Kids.Mind n Soul Development: Montessori and Children Creativity

“Creativity is basically an attitude, one that come easily to young, but must be sustained and strengthened lest it be sacrificed in our too logical world”

- Marzollo and Lloyd, 1972.

Important relationships have been found between creativity and problem solving abilities. In fact, the society starts to see the real value of creativity – it is not just for artistic works but rather, it involves “thinking out of the box”, an attribute vital in this challenging world.

How can we encourage creativity in children? How does the Montessori approach creativity in children?

The Montessori method sees it in three components:

1. What is out there?
2. What might I do with what is there?
3. How can I carry out my abstract ideas?

The Montessori method holds on to the idea of independence – “I can do it for myself, I can think for myself. I can create” - and encourages children to self-explore and imagine.

In the Montessori method, children are provided with art materials (i.e. colour pencils, scraps of paper, threads, textile and clay) that are suitable for their age. They will be then left to explore the materials on their own. This process itself will encourage creativity as it challenges the children to create from their imagination. This will eventually increase their level of concentration and allow them to lose and engage themselves in the process wholeheartedly.

By mean of self-expression, the formation of abstract thought and imagination can be triggered at an early age. Children with the opportunities to express themselves freely will grow up to become a more healthy, positive, independent and creative person.

World Education: Montessori Education reveals more about what Montessori method is.