Rules or Constraints — Catskill Cottage Seed

Ben's Paper Sculpture

“Getting” gravity as a rule in our world is pretty useful for self preservation, especially when hiking near cliffs. But as a parent, I keep reminding myself not to fall into the “that’s not how it’s done” trap. A case in point:

Today my son created a three-dimensional sculpture with nothing but white copy paper and a stapler. As I walked into the room I was really impressed with the result. He proceeded to explain the challenge he had getting it to stand up by itself. While listening to him I flashed back on a moment a week ago.

I returned home from my travels with a kaleidoscope kit. When he came in to see me in the morning he was quite taken with the gift and before I roused myself for the day he had proceeded to assemble the kit in a rather unique fashion. One of the mirrors was taped to the outside of the tube, and the visual functionality was reduced as a result. He was very thrilled with his result and I caught myself before jumping into any criticism.

Looking at the sculpture today I intuitively recognized that criticism of the kaleidoscope would have prevented today’s exploration. It’s so important to keep the critical voice out of the child’s world of play. The imagination needs latitude, not attitude.

(don’t forget to check out the Archetypal Garage)

Creighton

Great post and description of letting imagination run free without boxing it in with criticism or too many 'rules.'

When my kids design something differently than I imagined they would, or in a manner 'outside the box' I am sure to ask questions to learn what thought process went into it and then nod and say, "Cool. I like that you did x, y, z . . ."

ccseed

Spending the time to learn from what takes place outside the box is a
great discription of what it takes to widen consciousness...

Fred H Schlegel

What a great way to describe a creativity enhancing mindset. 'Latitude not Attitude' could almost be a mantra to be repeated to keep us from statements that demotivate. For kids, some of the best teaching moments are when you let them do it there way. Funny thing is, that's true for adults as well.

ccseed

Hi Fred,
There's a funny conception that you need to know the rules so that you can know how to break them...and I think that can be useful. The question I have is: how often does the accepted status quo put blinders on us without our even knowing it...

Jeb Dickerson

You have expertly articulated one of my highest goals. True to it's form, though, this goal is an ideal I've yet to reach. It's truly a challenge to filter out the many influences I've had in my 36 years before dispensing reactions or feedback on my boys.

To allow them to develop in a way that is consistent with their inner child, to give them the freedom and confidence to chase each thread...I think that's the work of God within. I'm trying.

ccseed

What's so clear to me Jeb is that collectively we are taught to throw the imagination under the bus. To resist that tendency takes some serious courage because our very fiber has been programmed with that response. Even many who think they are providing creative outlets, are merely setting up another; process that has no latitude within it...

Melissa Pierce

"The imagination needs latitude, not attitude." - Beautifully said. I think you were holding out dispensing axioms with us at SobCon last week.