1. Developing Children’s Creative Traits Elizabeth C. Fairweather, Ph.D. Thomas A. Fairweather, Ed.D.

2. Creative Traits

3. Nurturing Creative Traits Organic Focus on strengths and interests Chicken/egg Schools can’t do it all

4. Reading

5. Reading and Creative Traits Traits – Imagination – Curiosity – Passion – open-mindedness – Perseverance Also creative skills – Preparation – making connections

6. How to Encourage Reading

7. Modeling Continue Reading Aloud Frequent Libraries/Book Stores Support Independent Reading Subscribe to Magazines Start a Book Club

8. Drawing

9. Learning to Draw Resources Materials Drawing Contests

10. Cartooning Comics, cartoons, editorial cartoons Resources Contests Publishing

11. More Drawing Activities Illustrating Narratives Movie Making Storyboards Plans/Designs Share Work – Creative Kids

12. Drawing and Creative Traits Imagination Open-mindedness Preference for complexity Perseverance Risk-taking Creative Skill - observation

13. Writing

14. Journaling Making the journal is important Types of Journals

15. Making and Publishing Books Pre-fabricated Make your own Ebooks Book Signings

16. Submissions/Contests Magazines Contests

17. Writing and Creative Traits Imagination Perseverance Risk-taking Sense of humor Non-conformity Preference for complexity

18. Experiencing Nature

19. Nature Walks Just fun observation times Scavenger Hunts Gathering Specimens Taking Pictures Nature Journal Recording Data

20. Organized Activities Bioblitz Great Backyard Bird Count Nature Clubs for Families

21. Tools for Exploring Nature

22. Gardening

23. Organizations

24. Follow-Up Activities Research at Home Posting Findings to Websites Join Groups Science Fair Project Sources for ideas on Handout

25. Experiencing Nature and Creative Traits Curiosity Preference for complexity Open-mindedness Imagination Perseverance Risk-taking (gardening)

26. Collecting

27. Reading/Drawing/Writing

28. Organizing Sorting, grouping, etc. Materials

29. Collecting and Traits Curiosity Preference for complexity Perseverance Independence Creative Skills – observing, decision-making, making connections

30. Experimenting/ Researching

31. Problem Finding Observing Asking Questions Activities

32. Types of Research Observing Fact Finding Experimenting Recording Data

33. Resources Research Comes Alive! (Schack and Starko, 1998) Looking for Data in All the Right Places: A Guidebook for Conducting Original Research with Your Child (Starko, 1992) Picture Books – Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas (Bardoe) – S is for Scientists

34. Experimenting and Creative Traits Curiosity Preference for complexity Risk-taking Perseverance Independence Creative Skills – problem finding, problem framing, observation, implementation

35. Imaginative Play

36. Important Considerations Unstructured Time Play Area Props – clothing, puppets/stage, toys, boxes Prompt but don’t disturb – Scenarios – Low profile questions Allow a mess Follow up with writing, video,...

37. Modeling Reenacting adult processes Mimicking Impersonating

38. Imaginary Friends Encouraged/not discouraged – Accept “friends” – Go with the flow Can have them until fairly old

39. Storytelling Let’s Pretend Radio Show Tell the story from a book – without reading Spooky Stories Campfire Stories Start a Story Story Around the Circle

40. Plays Go to plays and re-dramatize them Make plays from stories/books Videotape these dramatizations

41. Imaginative Play and Creative Traits Imagination Risk-taking Independence Sense of Humor Open-mindedness Creative Skills – imagery, divergent thinking, making associations

42. Building

43. Types of Building Blocks/Large Materials Inventing Structures Making Machines Reproductions

44. Materials Cans/jugs Toilet paper rolls Toothpicks Construction paper Straws Paper clips Posterboard Magnets Paper cups Clay Velcro string Pool noodles Popsicle sticks Styrofoam Egg Cartons Boxes Marshmallows Glue

45. Commercial Products Lincoln Logs Tinker Toys Erector Sets Littlebits Legos Squigz Knex Zoob Model Kits Dover Books

46. Building and Creativity Traits Imagination Perseverance Open-mindedness Risk-taking Preference for Complexity Independence Curiosity

47. General Resources Light Up Your Child’s Mind (Renzulli and Reis, 2009) Smithsonian Museum – Webcasts – Activity Sheets

48. Summary Reading!!! Electronics Unstructured Time Indulge Interests

49. If the facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of childhood are the time to prepare the soil. Rachel Carson The Sense of Wonder, 1965

50. Thank you! tommyfair@cox.net ecfair@cox.net Subject: NAGC Presentation tommyfair@cox.net ecfair@cox.net