Traditional Schooling Methods May Stifle This Unique Personality

American public education has become a hotbed of leftist indoctrination, and conformity is the name of the game when it comes to teaching our children.

Our public school system is so regulated by “standards,” that children are not able to learn in a style or at a pace that benefits their individual needs.

All children are unique in the way they learn and how they express themselves.  One type of child in particular can feel especially lost in a traditional class setting, and the implications can last a lifetime.

A free-spirited or creative child is one “with a highly individual or unique attitude, lifestyle, or imagination; a nonconformist.”

Children who are creative learn differently (in fact, every child has a unique learning style).  They often have a difficult time focusing on one thing for long periods of time, like sitting still and listening to dry material being presented in a classroom.

They are visual and tactile learners – they must see and feel new information to properly take it in.  Homeschooling, therefore, is a wonderful way to foster the true potential of a creative child whose mind is running a mile-a-minute with ideas!

Jimmie’s Collage reported on some of the benefits of homeschooling for the creative child:

Flexible Scheduling:  The creative mind is a very interesting thing. It has flashes of inspiration that require immediate follow-through. Creative urges are almost overpowering. I learned that doing school during those moments was counterproductive.  All homeschoolers love the flexibility of this type of education, but it seems even more critical for the creative child.

Public schooling, especially in middle and high school, is often monotonous with little room for creativity or self-expression.  Creative or free-spirited children may not learn well listening to dry lectures or taking notes for hours on end – and they often have trouble with testing.

Homeschooling offers the opportunity to let a creative child grow their talents, come up with studying methods that foster their learning style, and express themselves in a secure environment.

Applying creativity to school:  Creativity can be incorporated into every subject matter, from making models for science, to using manipulatives for math, to acting out portions of novels.

Children can make costumes, puppets, or props to put on portions of their favorite reading assignment, or act out a historical event in full period dress.  They can build dimensional models for science and use art and music to understand difficult math concepts.  The fundamentals of any lesson can be more fully achieved with hands-on, interactive projects – especially for a creative child.

Although public schools sometimes call for these kinds of projects, they are rare. With homeschool, [kids have] a lot of freedom to choose how to narrate a lesson, whether it be a traditional written explanation or a more unusual format.

  • More free time for creating:  Besides having flexible time, there is simply more time overall for getting crafty. No busy work, no “homework,” no tests to cram for. We can focus our attention on school for a few hours a day, and when that is done, we have plenty of leisure for personal hobbies.
  • Art and music are part of a unique skill set, and should be fostered when a child shows interest and talent.  Homeschooling allows for more time to practice creative pursuits because there is no mandated schedule and the individual attention it provides can rapidly increase picking up on new skills.
  • Creativity can be featured on homeschool transcripts:  Creatives may not perform as well on traditional tests as the more linear, left-brained thinkers, but in a homeschool environment, we have more freedom to evaluate on other, more favorable aspects of learning.
  • Creativity is a valuable asset in the workplace, and encouraging creative thinking while they are young will help them think “outside the box” when they need to come up with innovative solutions to complex tasks.
  • No critics to your creativity:  With homeschooling, it is only family who sees her work. She can be very selective of who sees her projects outside of the confines of supportive parents.
  • Creative children are often introverted.  They are full of ideas and energy but can sometimes be more sensitive and prefer only to share with their inner circle.  Homeschooling allows for a “judgment free zone” where children can experiment their unique style without having to follow the parameters of a “one size fits all” project like would be assigned in public school.
  • The ability to specializeWhen you homeschool a creative child, you can allow more time, more flexibility, more resources, and more support for creative pursuits. I’ve already mentioned all that. But each of those benefits work together to allow a child to become a creative specialist.
  • To emphasize strengths creates a confident child who has a leg up when it comes time to specialize in adult life.

While creative kids may find some outlet for their expression in traditional school environments, it is usually limited due to time constraints or every student having to follow teacher-mandated guidelines for their project.

Some school districts are getting rid of art and music altogether, and these subjects are certainly not the priority for the testing-obsessed public education system.

For creative children, expressing themselves through their favorite medium is like breathing.  They would rather practice their art – in whatever form comes naturally to them – than just about anything else.

In a traditional school setting, creative children are often stifled and retreat inward because they are not able to be themselves.  They are the children who cannot be constrained by the conformity of a traditional classroom.

When the free-spirited or creative child has the freedom to express themselves and have their unique learning style respected, they will be able to better grasp the material and grow their passions and talents at the same time!

Do you have a free-spirited or creative child?  What are some of the unique ways your child learns best?  Leave us your thoughts in the comments.