With digitalization and technology taking a central place in our lives, parents’ concerns about their children’s relationship with technology are undeniable. It is important that the time children spend with technological tools is productive and away from danger. During this time, it is possible for children to both learn and have fun. In this process, it can be ensured that children develop many abilities such as creativity, attention, sociability, and motor skills.
So what is creativity? Creativity means being original. It is the individual’s putting forward a new perspective to solve a problem he encounters by associating what he has experienced throughout his life with each other. According to Torrance creativity means “looking at something twice, listening to smells, cutting corners”. Ausubel defines creativity as “doing what has not been done before”. As we can see in these expressions, creativity is to go out of the ordinary.
The 0-6 age range, which covers the developmental stages revealed by different scientists, is important for children’s creativity development. Because children gain the ability of autonomy and independence during this period. At the same time, children in this age range are very curious and don’t hesitate to take responsibility. Motor skills and abstract thinking skills that contribute to creativity also develop in this age range.
Preschool period
In the preschool period, children perform activities that will improve their abilities at home and with the guidance of their parents. American psychologist Howard Gardner states that children around the age of 3 are not suitable for teacher-centered learning and should benefit from different learning styles. Therefore, technological tools and digital games meet this need. Up to the age of 6, children realize their cognitive, physical, psycho-motor, social, emotional, and language development. Children gain self-care skills during this period.
At the same time, personality structures are formed during this period. Behaviors learned during this period continue throughout life. Therefore, creativity ability can be gained by the child during this period. Creativity is unique to every child. When it comes to creativity, children reflect on their inner world and interpret events within this framework. Parents should be aware of this uniqueness when evaluating their children. Thus, parents; understand their children better, establish a better relationship with them and provide more accurate support for their education.
How to Develop?
Canadian academics’ research published in the International Journal of Behavioral Development reveals that; It supports the behavioral development and creative thinking of children in the preschool education period, that is, up to the age of 6. The effects of preschool education on creativity have an essential place in raising children who are free, environmentally compatible, productive, thinking, and reflecting their inner richness.
Materials that affect the emergence of creativity provide opportunities for children to visualize their ideas and express their feelings. Children’s hand, eye, and mind coordination develop thanks to activities that develop creativity. This not only develops the child’s creative abilities but also enables children to learn to respect the opinions and perspectives of others.
If you want your child to develop their creative skills and keep the time they spend on the screen away from danger, but if you think you can’t find reliable content, you can download our Painter Kid game from the link below.
Painter Kid
Google Play : Painter Kid: Color Animals – Apps on Google Play
App Store : Painter Kid: Color Animals on the App Store
References:
- Linda Pagani, Denis Larocque, Richard Tremblay & Pierre Lapointe, The Impact of Junior Kindergarten on Behavior in Elementary School Children, International Journal of Behavioral Development, Article, 2003.
- Murat Gökalp, A Research About the Effect of Child’s Creativity and the Creative Children’s Activities Creativity and Development in the Course at Pre-school Department, Manas Journal of Social Sciences, Article, 2016.
- Münevver Can Yaşar, Neriman Aral, The Effects of Early Childhood Education on Creative Thinking Skills, Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, Article, 2010.
