Everyone has a different understanding of creative thinking. Often this word is associated exclusively with art – painting, sculpture are also included here. However, the ability to identify problems and find solutions, the ability to see from a different perspective is also part of creative thinking. Sometimes it is believed that this ability cannot be developed, it is innate.
An interesting fact is that at the first stage of creativity development, interest plays a very important role. When observing children, it is clear that they have an interest in discovering and exploring the world, and as they grow older, this ability weakens, and the reason for this is that parents do not realize the importance of creative thinking.
Ken Robinson noted that everyone has their own creative potential, the main task is to develop it.
The development of creativity is important because it manifests itself both in solving problems and in self-expression. And it also affects the life of the person.
Creative development contributes to the development of the child. The advantages are development of coordination and tactile skills, children are aware of their abilities, self-confidence, communication skills develop, problem-solving skills improve, children are aware of their individuality.
Professor Tina Bruce, a specialist in early childhood development, noted that it is important for parents to support their children’s creative potential. Bruce emphasizes that this potential will be diminished if there is no connection with children at the level of feelings. Again, you need to understand that creative thinking is a process, and kids need support and encouragement.
The creative process consists of 4 stages:
- Preparatory stage: begins with the emergence of interest in the topic, this is the stage of collecting information and acquiring the necessary knowledge.
- The process of creative thinking: in this stage, the connection between the collected data is established.
- Thinking stage: new ideas come, the preparation stage shows its result.
- Evaluation: Through logical thinking, a decision is made as to whether an idea is valuable or not.
In the first two stages, nature plays an important role. Children can use the extensive knowledge base about nature, learn and observe. Nature reduces stress and creates more interest in the educational process.
Being in nature, children look for new ways of solving problems, making decisions. They come up with imaginative games by adding and using elements from nature. All of this reduces conflict between children.
Research also shows that spending time outdoors increases attention, physical activity, and stimulates creative thinking in preschoolers.
Based on their ideas, children use creativity in games – they build and make things with sticks, mud, leaves and stones. You can, for example, involve them in finding and collecting colored stones as a collection of interesting things. The goal is to constantly keep them curious.
Author – Kamala Guliyeva
