Creative Experiences of Children

Creative Experiences for Children 2(1+1)

Lesson 1: Introduction to Creativity

Importance of creativity

From ancient days, creativity has been the mainspring of our civilization. Creative thinking and innovations aided for the progress of civilization and humanity’s present evolutionary stature. Our inherent creativity contributes to improve the quality of our lives.

Children want to express themselves openly. They want to bring out new ideas and have new experiences. They enjoy creativity and benefits from it in many ways, including:

• Learning to feel good about themselves
• Learning to seek many answers to a problem.

In dealing with young children, the focus should be on the process, i.e., developing and generating original ideas, based on convergent or divergent thought. Problems associated with convergent thought often have one correct solution. But problems associated with divergent thought require the problem solver to generate many solutions, a few of which will be novel, of high quality, and workable i.e. creative. Creativity is a form of problem-solving through which the person try to find out correct re­sponse or conclusion. It requires adaptability and flexibility in thought process. But it is not the same as intelligence. "Just as all children are not equally intelligent, not all children are equally creative" (Moran 1998.) Creativity is also an attitude: the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve. Creative people work hard and try to improve ideas and solutions, by making gradual alternations and refinements to their works.

Creativity is a key component of programs and strategies

• to produce positive outcomes for children.
• to become successful adults
• to reduce drop out rates and to improve student motivation.
• to safeguard children from stress.

Creative thinking allows both young children and adults to

• avoid boredom
• resolve personal conflict
• accept complexity and ambiguity
• make independent judgments
• use leisure time constructively
• development of new knowledge