Creativity

 

What is it?

Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality.

“Creativity is about much more than expressive arts.  It is the ability to wonder about things, to see them or use them differently.  Creativity is vital for all learning.  Think about the creativity involved in the everyday problems we face. Consider the pace of change in our world and how we need to ensure our children are equipped with the right skills for their future.  The foundations are built from the child’s earliest years.  Creativity is crucial within science, technology, engineering and mathematical learning (STEM).  It is also essential to language and literacy development.”

(Realising the Ambition, Education Scotland, 2020, p. 24)

Creative Scotland describes creativity as:

• “About seeing things differently
• About finding new approaches to the challenges we face
• Creativity can shape our future for the better.”

 

Key messages:

The children have:

• • Access to a variety of interesting, open-ended resources
  • The freedom to explore materials and ideas
  • The chance to design, experiment and shape the tasks they undertake
  • Access to high quality, stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments

The practitioners encourage:

• • Questioning, curiosity and exploration
  • Expression of thoughts, feelings and ideas
  • A fun, playful approach to learning
  • Problem-solving skills and developing children’s ability to redesign, reformat and review their creations

 

Ways we can do this:

The practitioners must:

Develop their own knowledge and understanding of creative thinking and its importance.

Provide rich, exciting spaces where children are free to explore and experiment with their thoughts, ideas and materials.

Give the children opportunities to be responsible, take the lead and develop autonomy.

Through sensitive interactions, practitioners support children to explore the world around them, be curious, and question.

Listen, encourage and support children with their thoughts, feelings and ideas.

In all aspects of the experiences and opportunities offered, encourage the children to try out ideas and embrace ‘mistakes’ or things ‘not going according to plan’.

Have a fun, playful approach to learning; be open-minded towards the children’s ideas, following their lead when supporting, extending and challenging them.

 

Linked Areas of Practice 

Block Play

Play

Play Pedagogy

Loose Parts

Sustained Shared Thinking

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

 

Tools  

Reflecting on Practice

SBC Guidance to support

National Guidance to support

Further Reading to support

Training to support

STEM Mini Lecture 4 – Creativity in STEM from the UWS Early Years Team