Early Childhood Education: Creativity Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Early Childhood Education:Early Childhood Education:CreativityCreativity

Dr. K. A. KorbDr. K. A. Korb

University of JosUniversity of Jos

OutlineOutline

Overview Art Music Drama

Dr. K. A. KorbUniversity of Jos

CreativityCreativity

Creativity: Creativity: AbilityAbility to identify to identify originaloriginal and and usefuluseful solutions to solutions to problemsproblems

Creativity:Creativity: A product or an idea that is A product or an idea that is newnew to the person to the person who produced it and who produced it and appropriateappropriate based on the cultural based on the cultural standardsstandards

Aspects of creativityAspects of creativity– Fluency:Fluency: Produce many ideas Produce many ideas– Originality:Originality: Generate new and different ideas Generate new and different ideas – Flexibility:Flexibility: Depart from traditional views to generate a new Depart from traditional views to generate a new

perspective to a problemperspective to a problem– Elaboration:Elaboration: Adding novel details Adding novel details

Creatively is largely dependent on environmentCreatively is largely dependent on environment


Characteristics of Creative ChildrenCharacteristics of Creative Children

CuriousCurious FlexibleFlexible OriginalOriginal Independent Independent Thinks deeply about an ideaThinks deeply about an idea Finds unique solutions to solve a problemFinds unique solutions to solve a problem


Fostering CreativityFostering Creativity

Value CreativityValue Creativity Allow children to make mistakesAllow children to make mistakes Provide large blocks of time for children to Provide large blocks of time for children to

play and exploreplay and explore– A strong relationship has been found between A strong relationship has been found between

play and creativityplay and creativity

Give open-ended activities that do not Give open-ended activities that do not necessarily a right or wrong answernecessarily a right or wrong answer


Creative ArtsCreative Arts

Reasons for including creative arts in the Reasons for including creative arts in the classroom (Boyer, 1987)classroom (Boyer, 1987)– Help children express feelings and ideas that Help children express feelings and ideas that

are difficult to share with wordsare difficult to share with words– Arts provides a universal language that can be Arts provides a universal language that can be

communicated with otherscommunicated with others


ArtArt

For components of a strong art program For components of a strong art program (Schirrmacher, 2006)(Schirrmacher, 2006)– Use senses to engage in meaningful Use senses to engage in meaningful

experiencesexperiences– Make art with a variety of materialsMake art with a variety of materials– Learn about artistsLearn about artists– Study beauty in color and designStudy beauty in color and design


Fostering Creative Artists in the ECE Fostering Creative Artists in the ECE ClassroomClassroom

Demonstrate appropriate uses of art tools Demonstrate appropriate uses of art tools and materialsand materials

Avoid using of modelsAvoid using of models Emphasize the artistic process instead of Emphasize the artistic process instead of

the productthe product Display art in the classroomDisplay art in the classroom


MusicMusic

Benefits of teaching musicBenefits of teaching music– Psychomotor skillsPsychomotor skills– Emotional developmentEmotional development– Enhance cognitive developmentEnhance cognitive development– Social skillsSocial skills– Cultural developmentCultural development


Fostering Creative Musicians in the Fostering Creative Musicians in the ECE ClassroomECE Classroom

Listen to varieties of musicListen to varieties of music Dance to varieties of musicDance to varieties of music Give children opportunities to make musicGive children opportunities to make music


DramaDrama

Occurs when children pretend:Occurs when children pretend:– An object is something other than what it actually isAn object is something other than what it actually is– They are somebody other than themselvesThey are somebody other than themselves

Drama in ECE should focus on themes that Drama in ECE should focus on themes that children are interested inchildren are interested in– Teachers should:Teachers should:

Provide propsProvide props Observe dramaObserve drama Facilitate drama as neededFacilitate drama as needed


RevisionRevision

How is creativity defined for young children?How is creativity defined for young children? What are the three creative domains that What are the three creative domains that

should be included in the ECE Classroom?should be included in the ECE Classroom? How can teachers foster creative How can teachers foster creative

development in young children?development in young children? Ideas for Art ProjectsIdeas for Art Projects

– http://www.kinderart.com/http://www.kinderart.com/


http://www.kinderart.com/

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Early Childhood Education: Creativity Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos