secure, productive and creative.

Think about it: The entire school system measures the child by the mistakes they make – rather than effort, creativity, talent, character, skills, attitude and innovation. The student’s grades are determined by his or her failure to memorize information, and the child’s entire future is founded on this same method of evaluating his test scores, never looking at his heart, her talents, or their unique abilities.

Don't Raise A Child Who's Afraid Of Mistakes. Students enjoying Thinking Tree curriculum books

Minds Wired For Creativity

There are many types of intelligence, but the only form of intelligence valued by the traditional education system is the ability to memorize and recite information when tested.

Many of the talented people who design just about everything you see, failed the tests, because their minds were wired for creativity, innovation, music or design… but not the memorization of facts. Many of the most innovative people failed in school.

 

Why the focus on memorizing facts in school?

Creativity is often quashed!

The goal is to make teaching simple for one teacher who must manage 25 or more children in one room, where everyone sits in desks most of the time. Creativity is messy, innovation can’t be measured, music never has an answer key, art is too diverse to be graded.

Before the 1800’s there were no public schools. Schools were designed to meet the needs of an industrial workforce, when the industrial revolution took place. We no longer need to prepare most students to be factory workers, so the focus of public education has changed, but not for the better! Now childhood education is designed to prepare the child only for higher education and college entry.

Twelve years of childhood education does not prepare the student for life and work… just for more school. What is the measure of success in education?  Not what you do with your life, but what college you get into. Something must change. And yet, many students complete college only to go back home to play video games, because the diploma didn’t provide them with a job they were willing or inspired to do.

As homeschooling parents, the change can happen today, but for a public system that is designed to educate millions. Chances are we will never see that change in our lifetime.

But one teacher can make a difference in her class – just like Mrs. Abney.

 

*******

Does your child show creativity?

Flip to Fun-Schooling with Thinking Tree Books! (Btw, I am not an affiliate. I just want everyone to know about them!)

If you are wondering how to escape the mundane correction-driven system and catapult your child to begin to use his heart, her talents, or their unique abilities, you need to know about Thinking Tree Books.

Sarah Janisse Brown is the author of Thinking Tree Books and designer of Dyslexia Games.

 

Don't Raise A Child Who's Afraid Of Mistakes. 6 Thinking Tree books

 

Don't Raise A Child Who's Afraid Of Mistakes. Thinking Tree curriculum books

Dyslexia Mystery SOLVED! Meet Sarah Brown Creator Of Dyslexia Games

Resources: For an approach to education that focuses on creativity, journaling, drawing, and researching one’s interests visit FunSchoolingBooks.com – Fun-Schooling Activity Books – Without Answer Keys! Encourage creativity and innovation while helping your student to master the art of reading, writing and spelling naturally.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

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Creativity In Learning: Don't Raise A Child Who's Afraid Of Mistakes. A teacher pointing at workbook and student writing answer.

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Thanks for reading!

Jacqueline
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Comments

  1. I love Sarah’s curriculum! It’s helped several of my children! I’d use either set, but if I have to pick one, I’ll say set#2.

  6. Ohhhh, wow, I would LOVE to use these resources in our home education! I would choose th second set as I have a more challenging time finding resources for my I,dee children, however, the first set looks amazing, as well! Thank you for opportunity! Love your blog. I’ve been reading it for years.

  8. I would really enjoy set 2 for use with my boys. They look like so much fun! Thanks for the opportunity to win.

  10. These books look so amazingly creative! Both sets look incredible, but I think I like set #2 a little more. Thanks for offering this giveaway!

  12. Set #2 please
    I find your blogs refreshing and inspiring. I might not always take direct action from them but my mood is always improved which is always a bonus 🙂

  13. Set #1 would be a great choice b/c Mother/daughter time is so important when raising a humble, strong, grounded, respectful, pure young lady! I have 3 & its challenge to keep our Biblical morals real, implied & to the front of our lives each day we walk in this world of unbelief & evilness.

  22. I think set number 2 would be better but I have many of the books from both sets. But I have more in set 1 than 2.

  25. These books have always amazed me, but I haven’t been able to purchase any for my girls. Either set looks wonderful, but if I had to pick one, it would be set 1.

  27. I loved reading this article again. Thank you for the giveaway. I am struggling between which set I should choose should I win. They both look wonderful. I think I will go with #1 though.

  29. I would love to win Set #1 to use for homeschooling my 4th grader in the fall! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

  30. we would LOVE set 1. my daughter has been wanting dino doodle so bad and mt husband and i were just discussing last night, she hates writing. its her biggest struggle currently

  31. Would love set # 1 to use with my 1st and 4th graders! We just discovered Thinking tree journals and can’t wait to dive into them over the summer!

  32. This article was timely. Thank you!

    Either set would greatly benefit my family homeschool.
    Set #1 would be delightful for my 2 littles, while Set #2 would be great for my older 2!

  33. I would love set 2 to get us kick started for our second year homeschooling and first year fun-schooling!

  34. As a homeschooling mom of 7, I would love to win set #one for my littles. We have used thinking tree journals and love them!

