Often, women express to me their desire to be more creative. My belief and response to them is that every one of us has a creative spark within, that can be ignited and fueled. As mothers, how can we encourage children to believe in their own creative talents and abilities and to sustain that belief throughout their adult lives? Confidence in our own creative efforts will encourage your children to recognize their creativity. Another way is to teach your child to be self-actualizing. Such a person relies on her own judgments and is not easily swayed by others, no matter how loud their voices may be.

A self-actualized person is motivated from within and can call upon her own resources and strength in any situation. As a child grows, peer pressure increases and a young person may find herself reluctantly following others. Your child, rooted firmly in her own beliefs, can choose another way.

Creativity is not only measured by the crafting of a beautiful painting or a poem but can take so many forms in our everyday lives. The activities, play and tasks which your child engages in are brimming with creative opportunities. These opportunities offer parents a chance to applaud their child's efforts. The choices your child makes about the clothing she wears, the imaginary games she invents, her ideas and explorations are all creative acts which we can nurture and praise.

It is so important not to compare your child to another. Each person is special and unique in his or her own way. A child wants to feel that specialness and receive recognition for what she does and who she is becoming. A child's creativity blossoms when judgment is removed. Rather than competing with another, your child may fare best when compared only to herself. In this way, she can truly gauge how well she is doing and know the progress she has made.

A child's self-image is precious. Spoken and unspoken messages from parents have a powerful effect upon how worthy a child feels. Each child wants to be respected, and know that her thoughts and feelings are listened to and appreciated. Frequent criticism can undermine a child's sense of personal value. As parents, one of the most important jobs is to help our children discover who they are becoming and to support them in their personal quest for identity. With our encouragement, each child can find confidence and competence in that personal discovery.