Creativity is the ability to think in different ways and come up with unique solutions to problems. It is much more than just being a great artist or musician.
When the First Steps team train and mentor teachers in rural Nepali schools, we give them skills to nurture and develop creative thinking in their own classrooms.
Creative thinking is crucial for progress and survival.
To nurture creativity, children need:
Lots of time
Interesting materials
Space to create
Feel that it is ok to make mistakes
Careful guidance from an adult
Recognising and Valuing Creative Thinking
Young children being creative can often be termed ‘messy’. Paint, glue and mud goes everywhere, resources used in unusual ways and classroom furniture is moved about and rearranged.
We help our Early Years teachers understand that mess is ok and help them develop strategies which celebrate the creative process of the child while at the same time protecting the classroom environment and resources.
They learn simple, straight forward techniques, such as:
Designating an area of the classroom for creative work which is easier to clean
Laying an old sheet on the floor before a messy activity
Encouraging the children to tidy up after their creative activity
Some children make unusual suggestions and surprising choices. Our teachers learn to recognise and praise unique thinking in their classroom.
Creative Activities in the Classroom
Children are naturally creative. They have vivid imaginations, lots of unusual ideas and love to play and experiment. A great early years classroom gives children lots of time and opportunities to play and be creative through:
Music
Dance
Story telling
Pretend play
Drawing
Painting
Sculpting
Designing and building
For more information visit www.firststepshimalaya.org