Are We All Not Born Creative?

The children seem so entrenched in their quest. This is a really nice photo essay, and I can fully appreciate the thoughts in your poem. The older I get the more grounding and comforting the small pleasures become, and actually provide me the greatest joy. Insignificant things really, like the smell of coffee, the birds twittering, a dog snoozing nearby, hot water. Exciting events are great, but the everyday comforts seem to mean more to me.

oh, I so love 'watching' your kids working and playing and learning.... I am so glad that you - and their parents - are willing to allow us to share in the wonder.

Great article and photos, Elizabeth! I definitely believe we are all creative. After all, we are made in the image of God...who is the greatest creator of all...:)

Oh my...it's 8:34 A.M. in the morn...if I am to get to school by 9 I best get going and get this "creative" mind in the car!!! Thought we were going to go on an egg hunt today...but once again the snow is falling...so perhaps, the Easter Bunny will cancel.

Thanks lynne, flit and Tom for stopping by. Tom, Jeff Hawkins' book intrigues me. I will check it out.

Guyana Cheryl and Ed ...it's not 8:40....need to run.....but yes, I do believe you are correct Cheryl....we just need to dig deep and let the creative juices flow.

After reading this article and vicariously experiencing what you get to see every day, I can understand why you chose that exact title.

All the same, I would sadly answer no to this question. There are a pitiful few among us who do not recognize, acknowledge, or even have creativity.

i was babysitting a few weeks ago.
we were all coloring.
the child i was watching,was so upset because i was not using the "right" colors.
i talked about my favorite colors and how i liked to use them when i color.she then colored her horse purple.
adults are always trying to teach children,what they belive is right and wrong.instead we should listen and maybe those very same children will teach us the things we forgot from long ago.

At some point, and I think it's different for everyone, people begin putting limitations on themselves. Believing that they are not "creative" or "talented" enough is probably a fairly common limitation. I remember one year getting ready to create some large Halloween decorations with paper mache, cardboard and tape for a party we were planning. "What are you going to make first" Someone asked me. "I'll make a graveyard angel first, but I want her to look a bit sinister and about as tall as me." "have you ever done that before" they asked. And when I told them no, they said. "You can't do that! You'll never be able to make something that large and detailed out of paper mache." "Sure I can! Watch ..." And in less than a week I had exactly what I envisioned ready for painting. Our Lilith still guards our library to this day. It's been said a hundred different ways, pertaining to a wide variety of activities, but it is very true that if you start out believing you can't do something... you'll proove yourself right! Most children are optimists and far more willing to open themselves up and try without everythinking... can I do this? Children are a constant amazement, forever inspiring, and such a blessing.

..
U wishing you laughter

Bob, this is great. I always love your photo essays with your students. They look so incredibly intent and earnest as they go about their projects. I've been meaning to email you. I took some pictures of a momma crayfish with her babies. They carry them attached to their tails when they are very young. There is a photo essay and two pictures posted (I have some others). If you would like, you may download any of those images, or I can email you the files, if they would be helpful with your students. :-)

Elizabeth, I've been in the field of creativity most of my adult life. My observation: We are all born creative in the sense that we are willing to risk and try new things. That's how we learn: by trial and error, by approximating how Mommy does that, making a mess and trying it again and again — walking, talking all are developed through a series of successive approximations and "taking risks."

By taking risks I mean willing not to be "right." Except it's not a risk for a child because they don't understand being "right" or "looking foolish" in the social sense that adults do.

After enough "mistakes" are pointed out to a child they begin to add caution to their behavior.

There was a study done to see if people got less creative as they got older. They devised a test and gave it to 70 year-olds and 60 year-olds. Surprising to the researchers there was no statistical difference. So, they tried it with 50 year-olds etc. When the study was over the conclusion was, "You do lose a great deal of the creativity you were born with and 90% of what you lose, you will lose by age 7."

In my mind, this puts a big responsibility on the shoulders of educators in terms of how they teach and how they grade and evaluate students — walking that fine line between teaching discrimination and judgement and not quashing the willingness of children to look forward to risk as part of the learning process.

I am so pleased as always to visit your pages, Elizabeth, and see the children under your care exploring, experimenting, discovering, improvising....in short, creating with wonder. The Mary Oliver poem speaks to this natural curiousity that should not ever be allowed to die. Your question, the photos, and the Oliver poem made me remember this Eugene Ionesco quote from when I was first learning in the theatre:

"Childhood is the world of miracle and wonder; as if creation rose, bathed in the light, out of the darkness, utterly new and fresh and astonishing. The end of childhood is when things cease to astonish us."

not all people like art or are born creative.......I hated art when I was little and I really don't see a need in forcing a child to do it unless he or she wants to. I was always forced and art time actually made me so nervous I felt like crying but of course in second grade I had a teacher who was not patient with kids.

