Researchers emphasise that originality is essential for children in all life fields, particularly in times of distress. Last week, a student waited after class and spontaneously asked, “Do I have a unique mind?” I paused before gently asking what prompted her question. She thoughtfully replied, “Sir, I think I am a good student,” rolling her eyes, “but do I have the kind of mind that can generate new and unique ideas? Or am I destined to spend my life listening to what other creative people say?” I reassured her, “There is no need to worry. Everyone feels this way sometimes. I even feel that my thoughts are copied occasionally, and that is perfectly normal. It does not diminish anyone’s value.” She smiled, and after further talk, we ended our meeting. This conversation, however, left me considering: Does originality truly matter when valuing ourselves or others?
American psychologist Adam Grant discusses in his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World that “originals” are thinkers who conceive new ideas and take action to bring them to life. He asserts, “The greatest originals fail the most because they try the most, and thus many bad ideas are necessary to find the good ones.” Yet, does being ‘original’ mean hiring a ‘life coach’ to teach ‘creativity’? Creativity cannot be taught like a traditional skill; no one can simply decide to be visionary or innovative. However, one can choose to act unusually and daringly. Does this alone make one original?
Gina Barreca, PhD, a UConn author, suggests originality is critical in all fields, not only those considered artistic. Creativity cannot be seized or possessed but can be recognised, admired, and nurtured. Parents and teachers thereby hold vital roles in encouraging children to think originally by taking risks and embracing curiosity. In a TED talk, Grant advocates that parents create environments that foster originality. One common mistake is enforcing excessive rules, which can hinder independent thinking; children then learn to avoid risk to evade punishment rather than to innovate.
How to Encourage Original Thinking in Children
Grant proposes practices parents can adopt to foster original thought in adolescents:
- Allow procrastination; let children decide when to engage in critical thinking.
- Let children experience fear so they learn to confront and adapt to reality.
- Allow children to try and learn from their bad ideas.
- Encourage children to express their opinions before influencing them with your own views.
- Assign chores without reward to help children connect with core human values.
- Explain the bigger picture of tasks; for example, chores teach respect for people and possessions beyond cleanliness.
Nurturing responsibility helps foster originality. Original thought is not about creating something entirely unseen but about imagining familiar ideas in novel ways.