  35. Hello! I would chooae set #2 <3
    Thank you for this opportunity!
    Such a blessing! <3

  36. I would love set #2 this set would be perfect for my daughters to use this school year. Funschooling books have sincerely made learning fun again for us as a family.
    thanks for such amazing giveaways.

  37. It’s tough to pick which set! Since i have to choose, I would like set 1! Thanks so much.

  39. We haven’t tried these yet, but have my son wrote is like pulling out my teeth. Set #2 please!

  45. I have not been able to try these books yet, but would love to win a set for my reluctant 9 year old. Either set would be a blessing, but Set 1 has a pets and a Minecraft one, and my son would love that.

  46. I would love set #2. My son loves animals and we are currently working on multiplication. Spelling would be lovely to have. My son and I absolutely love thinking tree books and already have used several this past year which happened to be our first year homeschooling. We would love to continue using these wonderful, inspiring books.

  50. What better way to homeschool than to be a mom that loves her children learning! Both sets are spectacular, you guys make it hard, but set #2 would be my first choice!

  51. Set #2 would be perfect for us! The kids each only have 1 Journal so far, so adding some would be exciting!

  52. We have been blessed to use the thinking tree products for over a year with my oldest child and are planning on using fun-schooling journals for her three siblings as well. Set#1 . Be a wonderful addition to our home school year!

  55. The Thinking Tree journals are AMAZING!
    We would absolutely love Set #2

  60. I absolutely love your article and will be sharing it with my entire homeschool group. There is so much truth to the way we teach/talk to our children. Thanks for the encouragement! I would love set #2 as they would be the perfect fit for my two girls. Thanks for the giveaway!

  63. I would pick set #2. I love Sarah’s books and have 3 or so. Would have more if $ were not an issue!!

  65. We own several Thinking Tree books and really enjoy them. We would love to win Set #2 🙂

  66. I have a tough choice, but I’ll go with #2. This would be wonderful in my homeschool!

  70. Set #2 please. We’ve recently discovered Thinking Tree and absolutely LOVE this genre approach to homeschooling! Thank you.

  71. A homeschooler of quite a few years now and finally at the point where I need help. The books in Set 2 would be such a blessing for my child this next school year. Thank you!

  72. This looks so amazing. I like set 2. This sums up how I try to do our homeschool but I also have an 8 yr old perfectionist. So I could really use more tools in my bag.

  76. Set #2! My boys will LOVE the Science Journal and the Minecraft! And we still need the Spelling!!! We have always funschooled… but your idea to put everything in one book/journal for each subject is WONDERFUL! Thanks for the spark that has ignited a wildfire of FUN-schooling!!! And helped to make it more acceptable. I’ve always felt this way, and every new article I read I have something to share with my parents and my husband… who have not always understood my ideology.

  78. I think set 2 would be the best bet for my kids although set 1 is great too. What a great resource for homeschooling families and wonderful giveaway!

  81. I would chose either! I’m really glad that I found this site! What great information!

  82. Both sets look amazing but I would say set number 1. We are just starting to use these books and I have been so impressed. For too long we have fought over school and I have seen my children’s love of learning diminish. Ready to step back, relax, and let them find their love of learning again.

  83. I think set 2 is exactly what I need to refresh my kids into loving school again!! What a great giveaway.

  84. Set #2 would be incredible! Shutting down the creativity for fear of not remembering all the rules has plagued us – but NO MORE!

  87. thank you for sharing the this Giveaway!! I would love to get Set # 2
    PS you are a Blessing to all of Ladies!!!

  90. This is an awesome giveaway! I’d love Set #2 to use with my youngest. She’s on the spectrum and I think it would be great for her.

  93. Though I’d love #1 for our youngest daughter, I am going to say #2 because we have two boys very close in age and I am doing most of their home education together.

  94. Set# 2 please. My four boys love Thinking Tree funschooling through nature and Minecraft!

  97. I’m so brand new to homeschooling (my son will be transitioning next year for 2nd grade) and I think he would love set 2 especially the devotional and doodles. These seem like amazing resources!

  102. Thank you for the giveaway! It would be a great blessing to receive these books. I would love set 1.

  104. I would love to get set #2 for my kids but I’m not sure if it’s a US only contest. Hoping it isn’t:) these books are so good.

  106. My children and I would enjoy set 2 very much. I really enjoy all of your work you put together!!!! Thanks oh 🙂

  107. Set #2 would be an excellent addition to our thinking tree curricula! Thanks for creating such quality curriculum!

  110. I would appreciate either one; my kids would LOVE all of them! I would choose #1 so my daughter & I could write together;) Great blog, I am so glad I came across all this helpful information.

  113. I would love set 1, but being blessed with either set would be awesome!

    Thank you for the opportunity and good luck everyone!

  116. Set 2, with the farm and survival books, seems like the choice for my two adventurous boys. Thank you for the opportunity to try these books for free.

  117. Set 2, with the farm and adventure books, seems like a great choice for my boys. Thank you for introducing me to these books and providing the opportunity to try them as a gift.

  121. Thanks for doing this give-away. Both sets look amazing! Either one would work for our family, but I’ll pick set one!

  126. Love these books! If I had to choose I’d say set 2 but either would be wonderful for my kids! Thanks for the opportunity to win some!

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