Children are creative.
There is an ongoing debate on whether children are creative or not. Most experts argue that children are not creative because they believe "creativity involves changing a way of doing things, or a way of thinking, and that in turn requires having mastered the old ways of doing or thinking". This belief cannot define that children are not creative. It doesn't account for the fact that children can potentially be more creative than adults for their use of being able to create stories, drawings, etc. from no previous experience. It is unbelievable on where their imagination can lead them.
From experience with working with children, ages 5-11 in particular, I have seen an incredible amount of imagination that implies their use of creativity. One of my favorite moments with working with children, that defines their creativity, is when they can draw the most unrealistic object or person and be able to explain to me what their drawing's use is or what is going on in their picture. I believe children are creative and we should better define children's creativity.
Great post Hunter! I did one on creativity in childhood as well.
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree, Hunter. Children are so dis-inhibited when it comes to using their imagination!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Children are definitely not given enough credit when it comes to creativity. I honestly feel that we get some of our best ideas from children. Because children are marginalized and always described as "becoming", with adulthood being the end product, their opinions are often pushed to the side and seen as inferior and unworthy. 'Childhood' isn't recognized as an important part of life. Children aren't given credit for what they can offer. Childhood is seen as a period to teach the child the skills needed to be an adult. Only in adulthood are their ideas 'worthy' of recognition. I completely disagree with this.
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