Parent to Parent: Creative Kids

WSVN -- Jammin' out on his guitar has become second nature to Matthew Schwartz. The 17-year-old's love of music started early on when he would watch his dad play.

Matthew Schwartz: "Every holiday event, random nights, he would just come out and sing songs."

Matthew practiced all the time, even when his parents couldn't take the noise. Now he writes his own music and lyrics and has been part of a successful band called the Three Beef Burritos for the past couple of years.

Ken Schwartz: "He found something that he liked, he stayed with it, and I'm very, very proud about that."

Seven's Parenting Expert Dr. Valerie Goode says parents should encourage a child's creativity, even if it's not always perfect.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "It doesn't have to be perfect in your eyes, as long as it's perfect in that child's eyes. You should do everything you can to make sure it's recognized and acknowledged in your home."

Dr. Valerie says parents need to be supportive and embrace their child's creative spirit. For example, if they draw a picture, display it proudly in your home and don't make judgments.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "You want to build confidence in your child's ability to be creative."

Encourage children to try new and different ways of doing things and emphasize the importance of the process rather than the outcome.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "It's not always about teaching your child, it's about letting your child discover the adventure within any art."

Matthew's adventure is just beginning. After high school, he would like to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a goal he would never have aspired to if it wasn't for the support of his parents.

Matthew Schwartz: "If I didn't have any support from my parents, and they just told me, 'Shut up, turn it off, do it somewhere else,' I wouldn't have done it."

Lynn Martinez: "Dr. Valerie says another good way to nurture a child's creative side is to set up an art center in the kitchen or family room and come up with fun projects together."

Dr. Valerie Goode
www.drvaleriegoode.com