Developing Children’s Creative Traits

Elizabeth C. Fairweather, Ph.D.Thomas A. Fairweather, Ed.D.

Creative Traits PASSION

Perseverance CURIOSITY

Imaginatio

nINDEPENDENCE

SENSE OF HUMOR

PREFERENCE FOR COMPLEXITYNON-CONFORMITY

Nurturing Creative Traits• Organic• Focus on strengths and interests• Chicken/egg • Schools can’t do it all

Reading

Reading and Creative Traits• Traits– Imagination – Curiosity – Passion – open-mindedness – Perseverance

• Also creative skills– Preparation– making connections

How to Encourage Reading

How to Encourage Reading• Modeling• Continue Reading Aloud• Frequent Libraries/Book Stores• Support Independent Reading• Subscribe to Magazines• Start a Book Club

Drawing

Learning to Draw

• Resources• Materials• Drawing Contests

Cartooning

• Comics, cartoons, editorial cartoons• Resources• Contests• Publishing

More Drawing Activities

• Illustrating Narratives• Movie Making• Storyboards• Plans/Designs• Share Work – Creative Kids

Drawing and Creative Traits

• Imagination• Open-mindedness• Preference for complexity• Perseverance• Risk-taking• Creative Skill - observation

Writing

Journaling

• Making the journal is important• Types of Journals

Making and Publishing Books

• Pre-fabricated• Make your own• Ebooks• Book Signings

Submissions/Contests

• Magazines• Contests

Writing and Creative Traits

• Imagination• Perseverance• Risk-taking• Sense of humor• Non-conformity• Preference for complexity

Experiencing Nature

Nature Walks

• Just fun observation times• Scavenger Hunts• Gathering Specimens• Taking Pictures • Nature Journal• Recording Data

Organized Activities

• Bioblitz• Great Backyard Bird Count• Nature Clubs for Families

Tools for Exploring Nature

Gardening

Organizations

Follow-Up Activities

• Research at Home• Posting Findings to Websites• Join Groups• Science Fair Project• Sources for ideas on Handout

Experiencing Nature and Creative Traits

• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Open-mindedness• Imagination• Perseverance• Risk-taking (gardening)

Collecting

Reading/Drawing/Writing

Organizing

• Sorting, grouping, etc.• Materials

Collecting and Traits

• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Perseverance• Independence• Creative Skills – observing, decision-making,

making connections

Experimenting/Researching

Problem Finding

• Observing• Asking Questions• Activities

Types of Research

• Observing• Fact Finding• Experimenting• Recording Data

Resources

• Research Comes Alive! (Schack and Starko, 1998)

• Looking for Data in All the Right Places: A Guidebook for Conducting Original Research with Your Child (Starko, 1992)

• Picture Books– Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas

(Bardoe)– S is for Scientists

Experimenting and Creative Traits

• Curiosity• Preference for complexity• Risk-taking• Perseverance• Independence• Creative Skills – problem finding, problem

framing, observation, implementation

Imaginative Play

Important Considerations

• Unstructured Time• Play Area• Props – clothing, puppets/stage, toys, boxes• Prompt but don’t disturb– Scenarios– Low profile questions

• Allow a mess• Follow up with writing, video, . . .

Modeling

• Reenacting adult processes• Mimicking• Impersonating

Imaginary Friends

• Encouraged/not discouraged– Accept “friends”– Go with the flow

• Can have them until fairly old

Storytelling

• Let’s Pretend Radio Show• Tell the story from a book – without reading• Spooky Stories• Campfire Stories• Start a Story• Story Around the Circle

Plays

• Go to plays and re-dramatize them• Make plays from stories/books• Videotape these dramatizations

Imaginative Play and Creative Traits

• Imagination• Risk-taking• Independence• Sense of Humor• Open-mindedness• Creative Skills – imagery, divergent thinking,

making associations

Building

Types of Building

• Blocks/Large Materials• Inventing• Structures• Making Machines• Reproductions

Materials

• Cans/jugs• Toilet paper rolls• Toothpicks• Construction paper• Straws• Paper clips• Posterboard• Magnets• Paper cups• Clay

• Velcro• string• Pool noodles• Popsicle sticks• Styrofoam• Egg Cartons• Boxes• Marshmallows• Glue

Commercial Products

• Lincoln Logs• Tinker Toys• Erector Sets• Littlebits• Legos• Squigz • Knex• Zoob• Model Kits• Dover Books

Building and Creativity Traits

• Imagination• Perseverance• Open-mindedness• Risk-taking• Preference for Complexity• Independence• Curiosity

General Resources• Light Up Your Child’s Mind (Renzulli

and Reis, 2009)• Smithsonian Museum – Webcasts– Activity Sheets

Summary• Reading!!!• Electronics • Unstructured Time• Indulge Interests

If the facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of childhood are the time to prepare the soil.

Rachel CarsonThe Sense of Wonder, 1965

Thank you!

tommyfair@cox.netecfair@cox.net

Subject: NAGC Presentation