CREATIVITY IS USUALLY THOUGHT OF AS A POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE ASSOCIATED WITH GENIUS AND GREAT ARTISTS. PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO BE CREATIVE. TEACHERS ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN SOME AREAS, NOT IN SPELLING OR MATH BUT IN WRITING AND ON ART PROJECTS. CREATIVITY IS NOT EASILY TURNED ON AND OFF AND BECAUSE THINKING "OUTSIDE THE BOX" MEANS STRETCHING OR BREAKING RULES IT CAN OFTEN GET A KID IN TROUBLE.

CREATIVITY IS LIKE ANY OTHER SKILL. IF WE PRACTICE WE GET BETTER AT BEING CREATIVE. IF WE MAKE IT A HABIT IT BECOMES EASIER.

A GIVEN PROBLEM ALWAYS HAS ANY NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS. WE USUALLY START LIMITING OPTIONS VERY EARLY. IF WE WANT TO EXAMINE NEW AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WE NEED TO SUSPEND ALL LIMITATIONS UNTIL WE HAVE A NUMBER CHOICES.

I AM OFTEN ASKED WHERE I GET MY IDEAS AND I TELL PEOPLE IT IS MY JOB TO HAVE IDEAS. IT IS NOT A TOTAL BLESSING BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS I HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS I HAVE TIME FOR AND MANY VERY GOOD IDEAS MUST BE SHELVED. I HAVE SKETCHBOOKS FULL OF IDEAS THAT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL LIFETIMES TO COMPLETELY EXPLORE.