I just completed reading the latest research coming out of the Center for Childhood Creativity, Inspiring a Generation to Create: Critical Components of Creativity in Children. I definitely recommend reading it (or at least the executive summary) if you are a teaching artist working in preschools or K-8 schools. I teach at a middle school, and many of the key points and themes are still applicable in my work as well. If you are an avid reader on the topics of creativity, arts integration, and 21st century learning, check out this document here.

As stated at the beginning of the report, "we will explore the developmental characteristics of creativity in children ages 6-14 years and examine the environments and opportunities that facilitate creativity and what interferes with it" (6). As you see on the chart below (page 8 in the report), the research explores, researches, and questions seven components in creativity.

Throughout my reading of it, I got inspired and reminded of key ideas to continue to highlight in my dance classes with middle schoolers this upcoming school year. Sharing some of my notes….

• How can I nurture the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical in my classes?
• Shifting my thinking away from simply "dance classes" to "learning experiences" 
• "Provide ample opportunity for review and revision of multi-step creative projects with timely feedback" (page 27) — this is one of my goals for the coming school year
• When doing informal showings at my middle school, can I ask the audience the questions of: Can you talk about the creativity of the project? Can you talk about the originality of the project? 
• "Help children notice when they are getting stuck in their thinking or in their creative production" (page 21) — more awareness and mindfulness of this 
• "Flexible thinking" – I want to use this phrase more while teaching and talking with the students
• I also am inspired to read more about the growth mindset (Carol Dweck)

I hope these ideas have peaked your interest as well to explore the concept of creativity in a deeper way through this new report. You can view and print the full report and executive summary here.

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