Cooperative Living August 2016 - 36

Kids'Korner | by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
Every Kid's Super Power
Creativity:
A
ll across the country, kids like you are preparing
to return to school. 'Tis the season to be educated!
Are you ready? Perhaps you feel the need for a
little mental warmup before you sprint back into
the school environment. Right now, during the remaining
days of summer break, is the perfect time to start a workout
routine for the greatest asset that you'll take back to the
classroom ... your own personal creativity.
If this suggestion makes you think that you need to paint
a picture or make a craft or write a poem, then think again.
While those are all good things to do, creativity is much,
much more ... it's about solving problems and also about
identifying problems that need to be solved.
The creative thinker investigates, explores, invents and
improvises. He or she uses logic and critical-thinking skills to
find answers to challenging questions. And, most importantly,
this imaginative person has the courage and confidence to try
new things and is not afraid to make mistakes.
Think of your creativity as a muscle; the more you use it,
the stronger it gets. Everyone can be a creative kid; it just
requires a bit of exercise.
" Creativity is intelligence having fun. "
-Albert Einstein
Take the advice of this ingenuity expert and release your
genius on the tasks that follow.
You may have done some of these activities previously in
school; if so, repeating them will only make you wiser and
cleverer!
A pencil, paper, timer and an assortment of household
items are all that you need. Have fun!
Riddles
If you've read The Hobbit, you might recall Bilbo Baggins
asking this riddle: " A box without hinges, key or lid, yet
golden treasure inside is hid. What is it? " At first it seems
there is no answer; but then a sudden flash of understanding
tells you it's an egg!
Alternative Uses
Take 2 minutes to think and write down other uses for
these everyday objects: chair, brick and spoon. Here's a
sample brainstorm for paper clip:
- earrings
- fish hook
- picture hanger
- lock pick
34 | Cooperative Living | August 2016
- fingernail cleaner
- book mark
- letter opener
Psychologists use riddles to measure creative problemsolving
potential. How quickly can you solve these familiar
little puzzlers?
You walk into a room with a match, kerosene lantern, a
candle and a fireplace. Which do you light first?
A cowboy rides into town on Friday. He stays three days
and then leaves on Friday. How is that possible?
What belongs to you but is used more by others?
(Answers at the end of this article.)
Incomplete Figure
Choose one of the shapes above and copy it onto a large
piece of paper. Using your best imagination, create an image
within 5 minutes. Then repeat with the other shape. Be sure
to give each picture a title.
These two samples were created by a 13-year-old middle
school student.
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KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

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Cooperative Living August 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living August 2016