Play Sparks Curiosity and Creativity

Play Sparks Curiosity and Creativity


We often think of creativity in terms of a child’s artistic or musical ability, but creativity takes on many forms. A creative baby or toddler is one who can look at materials and problems in unique ways. Watch your toddler experiment with open-ended materials, like pots and pans or a group of plastic containers. He’ll likely pound on them, stack them, put toys in them, or pour water into and out of them. As an adult, you see them only as cooking or storage implements, right? But your toddler’s thinking isn’t limited to practical applications. Creativity is the ability to be flexible in one’s thinking.

Curiosity is the bedfellow of creativity. A curious nature leads your baby or toddler to ask questions: “What’s under that rock?” “Why does this taste sour?” “How can I get the candy off the top of the refrigerator?” This innate sense of curiosity provides the motivation for most authentic learning.

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As a child, Thomas Edison’s teacher labeled him “addled.” Undaunted, Edison’s mother pulled him from school and taught him at home. Edison’s curiosity was insatiable. He read every book he could get his hands on and set up a laboratory in the basement. By the time Edison was 12, his parents had taught him everything they knew. They taught him how to use the public library, and he took charge of his own education. Edison’s intense curiosity led him to later develop the incandescent light bulb and the first silent film camera.

Play Tips:

Couple creativity with curiosity and you’ve got the recipe for a true love of learning and exploration. So, how can you encourage curiosity and creativity in your young child? Through open-ended play experiences. Below are a few tips to get you started:

  • Accept the mess. As adults, we tend to prefer order and tidiness, but toddlers rarely consider these values. Create a few zones in your house that are mess-friendly. Your toddler probably adores that box of plastic containers in your kitchen cupboard. Leave the cupboard unlocked and let her explore to her heart’s content. Outside, create spaces for exploring sand and water. Create a system for dealing with the daily messes, which will make it easier to accept them. Keep cleaning supplies nearby. Organize toys into labeled bins and boxes to simplify cleaning at the end of the day.
  • Choose toys carefully. When buying toys, ask yourself the following questions: “Can my child play with this toy in more than one way?” “Does this toy encourage independence or dependence?” “Will this toy stand up to heavy play?” Avoid toys that limit your child’s play to one theme or activity. For example, consider the play value of a set of blocks. They can be used in hundreds of different play schemes. Electronic toys, on the other hand, usually have a predetermined play pattern — push the buttons to get a reaction.
  • Embrace curiosity and creativity yourself. Slow down and try to see the world through your child’s eyes. Go on walks with your toddler and explore the natural world. Watch the clouds, look under rocks for bugs, or watch sticks float down a creek. Allow yourself time for play, as well. Take a class, go to a book club, or play a game of pick-up basketball with old friends. These forms of adult play keep your spirit and mind young.
  • Encourage your child’s budding interests. By around age 18 months, your toddler will show preferences for some activities over others. Use these preferences as a springboard for creativity. If your child loves dinosaurs, stock up on related books and toys. Offer a toddler who loves tactile activities non-toxic paints, crayons, and craft dough.

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

You don’t need expensive equipment or toys to spark curiosity and creativity. Simply embrace those qualities and support their development through active, hands-on play.

 

Sources:

The Whole Child. Creativity and Play: Fostering Creativity.  Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://www.pbs.org/wholechild/providers/play.html.

American Memory. The Life of Thomas A. Edison. Library of Congress. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edbio.html.

Kohl, Mary Ann. Fostering Creativity. Earlychildhood NEWS: The Professional Resource for Teachers and Parents. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=349.

Carter, Christine, Ph.D. (2008). 7 Ways to Foster Creativity in Your Kids. University of California, Berkeley: Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/7_ways_to_foster_creativity_in_your_kids.

Julie Christensen

Julie Christensen taught early childhood education in public and private settings for more than 20 years. Today, she’s a freelance writer and the busy mom of four terrific kids. She lives in Colorado and loves camping, hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains with her kids and husband.

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