TITLE:
Τhe Contribution of Music and Movement Activities to Creative Thinking in Pre-School Children
AUTHORS:
Elena Chronopoulou, Vassiliki Riga
KEYWORDS:
Creative Thinking; Movement; Music; Preschool Children; Play
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.3 No.2,
April
26,
2012
ABSTRACT: As interest in creativity is rising, kindergarten teachers are looking for ways to strengthen the creative potential of young children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music and movement activities to creative thinking in preschool children. A three month educational programme was designed and implemented, using an experimental research method. The effect on fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration of thought of 5 year old children, as well as how the programme affected creative behaviours, was studied. The results, upon completion of the educational programme, showed that the growth rate of these variables in the experimental group was statistically significant compared to the corresponding rates in the control group. In addition, the emergence of creative behaviours, such as an increased freedom of expression, a tendency to explore and experiment, and a questioning of what is commonly accepted, were considered to be a consequence of the implementation of the specific educational programme. The experimental research produced valuable information about the design and philosophy of educational programmes, and about the teaching methods of music and movement activities in kindergarten.