Just my observation when teaching art (a long time ago): It seemed that between 3rd and 4th grade kids became aware that their "horse" didn't really look like a horse, or didn't look "right" compared to someone else in class who was the emerging "class artist" and they began to see a ranking in ability. I remember my last day teaching, and my last class with the 3rd graders. I told them that they were all artists, and tho I wouldn't be seeing them next year that I wanted them to remember what it felt like now...to be able to create anything without judging or comparing. I can still see their solemn little faces...how they took it to heart (I hope).

My grand daughter starts Kindnergarten next year. This makes me want to move her to MA so you could be her teacher. I hope she has a teacher who is as inspiring and patient as you, Bob.
These things you do for your kids are not just little projects. They are huge building blocks for the rest of their lives. You are helping to instill such wonderful qualities in these children.

Parents and teachers, in the main, don't like creativity on the part of children. Imagine trying to teach your child religion and having your child get "creative" with the ideas. Imagine teaching your children to drive and having them get creative behind the wheel. Imagine teaching your children to be patriots and having them get creative about the history of our nation.

Children are offered few opportunities to think for themselves. Only those of us who grew up alone for long stretches of time had the freedom to think in deviant ways. That's why I don't smoke, drink, or borrow money. That's why I am faithful to my wife. That's why I accept everyone, even those who don't share my culture, religion, sexual orientation, or politics. (I still haven't figured out what "race" is.)

Your wonderful pictures put me in the Easter spirit. You're exactly right, there are no children saying, "Oh, I couldn't do that." They dive in and do it. We lose that somewhere along the way, maybe with criticism? Loved the poem at the end.

We are all born creative - we sing, we dance, we play dress ups, we write and draw - but we are taught to forget, because unlike in your classroom, there is very little room in the "regular" world for this kind of freedom.

A very lovely article and poem, Bob. Your article is Featured in The Triple Name Club and in Wednesday Writing Essentials.

I think we are until someone tells us to color within the lines...Thanks for posting this to Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008.

We are probably all born creative, but in different ways. Wonderful teachers like you help us to develope that! I hated arts and crafts as a child...I always felt so clumsy at it...and had a heck of a time with glue and paste. In high school I took an art class and learned about rubber cement then I found out I was creative. Arts & crafts became a big part of my life after that. Of course writing was always my forte...and I can't remember a time when I didn't write.

Wonderful....we must look to the children to keep that open and creative heart! Love the Mary Oliver poem!

Bob, your photo essays of the little ones learning by exploring the world under your guidance are unique. Like all the others, I found this one fascinating - the looks on the faces are priceless!

i know I've said it before but it bears repeating. These children are so very lucky to have such a creative and encouraging teacher as you.

Great essay - yes, we believe the adults that tell us to stay in the lines, use the right colors and sometimes even convince us we have no talent - because we don't fit their narrow minded specifications of what art and creativity is.

We unquestionly accept the verdict that we have no talent and are better off leaving art to those that understand it and besides isn't there something wrong with artists anyway? Weird, strange creatures that don't follow the rules and often don't care about money but manage to be happy just the same.:)

I am at my most creative when I work almost in a trance - nothing else exists around me. It's draining, intense and exhilerating all at the same time.

wonderful! YES...until someone tells us that we need to do it the normal way!
I never let my kids believe that line!

What a fantastic photo essay! Thank you for sharing!

Dear Fellow Gatherers:

Thank you all for commenting on this article. The comment dtrand was rich with insights into the very nature of creativity and what happens to it if it is not fostered by warm, loving, understanding mentors.

Who says purple can't be a cow....or lines need to be colored within? Don't you love how I turn the phrases around? Who sets themselves up as the authority on art?

I remember long ago telling parents to throw out coloring books....they were aghast when I told them I raised three boys and not once did I ever buy them a coloring book. Crayons, yes and markers and cras pas and gallons of tempera paint. But no coloring books!

Sometimes when I'm walking the corridors in my school and see hanging class artwork, twenty in a row, all the same, I cry for the artistic children that were forced to waste their time creating such slop.

John F. Walters, I love your quote from Eugene Ionesco and I think I might just use it sometime:

"Childhood is the world of miracle and wonder; as if creation rose, bathed in the light, out of the darkness, utterly new and fresh and astonishing. The end of childhood is when things cease to astonish us."

Are We All Not Born Creative?
Yes, I do think we are.
Loved your article and poem.

In the morning when you bring in the cupcakes for our "Jump into Spring" Party, Phyllis, I'm going to give you one of those Irish high kicks that I learned last Thursday!!!!!! Watch out... my pink bunny was quite CREATIVE despite you and Lynne laughing your heads off at it. He was just a wee bit challenged!

elizabeth, creativity is in our souls. Bring it out, bring it on and thank you for affirming your confidence in the children and themselves.

hi, children are sponges absorbing all they encounter and they are usually not hesistant to create because they are not aware of any so-called rules which block creativity IMO....

