Children (and adults) often retain new learning when the senses are an active part of the learning. Senses also have a powerful connection to memory. Further, until the lower levels of the brain can efficiently and accurately sort out information gathered through the senses, the higher levels cannot begin to develop thinking and organization skills kids need to succeed. First, if their senses are sharper, the information kids can gather should be of greater quantity and quality, making their understanding of the world more sophisticated. The better kids are able to tune and integrate their senses, the more they can learn. In addition to honing these senses, educators care about sensory integration, which is the ability to take in, sort out, process and make use of information gathered from the world around us via the senses. What is Sensory Development? Although some scientists classify as many as 20 senses, when childhood educators talk about "developing the senses," we typically mean developing the five standard senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Although our kids are still far from public office or the boardroom, today's political and business leaders worldwide are already pointing to creativity as the most important leadership quality for the future.Īlthough years from the art studio or design lab, little kids can learn to think and act creatively if you give them time and the right practice. A lot of heavy stuff is going to go down in our kids' lifetime, and their generation will need to imagine and implement solutions to big and very complicated problems.
On a more practical level, it's also the means by which humans of all ages make an impact on the world and other people around them.
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Simply put, without creativity, we don't think our kids will live a full life.
We could not agree more with Sir Ken Robinson that, "Creativity is as important now in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” Why, you ask? For one, it is through being creative that a person is able to get senses, sensibility and spirit working together. So, to help kids develop creativity, we parents need to nurture kids' imaginations and give them lots of chances to design, test, redesign and implement their ideas. What is Creativity? By creativity, we mean the ability to both imagine original ideas or solutions to problems and actually do what needs to be done to make them happen. Ask kids, "How do you think this will make them feel?" and then enjoy every bit of giving and finding out. Wonder with kids who might really enjoy (or even need) a boost. Include a wish, too, for them to have a great day, a happy autumn or whatever pops into your child's mind. Let them know that you were thinking of them and that you hope these colorful treasures or creation from nature fills their bucket with happiness. Make a difference in someone's day by sharing the images or actual creations with that person. Rub the colorful treasures you collect on light colored stone, paper or fabric to make art as well. Use cardboard and rubber bands to weave your nature treasures.
You can also use contact paper or double-sided tape on sturdy paper to make a beautiful collage, nature crown or sun catcher. You may simply use a phone or other device with a camera to take photos of what you find beautiful-a lovely way to make memories and leave no trace. If you like, create something using the treasures you see or gather. If sight is a challenge, you can use other senses to smell, listen or feel for beauty, too. In New England, our autumn rainbow has amazing reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns, for example. If, given the season, you can't find all of the ROYGBIV colors, make a rainbow that fits the season in your biome. Try to make a rainbow out of the objects you find in your space. Once outside, look for things that your child (and you!) think are beautiful and special to behold. You can bring pretend binoculars (or real ones), a magnifying glass or just your senses (your most important tools!). Wonder, "Do you think we can find anything as beautiful/colorful/special as Valentina's Rainbow Horse out in the yard/park/your favorite outdoor space?" Decide it's worth a try, pack a snack and head outside. Some ideas for questions: How do you think Greta, Maria, and Valentina are similar? different? What made the horse so special? Why do you think Valentina decided to send the rainbow horse to someone else at the end of the story? What would you have done? Listen to "The Horse of a Different Color" on the Circle Round storytelling podcast.
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