Fostering Creativity

Creative Development Through the Curriculum

Overview

Creativity can be expressed in many modes and should be nourished accordingly.

Basic principles of creativity are explored and the use of self-expressive materials are discussed.

The importance of play in fostering creativity is emphasized in order to deepen student’s understanding of the significance of play and to equip student’s with information so you can defend the value of play when challenged.

Objectives

This unit will– Explain why creativity is so valuable in the life of

children and why it is so important to nurture it– Provide general recommendations about how to

enhance creativity – Provide a wealth of reasons why play is essential in

fostering the development of all selves of the child– Recommend general ways teachers can support and

extend creative play– Provide practical suggestions for the development of

play

What is Creativity?Measures of Creativity

Divergent thinking – the act of expanding or elaborating on an idea, such as brainstorming

Convergent thinking– The act of narrowing many ideas into a single, focused point

Fluency– The ability to generate many relevant ideas on a given topic in a limited

time Flexibility

– The capability of adapting readily to change in a positive, productive manner

Sensitivity– A receptivity to external and internal stimuli. Creative people have a

heightened awareness of their world, their perceptions, feelings, and images.

Multiple Intelligences

Click on the following links for an explanation of multiple intelligences

Learning Through Many Kinds of Intelligence

Multiple Intelligences

The Process of Creativity:Attitudes That Encourage Creativity

ExperimentationEnjoyment of the sensory experienceCommunicationReliving experiencesWorking out fears

Theories of Art Development

Psychoanalytic theory: art is an expression of the unconscious and can be interpreted to give insight into the child’s personality or emotional state

Perceptual theory: suggests that a drawing will focus on what the child perceives as the most important feature

Cognitive theory: assumes children draw what they know– Scribbling stage; preschematic stage; schematic stage

Development of Young Children’s Art

Developmental theory: children's art ability develops through a series of universal stages, and that adult intervention or direct teaching can adversely affect the development. Rhoda Kellog– Basic scribbling: 2 year olds. 20 kinds of markings– Placement patterns: 17 ways in which the picture is framed or

placed on the paper– Diagrams (shapes): by age 3. – Combines ( 2 diagrams put together), and aggregates

(combination of 3 or more diagrams)– Pictorialism: between the ages of 4-5– Figure 9-1

Art Activities

Two dimensional graphic arts– Drawing, painting, printmaking

Three dimensional modeling arts– Play dough, clay, collages, woodworking

Music

Music, as a process-rather than a product oriented activity allows for creative expression, develops children’s aesthetic sense, and provides an enjoyable way of introducing concepts and skills. It is also a way to support and learn about children's culture and ethnic groups.

Four Components of Music in ECE Programs

ListeningSingingPlaying musical instrumentsMovement and music

– Click on the following link to find some music activities for young children

Music Education for Young Children--Songs and Music Games

Factors that Decrease Creativity

Atmospheres that promote racial, cultural, stereotype or limit ideas

Showing models of art work where children are expected to replicate the example deters them from expressing their own individuality. Who says a tree can’t be purple?

Toys that leave nothing to the imagination: closed-ended types of toys