Article

Creative Kids for March 2008

I think the skills that form the foundations of critical thought are not so much about being skeptical, scientific, or digging into research as they are about opening the experiences of the world to that kind of rational thought and that foster independence, promote integrity, and unleash imagination.

Why creativity? As I wrote in one of my first posts, I think there are “Three Eyes” to encouraging critical thought, and one of those is Imagination. And what I wrote then still holds true: Creative imagination is a double-edged sword for a skeptic; Imagination defines the ability to construct false realities as readily as it defines the ability to extend knowledge, seek answers, and forge new questions. But we need imagination. We need to understand the power and scope of this tool, to harness its potential for the right reasons and with the right momentum. As with any sword, the more apt one is with handling it the less likely one is to cause harm to oneself and others.

Readers will have noticed that I have started a lot of little article threads that start with titles such as “Part 1″, “Episode 1″, “First Edition” and the like. I sometimes think this is a lack of focus. Other times I consider this creativity, and the brimming desire to explore new ideas. (And yes, eventually there will be parts 2, 3, 4… etc.) This is yet another of those “let’s try this” ideas for the skep/dad blog: a list of random ideas on creativity. Starting in March, if I can, each month I’m going to make a short list of ideas I think can encourage creativity in kids. Some are mine. Some are borrowed. All are optional.

I think as I start this topic, I’m going to look at little things that might encourage a young mind to start manipulating the world around them. Readers are welcome to disagree if they think these are irrelevant or lacking the flare of “imagination” that one would expect from a post like this. But I’m going to add two thing: first, this is not necessarily about “arts and crafts.” And second, I’m basing this on my observations of an infant — one infant — my barely six-month old daughter, who I think can benefit from creative interaction with her environment.

Of course, this concept seems to be supported by current thinking on creative thought. For example, Robert Fisher wrote in his 2005 book, Teaching Children to Think, regarding creativity: “Since creativity is a way of thinking and ways of thinking mould attitudes, creativity is also a process of developing attitudes. It is the attitude, alongside the uses of the process, that can stimulate countless creative ideas through a child’s lifetime. Various steps ave been identified in the working of the creative process. These can be summarized as five stages: stimulus, exploration, planning, activity, and review.” [1]

1) The Touch and Feel Exploration of the House - Where we take for granted the textures around us, to a new kid who does not yet have the mobility of someone a mere few months older, has little experience with the world in this way. Creativity, you say? Of course. What better introduction to the vast diversity of the world around us than by guided, mediated exploration of rough fabrics, smooth surfaces, coarse plants, furry critters, and cold knobs and handles? Understanding that the world is NOT entirely composed of warm flesh, delicate plush, and cool plastic is an important first lesson in interacting and manipulating that world. This “stimulus” and “exploration” may seem nominal to an adult, but think from the perspective of a kid.

2) Destruction of the Pile - I learned this little game a few weeks ago and it is still a constant source of amusement for both the girl and myself: dad makes a pile of three or four toys (blocks work great) and the kid knocks them over. I’m sure there is some bit of pop-psychology that would tell you that this basic bit of play is all about controlling the objects and a very basic understanding that objects can be manipulated. But whatever. Creativity is novel exploration and manipulation of the world and, again, harmless, repetitive destruction bends the rules of “what toys are for” and encourages that exploration.

3) Plinking the Piano - If you are as lucky as us to have a piano or keyboard in your home, you have no doubt already set your kid in front of it to see what they will do. This exercise in creativity isn’t about teaching kids to play the instrument (heck, no!) but rather about prying their senses open a little to the experience of guided ‘noisy-ness.’ I balance the girl in my lap, and with one of her fingers in each of my hands we plunk, plink, plenk, plink away. Her eyes get big, sometime she cries, other times she laughs, but mostly she stares in wonder at the sounds. As with the previous two ideas, the creative angle here is the “stimulus” and “exploration” components of the creative thought ‘formula’ suggested by Fisher.

Thus, my question to my readers is this: is filling the young mind with observations, sensations, stimuli, and other sensory elements important to creativity?

Again, I want to emphasize that these are just my own observations. They are not backed by research. They are not meant be anything more than common-sense ideas about kids exploring their world. Is that skeptical parenting? Some may disagree, but I think the skills that form the foundations of critical thought are not so much about being skeptical, scientific, or digging into research as they are about opening the experiences of the world to that kind of rational thought and that foster independence, promote integrity, and unleash imagination. “Creativity is not just a question of creating new solutions to problems but of creating better solutions, and this requires critical judgment.” [2]

[1] 2005, Teaching Children to Think, Robert Fisher, Page 30-31
[2] 2005, Teaching Children to Think, Robert Fisher, Page 28

The SkepDad Blog is meant to casually reflect on questions surrounding parenting and raising kids to become critical thinkers by asking questions and examining parenting ideas with a skeptical eye for facts and science. Each article is one dad's personal opinion, backed (where relevant) by literature and published research, or otherwise based on personal experiences and insights. SkepDad welcomes balanced discussion, comments, and ideas.

March 8, 2008 by Brad
Filed as: The Three Eyes

Popularity: 15%

Posts and Pages that might have similar content:


Future skep/dad Topics, Perhaps? >> I've not had much time to sit down and write this week. Truth is, I scraped together some cash and bought myself a new notebook that has been occupying too much of my attention whilst I try out the many new

Designing a Creative Family Space >> It looks like we're going to be doing some home renovations in the coming months, and given the opportunity we're planning to incorporate an "arts and crafts" room into the blueprints. Initially I was keen to build myself something more traditional:

Guide >> This page will slowly evolve over time to be a central navigation point and operations guide for the skep/dad blog. Of course, that capacity will depend on the writing of articles, the linking of information, and the growth of the blog itself.

 
Tags: , , ,

Comments

2 Responses to “Creative Kids for March 2008”

  1. Podblack on March 8th, 2008 8:34 pm

    If you’re interested in more of what Robert Fisher talks about in the book regarding Philosophy for Children, I talk about it in my post here:
    http://podblack.wordpress.com/2008/01/06/philosophy-in-wa/

    Regards, Podblack.

    Hey, did any of the people who read this post of mine get back to you?
    http://podblack.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/skeptical-books-for-children-part-two/


  2. Brad on March 10th, 2008 10:32 am

    Excellent! Thanks. It is an oddly intangible subject, but there seems to be a fair base of discussion around it.

    As for getting back to me… I’ve been chatting with a few people lately, but I’m not sure from where they stumbled across the site. Lots of traffic from that particular link, but no southern hemispherical folks have made contact yet, though.


Leave a Reply