We all want our children to do well in school. But as a Canadian neuroscientist and mom, I’m here to tell you that we need to look beyond the academic skills of reading, writing and math. Research has shown that children do well at school if they learn and practice four skills: creativity, flexibility, self-control and boundaries. It is these ?executive functioning? skills that determine whether or not a child will succeed in school and life.
As parents, it may seem overwhelming (or impossible!) to try to teach our kids to  ?be creative? or ?have boundaries,? but there are simple, research-backed activities you can do with your child to nurture these skills and help set them up for success in school and beyond.
1. Creativity: Open-ended arts
Instead of leading your child in a predetermined craft, such as making a drawing of a specific animal, set up an arts tray or table and add various arts and crafts supplies without giving your child any rules or instructions. You don?t have to fill it up, either?you can limit the choices and change it up every week. Here are some materials you can include:

Small pieces of construction paper
Pictures or letters cut from magazines
Pom poms
Glue
Tissue paper
Empty rolls of toilet paper or paper towels

Your child will have plenty of opportunities to follow instructions in school, but having the space to play completely creatively will help them stretch the limits of their imagination and give them some confidence in their own ideas...