Unit 1 DB: Guiding The Creative Process

Unit 1 DB: Guiding The Creative Process

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Do you remember how simple playthings, even an empty box, could lead to so much fun when you were young? Watch as children develop their creativity in a preschool classroom by imitating and innovating as they experiment with clay. Notice how the teacher guides the children as they make bird’s nests, while still allowing them the freedom to express their creativity. After watching the video and reviewing the unit readings and resources, including Chapter 1 of the text, respond to the following two questions:

1. In the first stage of play shown in the video toddlers are given the opportunity to experience the process of playing freely with the clay. In the second stage the teacher uses guided instruction to show the children how to create a specific product by modeling how to make clay bird nests. What are the benefits of supporting rather than leading children in the creative
2. process and focusing on the process rather than the product?
3. Identify one example of a convergent question (a question with one correct answer) and one example of a divergent question (one with many possible answers) that the teacher uses in this activity.  How do divergent questions encourage creativity and critical thinking?

In your responses to classmates: Imagine that the teacher in the video gave the children an open-ended project instead of a specific product-based project. What DAP techniques would you recommend the teacher use to help the children develop and enjoy expressing creativity?  Discuss the pros and cons of your techniques with your classmates.  Unit 1 DB: Guiding The Creative Process.

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Summary

• 1-1Define creativity. Compare and contrast the kinds of creativity.

Creativity is a way of thinking and acting or making something that is original for the individual child and valued by that person or others. Capital C creativity involves bringing into existence something genuinely new that receives social validation enough to be added to the culture. An example of Capital C creativity is the invention of the lightbulb. Small c creativity involves ideas or products that are new to the person, but only to the person. An example of small c creativity is a child’s new way of blending finger paint colors. Young children are naturally creative. This means they behave in ways and do things that are unique and valued by themselves or others. Creativity in preschool children is stimulated when they are allowed to think divergently.

• 1-2List three ways in which children and teachers benefit from an environment in which creativity is encouraged.

Children benefit from an environment in which creativity is encouraged by:

• Learning to feel good about themselves
• Learning to seek many answers to a problem
• Developing their potential to think
• Developing their individuality
• Developing new skills
• Experiencing the joy of being different

Teachers benefit from encouraging creativity, in such ways as the following:

• Being able to provide for more and greater variety in the program
• Learning to recognize children for their unique skills
• Being able to develop closer relationships with children
• Having fewer behavior problems
• Using a minimum of standardized curricula and external evaluation

• 1-3Discuss the ways creativity has been expressed throughout history.

The human desire to be creative has been present throughout history in all communities. We can see from the existence of prehistoric cave paintings that human beings have made their mark using the materials available to them. The desire to represent and share experiences with others—for example through art, music, and dance—seems to be a basic human characteristic.

• 1-4List several characteristics of creative children, including positive and negative aspects of each characteristic.

Some characteristics of creativity that are less attractive are faultfinding, stubbornness, appearance of haughtiness, self-satisfaction, and apparent discontent. Other characteristics are determination, curiosity, intuition, a willingness to take risks, a preference for complex ideas, and a sense of humor.

• 1-5Name five things a teacher can do to help children develop a willingness to express creativity.

There are at least eight things that can be done for children to help them express natural creative tendencies:

• Help children accept change.
• Help children realize that some problems have no easy answers.
• Help children recognize that many problems have a number of possible answers.
• Help children learn to judge and accept their own feelings.
• Reward children for being creative.
• Help children feel joy in their creative productions and in working through problems.
• Help children appreciate themselves for being different.
• Help children develop perseverance—“stick-to-itiveness.” Unit 1 DB: Guiding The Creative Process.