What is a ‘Creative Experience’? Creativity can be expressed in so many different and beautiful ways. A child doesn’t have to be an artist, a singer, or a dancer to be ‘creative’. Creativity can be many things, but mostly, I think that creativity helps us to express ourselves - whatever way is needed at the time, in whatever form it takes. In fact, it has been said that creativity is self-expression in its truest form. It can help to clarify the ways in which we see, and feel, and think - to help us learn to know ourselves. What better way for a child to learn who they truly are than by exploring all the ways in which they can express themselves creatively. I believe, as humans, we all have a desire to be understood. Creativity is one simple, but incredible way of exploring this desire.
I grew up as the child with the most creative permission in my family. The drama queen, the musician, the singer - the sensitive one. Being this child, and having access to this creativity, gave me so many incredible and life defining experiences - my favourite memories as a kid (and as an adult) have been made while I was ‘creating’. I would not be who I am without the musicals, the shows, the music tours, the PEOPLE I shared these experiences with - and these are just the experiences that I got to have within the “being creative” wheel. Not to forget about everything I’ve seen and heard: the movies, the music, the art, the books, the concerts, the school performances - and everything else surrounding me - even those I haven’t been directly a part of, have still shaped my life massively.
Our shared experiences in life make us connected as humans. We feel similar things, we are moved in similar ways. When creatives share the way they view the world, the ways in which they have understood themselves, their triumphs and struggles - it gives us permission to do the same. Have you ever listened to the lyrics of a song and just felt HEARD? Have you ever watched a movie, and felt like those actors were acting straight to your life story - or the life you dreamed you were living? Ever felt the adrenaline and beat of your heart after racing around a racetrack? The joy of dancing til your heart burst? The stillness of your soul when you sing your favourite song? And didn’t you start to experience all of these things as you were growing up? Learning about the world around you through everything you were lucky enough to be immersed in.
Now, for just a moment, I’m going to attempt to ignore all of the feelings I have that are directly related to children living creativity deeply in their lives, for growth and self discovery - and I’m going to acknowledge the science, education, and research that has been done on this topic. Creativity in a child’s education is important for many reasons, it helps them to integrate what they are learning into their everyday lives; it helps classroom teachers to create experiences which are enjoyable for students, and in turn, more memorable. Students using creativity in their lives and learning also helps with brain development. “A child's creative activity can help teachers to learn more about what the child may be thinking or feeling.”
Sir Ken Robinson suggests that “Creativity is as important as literacy.”; and Dower, C. R. C. (2019) “Highlights the importance of the arts and creativity for children’s learning, critical thinking, social interaction and self-regulation.” Entwining creativity through everyday learning, in some way, enhances every opportunity for every child.
On top of all of this. Creativity is so much more than just WHAT we experience - it is WHO we get to experience it with. My favourite people in the world have been brought to me through chasing a life of living “creatively”, chasing a life filled with love and feeling. We find friends that we have for life; family outside of our blood lines; hearts that equal our own, and soul mates in sensitivity; we find those who experience life on the same wavelength as our own; but most importantly, we find ourselves. Because without creative experiences, we don’t have creative expression - this outlet of emotion - joy, sadness, pain, anger, love. Without creative experiences, life would be a little less meaningful, it would make a lot less sense, and my god, it would be filled with A LOT less love. Isn’t that what children need most, after all? A life filled with love.
Dower, C. R. C. (2019). Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood: Supporting Young Children’s Development and Wellbeing. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
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