How to raise innovative and risk taking kids

It’s not easy being a kid today. They many test results, piles of homework, and a seemingly never-ending quest for achievement in everything from academics to sports.
By the time a child is 10 or 12, he or she has figured out that it’s much more important to get right answers than to keep asking thoughtful questions.

How do we support these creative kids in ways that will help them succeed as innovators later in life?
1. PLAY
A child’s innovative framework is strengthened when teachers bring a sense of play to the curriculum; taking offbeat approaches and making whimsical connections to the course material.
Successful teachers make learning fun. When students feel that every aspect of their learning is “dead serious,” they become afraid to take chances and think creatively–opting instead to think in less risky ways.
2. CURIOSITY
It’s important to shift the focus when praising children if we want to foster more innovation.
Time for play with various technology-related materials, and engaging in a variety of individual and team projects. Observational drawings develop awareness and attention to detail, so these exercises create greater understanding and a desire to learn more.
3. PASSION
Innovative people are shown how to connect their passion to success. Natural curiosities are to supported, and make an effort to connect what is needed to be learned to satisfy curiosity.
Let children choose the subject matter they wish to study or design their own investigations to learn more. This connected success leads to a larger purpose–children’s individual motivations and interests.
4. FEARLESSNESS
Fearlessness, when it came to taking risks and trying new ways of doing things, allows children to be better at creative problem solving.
5. PURPOSE
Having a greater sense of purpose is important to innovators. The greatest impact is the importance of doing something to make a difference, rather than to just get a good grade.
Having a greater sense of purpose makes finding solutions more urgent. This gives innovators greater incentive to take risks, and look for new methods of solving challenging issues.