As you are probably aware of,there are so many examples of amazing art created in remote areas of other countries as well as in non-urban rural places throughout the US of A....these artisans have not been exposed to those who believe there is a right and wrong way to create art....

same thing for photography....did you see a documentary film called "Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids" (2004) ? ....the American photog critiqued their photos,but never stifled their vision beforehand by telling them the basic technical rules most serious photogs have learned and/or intuitively apply.....their photos were remarkable and you would guess they were shot by pro photogs!....my only regret about that film is that it wasn't MY project.....

and i agree with what my gurL, Bobbi K. says above....good on you!

cheers,gayle

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Greeting my bud and sistah, Bob - I love this as I love all your photo essays which always go beyond the simple and into the magical and beyond - not only showing us these beautiful kids creating but making us stretch back into ourselves and wonder about our own creativity. This is what I think. I do believe that creativity - is as much an integral part of our being as many of the sensual pleasures are...I do think we were born with the need to create - as part of our survival system. Years ago, we had to weave baskets and make things out of clay - we had to identify our journeys and trips some kind of way - it was a matter of survival, we had to invent things to roll other things, we had to do it to survive...and then as modern technology came along, parts o that creativity got swallowed up...we had no need to weave baskets or create clay bowls...however, the need to create was there and is there in all of us. In children, we are free because just as at that time, we still have a pineal gland that functions - the "third eye" looks deep inside of us and the memories of creativity surface. That's why I believe that kids should always have art supplies - rolls of newsprint, whatever one can find and let them be free...I do think it's part of the natural development of children and adults should look reaquaint themselves with their inner child and find that place where creativity still lives - I hope all of this makes sense - I have only had one cup of brain fuel and now that it's spring - Mariana is wearing flowers in her hair all day and moving rocks and seaglass around on my various little altars around my crib...take care Bob - and Happy Spring to you and those kids - ! Springtime Salud.

Those photos are lovely and, yes, I think we all have creativity inside of us. Some of us grow fearful about that as we go through the wrong type of Art classes but it can be nurtured again and creativity can spring to life.

As far as being "born creative", I just wish my son was born with an ability to sleep a bit more -and longer - at one stretch...instead of the 15 minute naps he took from birth. One hour awake, 15 minutes asleep, 24 hours a day. Good for him, maybe, not so great for Mom. Within 3 years he was on a more or less normal sleep schedule and the bags under my eyes have almost begun to disappear. He is over 20 now.

I love the looks on their faces. I used to hate "gluing and sticking" when I was a kid, but have spent many happy hours helping other kids enjoy it in schools. I'm thinking I was born creative, just not conventionally so, as I loved telling stories and drawing. And maybe sometimes we need to look a bit further to find the direction a child wants to create in.

Good morning and Happy Easter, Bob, you've been featured this grand day! Lovely photo essay and marvelous comment thread here!

Elizabeth- good stuff and very thought provoking. One thought that occurs to me is the connection in your essay to the recent social discussion topic of the importance of creative play for children.
In my view, "play" for modern USA kids has a tendency to be way too structured. "Play" with a computerized doll who has something to say whichever button you push is not creative. The child has to follow the script, rather than write the script. My perception of this phenomenon is highly negative. I grew up in the sixties, when boys used to play with simply toys or even tree branches and make up the "story" of their play. Do you have sympathy as a kindergarten teacher for the concerns of activists that many american kids are missing the experience of creative play?

Wonderful article, I think we are born creative but we act on it with the help of our parents.

Another very creative and artistic Article Elizabeth. This showcases the creativity of children along with a perfect narrative.

Blessings ~
Rene

Congrats on getting featured!

I think we are creative until we realize that we might not be as good as others. Some find other things they are good at, so they expand on those. It isn't necessarily the lack of creativity, it is the energy is directed in another area.

thank you for sharing these pics and poem with us. isn't it great that kids don't know how things are "supposed" to be?

Thanks for posting to All Photo Essays Here.

This is a good photo essay! It looks like everyone had a good time.

Elizabeth, I love all of your tales and pics from your classroom you certainly inspire creativity. I do believe that everybody is creative, they just have to find a venue to express their creativity.

Superb, I loved your photo essay... and thank you for sharing it!

you're right. I belive that all human beings are born with creativity, as well as the potential to do great things with that creativity in the future, but I keep finding that people I know are giveing up their up their imagination because the want to seem more mature, wich makes no sence to me whatsoever. beautiful photo essay. thank you for sharing

Beautiful photo essay and a message well worth sharing. Thank you.

Great pictures, great food for thought. I sometimes wish I could go back to that age where we didn't care what others thought about our art...:0)

i like to think we are.

we all have the capacity to be creative the problem is when we begin to believe what others say about what we create. I love purple cows and blue pigs and green chicks. Who said they had to be anything different.

Hmm... I don't feel very creative, so perhaps I need to buy a box of crayons and get back in touch with my inner child. Hopefully it will all come back to me.

We are CC Miranda...we are!

GREMS:

I do believe you are right...we have the capacity...but some how or another if we don't believe in ourselves, it gets knocked out of us.