Raising Creative Kids: A Small Park Story with a Big Lesson
By Sridevi Srinivasan
One pleasant evening, my son and his friend Nandhan—both little kindergarteners—were playing together in the park. Like most parents, Nandhan’s mother and I were sitting nearby on a bench, casually chatting while keeping a close watch on the kids as they immersed themselves in play.
The two boys had discovered the sandpit, which instantly became their world of imagination. I watched them dig into the sand with excitement, their eyes twinkling with curiosity. They scooped up handfuls of sand, piling it up to create their own tiny landscape. First, they made a small pit and proudly declared that it was a “lake.” Then they gathered more sand to form a mound, which instantly became their “mountain.” It was amazing to see how their imaginations brought the scene to life, how they worked together with so much focus, completely absorbed in their creation.
After a while, I noticed Nandhan looking around, clearly searching for something. He seemed to be trying to figure out a solution to a problem. He didn’t speak, but I could see his little mind at work. Then, without hesitation, he bent down and removed his chappals (slippers). He held them carefully in his hands, one in each, and walked back to the sandpit.
Seeing this, his mother quickly got up and walked over to him. Her reaction was immediate—she was clearly irritated and asked him to put the chappals down right away. Understandably so. She was worried about the dirt, the germs, and the idea of her child touching footwear with his bare hands. Most parents would’ve reacted the same way, given how much we worry about cleanliness and hygiene, especially in a public place.
But I had been watching the entire moment unfold with a different perspective. After she came back and settled on the bench, I gently said, “You know, you should feel proud of your son. He was trying to collect more sand but couldn’t find anything around to carry it. He looked around, thought for a bit, and then figured that he could use his chappals to hold the sand. Isn’t that clever?”
Her face slowly changed. From being annoyed, she turned thoughtful, and then smiled. “I didn’t think of it that way,” she said softly.
This incident reminded me of how quickly we sometimes judge children’s actions without understanding the ‘why’ behind them. We often assume that they’re doing something wrong or breaking rules. But many times, they are simply trying to solve a problem—with the tools they have, using the ideas that come naturally to them.
Children are wired to think creatively. To them, a chappal isn’t just something you wear—it can become a scoop, a container, a paddle, or anything their imagination allows. Their minds are open and unfiltered, seeing possibilities where we see limitations.
What could Nandhan’s mom have done instead? She could’ve paused and simply asked, “Why are you holding your slippers?” That small question would have allowed Nandhan to explain his idea. His mother could have acknowledged his creativity and then gently talked to him about cleanliness, maybe even offered him an alternative container to use.
When we jump in to correct without listening, we miss a chance to encourage curiosity and problem-solving. We shut down moments of learning and exploration. But when we listen, ask, and understand, we support a child’s confidence and creativity.
Have you ever witnessed a moment when a child surprised you with their thinking? A time when their little idea made you stop and smile?
These moments are precious. Let’s not dismiss them too quickly. Instead, let’s learn to pause, ask, listen—and hear the child’s story.
