Preparing Creative Thinkers for Life
Want to encourage a sense of creativity in your child? Now is the time to do it.
The kindergarten years are crucial to the development of our children’s creativity. During this time, tamariki are constantly engaged in play and have a natural tendency to fantasise, experiment, and explore.
Play is fun, but it is also developmentally important. Creativity builds a desire to learn, and being able to think laterally allows young children to grow important skills like critical thinking, and problem solving. Through play, tamariki have opportunities to practise collaborating with others.
When children use their imagination during play, they get the opportunity to express themselves and develop working theories about the world. Activities that engage imaginative thinking are what lead children to having unique ideas. When tamariki use materials, express themselves verbally and non-verbally, plan, act, and try different roles it improves their fine motor skills and can help concentration.
“It’s about setting up provocations that spark excitement and wonderment, which invite children in to wanting to participate in the experience,” says Kidsfirst Selwyn Street Head Teacher, Gemma Wilson, “These can be sensory experiences where children get the opportunity to get messy and get their hands involved, or just anything that’s going to let their imaginations run wild.”
Helping nurture this kind of thinking will serve tamariki far beyond childhood, says Kidsfirst Greymouth Head Teacher, Tracy Jennings, “It’s about shaping different things together and thinking critically. Encouraging creativity is about giving children an opportunity to be themselves, and tell their own story, which then opens the door for new learning experiences.”
“There’s a whole lot of things that merge together, and flow on from one another. Creativity links into storytelling, writing, and reading, for example. They are making connections between ideas, and gaining skills that will come to play during more formal education.”
When tamariki are exploring and testing ideas, they are not passively listening or absorbing. They are connecting with others, which aids in the growth of cognitive and social functions.
Kidsfirst Selwyn Street teacher, Jessica Bazzarelli, says that every child expresses creativity in a different way.
“It comes in many shapes and forms, not just in the way they draw, but how confident they are and the way they see things.”
Tamariki are constantly innovating, and doing things differently, says Kidsfirst Lincoln teacher, George Pearce.
“With children it’s spontaneous; from what they’re building in the classroom, to exploring in the sandpit – it’s all about their discovery, and they can take that messy play and do all sorts of things.”
Kidsfirst kaiako look for opportunities in everyday life to encourage tamariki to think outside the box.
“We take opportunities whenever we can,” says Kidsfirst Parklands teacher, Keryn Stanley.
“If there’s a puddle because it has rained, we’ll ask tamariki how we should get over it. Do we build a bridge, use a pallet or get a mat from inside? Anything that’s going to get them engaged, and thinking.”
Questions like these help children to see that answers to problems aren’t always linear, she says.
“At kindergarten, we show them just because two-plus-two equals four, doesn’t mean you can’t get there by adding one-and-three. It’s all part of the learning process and it’s easy to implement while they’re playing.”
This means that no day at kindergarten is ever the same.
“As much as we create a set program, we’re constantly modifying activities and responding to interests so tamariki can do what they enjoy. Resources are open-ended, and it doesn’t mean we let them run wild, but we encourage them to follow through with ideas.”
