Creativity is a mental process that involves creative thinking, leading to unique and valuable behaviour. Motor creativity, on the other hand, is a form of creative expression through spontaneous body movements. Studies have shown that motor development and creativity are closely related, especially in the early years of children’s lives.
Children tend to express their imagination and thoughts through movement, particularly in the fields of sports, dance, and motor creativity education. Motor creativity is related to cognitive functions and is more than just a cognitive ability. It is movement-based and body-dependent. In essence, motor creativity is a combination of movement and creativity.
A recent study aimed to explore the impact of music education on motor creativity in preschoolers. The study was designed to develop a music education program suitable for the interests and needs of children and to determine whether this program can enhance motor creativity. The findings were published in the journal Education 3–13.
The study used a quasi-experimental design and included a total of 82 children who were randomly selected. The Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement tool was used to collect data and assess the children’s motor creativity before and after the program was implemented.
The music education programme was conducted for eight weeks, with two sessions per week. The program was designed to be engaging and interactive, allowing the children to explore their creativity through movement and music.
The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the fluency sub-dimension of the children in the experimental group who participated in the music education program. This suggests that music education can have a positive impact on the motor creativity of preschoolers.
This study highlights the importance of music education in the early years and its potential to support the development of creativity and movement in children. It provides valuable insights for educators and parents and highlights the need for programmes that support children’s overall development through music and movement.
As an expert in the field of creative thinking and innovation, Gabriella Goddard can fully relate to the recent findings. “Breaking away from routine and challenging one’s thinking is crucial for unlocking one’s creative potential and that spending time in nature can have a significant impact on one’s mindset and inspiration,” she explained.
Regarding the widespread myth of left-brained vs right-brained thinking, Gabriella refutes this notion. According to her, it has been scientifically proven that creativity stems from the interaction between various parts of the brain, and is not limited to a specific type of person.
Gabriella explained: “Creativity is all about what’s going on in your brain. Different parts like the frontal and temporal lobes and the limbic system work together to produce those lightbulb moments and come up with new and creative ideas.”
As the founder of BrainSparker, Gabriella has created a tool that can help ignite creativity. It has been recognised as one of the top three creativity apps in both the UK and the US.
This research sheds light on the potential benefits of music education for preschoolers and provides a strong foundation for further exploration in this field. It is hoped that these findings will inspire more programs and initiatives to promote music education in the early years and support the development of children’s creativity and movement skills.
