DS struggles with creativity, does it mean anything?

[lljkk]

He is 9.5yo, was talking this morning about how much he doesn't like drawing because he "doesn't know what to do". He has similar problems with writing, although he's much better if we make him do some writing or drawing almost every day (very resistant!) so that whatever they ask him to do at school seems more familiar.

Lots of behaviour trouble at school due to this reluctance to write or draw, mostly after summer holidays.

Is it just him, a common boy thing, or could it indicate anything about his learning weaknesses?

Is his problem with being given a "blank slate"? For example if you ask him to draw a robot, is he better than if you just ask him to draw "a picture"?

I think at 9.5yo he no longer has that free creativity that young kids have. He'll be very aware of what others do, whether he's any good at it, fear of not doing the 'right' thing or doing something that is good. Obviously we know creativity takes practice, but kids often don't.

Personal story here, but at that age I compared myself a lot to others, noticed how people who were 'inherently good' at creative things always got praised. It completely paralysed me creatively until very recently (nearly 20 years later..) when I could cognitively understand this and make conscious steps to change things.

Sorry maybe I'm totally projecting here, but I find that reluctance is often borne out of fear. Could you try prompts? Something like illustrationfriday.com/

yes, mini pie, that's exactly it, he freaks out with a blank slate.
Sadly I don't think he's been creative since he was 4. I think he's got underlying anxieties, true.

I wondered if that might be it. I've never been any good with a blank slate myself. I always did very well academically though so I don't think it's necessarily a sign of underlying learning weakness. If anything it could be a sign of the opposite. I couldn't get started with a "blank slate" because my mind kept coming up with too many options, and rejecting each one, iyswim, rather than because I couldn't think of anything.

Maybe help him narrow down the options in some way - not sure how though! (not my strong point obviously )

Well speaking as a Dt teacher, giving someone a blank slate is likely to inspire no one.

Creativity isn't always about writing or drawing, it is also the ability to solve problems in a creative way. He may be struggling with imagination, but ime people who struggle with this haven't been given any inspiration to work from. Sounds like who ever is setting the work is a little lacking in imagination themselves.

If someone inspired him he could come up with all sorts of things

I dunno, Orange, it's every year different teachers that my other children have thrived under (and produced plenty of imaginative work for). So that doesn't ring true.

Being asked to write (or draw) about what he did over summer holidays caused 2 of his bigger meltdowns.

Ok that doesn't sounds like a completely blank slate (I was thinking about more along the lines of "write a story" as a blank slate). Can he explain to you what the problem is?

Not surprised, I think that is the most boring thing ever for a kid to do. I remember it quite spoiling my holidays as a kid, thinking I'd have to write about it when I got back.

I really wouldn't worry. Neither of my two boys have ever been creative and certainly not artistic. At 9 that would have been their worst possible homework.
Both are bright, academic teenagers. Who still hate drawing.

I remember once when DS was about 9 and had a friend round who was a girl. He dragged me to one side and hissed "mum, help! She wants to do drawing and colouring, what shall I do?"