Have you ever watched a child notice something that adults completely missed?

A few days ago, my son picked up a bent drinking straw, looked at it carefully and said, “It looks like a 7.”

Then he turned it around and added, “Now it looks like an L.”

To him, it wasn’t just a straw. It became different shapes depending on how he looked at it.

I immediately recognised something fascinating. This wasn’t simply a funny observation. It was a beautiful example of divergent thinking in action.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or shadow teacher, learning to notice moments like these can completely change the way you understand children’s thinking.

🎥 Watch the real-life moment on YouTube before reading further:

What Is Divergent Thinking?

Divergent thinking is the ability to generate multiple ideas, possibilities or solutions instead of searching for one “correct” answer.

Rather than thinking:

“What is this?”

Children often think:

“What else could this be?”

This flexible way of thinking fuels creativity, innovation, imagination and problem-solving.

It is one of the cognitive skills associated with creative thinking and is encouraged in many educational and psychological frameworks.

The Straw Example

Let’s look at what happened.

An adult sees:

A bent straw.

My son saw:

A number 7.
Turn it around.
Now it became the letter L.

Neither observation was wrong.

His brain was recognising patterns and mentally transforming an object into something entirely different.

That ability to mentally manipulate objects is an important cognitive skill that develops throughout childhood.

Why This Matters

Many adults unintentionally shut down divergent thinking.

Imagine if I had immediately replied:

“No, it’s just a straw.”

The conversation would have ended.

Instead, I chose curiosity.

I asked questions.

“What else does it remind you of?”

Children learn that their ideas have value when adults respond with curiosity rather than correction.

Divergent Thinking Builds More Than Creativity

When children practise looking at things from multiple perspectives, they are strengthening several important life skills.

These include:

Flexible thinking
Creative problem-solving
Cognitive flexibility
Visual-spatial reasoning
Innovation
Confidence in expressing ideas
Curiosity
Independent thinking

These skills are valuable in school, relationships and eventually the workplace.

Why Neurodivergent Children Often Surprise Us

Many autistic and ADHD children naturally notice details, patterns and possibilities that others overlook.

This doesn’t mean every unusual observation is a sign of neurodivergence.

However, many neurodivergent learners demonstrate unique ways of thinking that deserve appreciation rather than immediate correction.

As adults, our role is not to eliminate different thinking.

It is to understand it.

How Parents Can Encourage Divergent Thinking

1. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Instead of asking:

“What is this?”

Try asking:

What else could it be?
What does it remind you of?
Can you think of another possibility?
What would happen if we turned it around?

There are no right or wrong answers.

2. Resist Correcting Too Quickly

Children are often exploring ideas rather than stating facts.

Allow them space to explain their thinking before jumping in.

3. Celebrate Unusual Answers

Sometimes the most creative responses sound strange at first.

Instead of saying:

“That’s wrong.”

Try saying:

“That’s an interesting way to look at it.”

4. Encourage Pretend Play

Pretend play naturally develops divergent thinking.

A cardboard box becomes:

A spaceship
A castle
A racing car
A pirate ship

One object.

Endless possibilities.

5. Spend More Time Outdoors

Nature offers unlimited opportunities for creative thinking.

A stick becomes a magic wand.

A rock becomes treasure.

Clouds become animals.

Children naturally practise divergent thinking when they have freedom to explore.

Activities That Strengthen Divergent Thinking

Here are some simple activities you can try today.

The “What Else?” Challenge

Choose any household object.

Set a timer for two minutes.

Ask everyone to think of as many different uses as possible.

A spoon might become:

A microphone
A drumstick
A tiny shovel
A wand
A catapult

The goal isn’t correctness.

The goal is possibilities.

Finish the Scribble

Draw one random squiggle.

Ask your child to turn it into anything they imagine.

This activity is widely used to encourage creative thinking.

Shape Hunt

Find ordinary shapes around the house.

Ask:

“What else does this shape remind you of?”

Story Building

Pick three random objects.

Challenge your child to create a story connecting all three.

Why This Matters for Schools

Unfortunately, traditional education often rewards finding one correct answer.

Yet life rarely works that way.

The world’s greatest innovators, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs often succeeded because they asked different questions rather than giving standard answers.

As teachers, parents and shadow teachers, we can create environments where children feel safe sharing original ideas.

Recommended Books and Resources

If you’d like to nurture creativity and flexible thinking at home, consider adding these to your collection.

Books

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
LEGO Ideas Book
The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule

Open-Ended Toys

These resources encourage imagination rather than prescribing one “correct” way to play.

Watch the Real-Life Example

Sometimes the best way to understand child psychology is to see it happening in everyday life.

In this short YouTube video, you’ll see the exact moment my son transformed a bent straw into something completely different, followed by the psychological explanation behind it.

▶️ Watch here:

Final Thoughts

Children are constantly showing us how they think.

The question is whether we are paying attention.

The next time your child compares a cloud to a dinosaur, turns a spoon into a rocket, or insists a bent straw looks like a number 7, pause before correcting them.

You may be witnessing divergent thinking, one of the foundations of creativity, innovation and flexible problem-solving.

Sometimes, the smallest everyday moments reveal the biggest insights into a child’s developing mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is divergent thinking the same as intelligence?

No. Divergent thinking is one aspect of cognition related to creativity and generating multiple ideas. Intelligence is a much broader construct.

At what age does divergent thinking develop?

It begins in early childhood and flourishes when children have opportunities for imaginative play, exploration and open-ended learning.

Can schools encourage divergent thinking?

Absolutely. Open-ended projects, inquiry-based learning, art, storytelling, design challenges and collaborative problem-solving all support divergent thinking.

Does divergent thinking mean a child is gifted?

Not necessarily. Many children demonstrate divergent thinking. It is one indicator of creative potential, but it should be considered alongside many other aspects of development.

Continue Learning

If you enjoy practical, evidence-based insights into child psychology, parenting and neurodiversity:

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💬 I’d love to hear from you: What’s the most surprising thing your child has ever said or noticed? Share your story in the comments below. It might inspire the next conversation about how children see the world.