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Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity

Year 2017, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 23 - 36, 06.03.2017

Abstract

This theoretical paper sheds light on the interrelatedness between play, imagination, and creativity, and the importance of realizing this interrelatedness in early childhood education. Based on a thoughtful review of relevant literature, I suggest that children’s play manifests and prompts their imagination and creativity. In addition, I argue that play is a fundamental element in teaching and learning that has the potential to change the classroom environment into an expansive and creative environment. In that space, we can see a real educative play that can “engage, intrigue, interest, puzzle, and enchant” (Jardine et al, 2003, p. 22). Imagination, play, and creativity are necessarily interrelated and interwoven as one fabric; they complete and prompt each other, and together they support learning, opening the door to the possible and the not-yet experienced.

References

  • Aljarrah, A. (2016). Creativity in classroom settings: Multiple paths are the rule, not the exception. Papers on Postsecondary Learning and Teaching: Proceedings of the University of Calgary Conference on Postsecondary Learning and Teaching, 1, 20-26.
  • Aoki, T. T. (2004). Inspiriting the curriculum. In W. Pinar & R. Irwin (Ed.), Curriculum in a new key: The collected works of Ted T. Aoki (pp. 357-365). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Burnard, P., & White, J. (2008). Creativity and performativity: Counterpoints in British and Australian education. British Educational Research Journal, 34 (5), 667- 682.
  • Craft, A. (2000). Creativity across the primary curriculum. London: Routledge.
  • Craft, A. (2002). Creativity and early years education: A lifewide foundation. London: Continuum.
  • Craft, A. (2003). Creativity thinking in the early years of education. Early Years: An International Research Journal, 23(2), 143-154.Davis, B. (1996). Teaching mathematics: Toward a sound alternative. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.
  • Davis, B., Sumara, D., & Luce-Kapler, R. (2008). Engaging minds: Changing teaching in complex times (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
  • Dewey, J. (1902). The child and the curriculum including, the school and society. New York: Cosimo, Inc. (2008).
  • Dewey, J. (2013). My pedagogic creed. In Flinders, D. J. & Thornton, S. J. (Eds.). The curriculum studies reader, 4th Ed. (pp. 33-40). New York: Routledge.
  • Froebel, F. (1826/1887). The education of man. New York and London: D. Appleton and Company.
  • Gadamer, H. (2004). Truth and method. New York: Continuum Publishing Group.
  • Gordon, G. (2008). What is play? In search of a universal definition. Play and Culture Studies, 8, 1-21.
  • Gordon, G., & Swimme, B. (2003). The evolutionary power of play: Gwen Gordon and Brian Swimme in dialogue with K. Lauren de Boer. EARTHLIGHT 13, no. 3, 12-18.
  • Greene, M. (1995). Releasing the imagination: Essays on education, the arts, and social change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Hall, G. S. (1906). Youth: Its education, regimen and hygiene. New York: Appleton.
  • Huebner, D. E. (1967). Curriculum as concern for man’s temporality. In V. Hills (1999). The lure of the transcendent (pp. 131-142). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Huizinga, J. (1955). Homo Ludens: A study of the play element in culture. Boston: The Beacon Press.
  • Jardine, D. (1988). Play and hermeneutics: An exploration of the bi-polarities of mutual understanding. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, 8(2), 23-41.
  • Jardine, D., Clifford, P., & Friesen. S. (2003). Back to basics of teaching and learning: Thinking the world together. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, Publishers.
  • Jardine, D., Friesen. S., & Clifford, P. (2006). Curriculum in abundance. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Kenny, R. M. (2008). The whole is greater: Reflective practice, human development, and fields of consciousness and collaborative creativity. World Future: The Journal of New Paradigm Research, 64(8), 590-630.
  • Millar, S. (1968). The psychology of play. London: Cox and Wyman.
  • Norris, J. (2012). Steppingstones to appreciating the importance of play in the creative act. Learning landscapes, 6 (1), 299-314.
  • Piaget, J. (1963/2001). The psychology of intelligence. New York: Routledge.
  • Rodriguez, H. (2006). The playful and the serious: An approximation to Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. Game studies: The International Journal of Computer Game Research, 6, (1). Accessed September 5, 2015. http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/rodriges
  • Sawyer, R. K. (Ed.). (2011). What makes good teachers great? The artful balance of structure and improvisation. Structure and improvisation in creative teaching (pp. 1-24). New York: Cambridge University Press.Seath, J. D. R. (November, 2007). Etymology of play. playworkings. Retrieved from https://playworkings.wordpress.com/play-connectivity/etymology-of-play/
  • Seidel, J., & Jardine, D. W. (2014). Ecological pedagogy, Buddhist, pedagogy, hermeneutic pedagogy: Experiments in a curriculum for miracles. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Group.
  • Swimme, B. (1984). The universe is a green dragon: A cosmic creating story. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Company. Tsai, K. C. (2012). Play, imagination, and creativity: A brief literature review. Journal of Education and Learning, 1, (2), 15-20.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1967). Play and its role in the mental development of the child. Soviet Psychology, 5, (3), 6-18.
Year 2017, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 23 - 36, 06.03.2017

Abstract

References

  • Aljarrah, A. (2016). Creativity in classroom settings: Multiple paths are the rule, not the exception. Papers on Postsecondary Learning and Teaching: Proceedings of the University of Calgary Conference on Postsecondary Learning and Teaching, 1, 20-26.
  • Aoki, T. T. (2004). Inspiriting the curriculum. In W. Pinar & R. Irwin (Ed.), Curriculum in a new key: The collected works of Ted T. Aoki (pp. 357-365). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Burnard, P., & White, J. (2008). Creativity and performativity: Counterpoints in British and Australian education. British Educational Research Journal, 34 (5), 667- 682.
  • Craft, A. (2000). Creativity across the primary curriculum. London: Routledge.
  • Craft, A. (2002). Creativity and early years education: A lifewide foundation. London: Continuum.
  • Craft, A. (2003). Creativity thinking in the early years of education. Early Years: An International Research Journal, 23(2), 143-154.Davis, B. (1996). Teaching mathematics: Toward a sound alternative. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.
  • Davis, B., Sumara, D., & Luce-Kapler, R. (2008). Engaging minds: Changing teaching in complex times (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
  • Dewey, J. (1902). The child and the curriculum including, the school and society. New York: Cosimo, Inc. (2008).
  • Dewey, J. (2013). My pedagogic creed. In Flinders, D. J. & Thornton, S. J. (Eds.). The curriculum studies reader, 4th Ed. (pp. 33-40). New York: Routledge.
  • Froebel, F. (1826/1887). The education of man. New York and London: D. Appleton and Company.
  • Gadamer, H. (2004). Truth and method. New York: Continuum Publishing Group.
  • Gordon, G. (2008). What is play? In search of a universal definition. Play and Culture Studies, 8, 1-21.
  • Gordon, G., & Swimme, B. (2003). The evolutionary power of play: Gwen Gordon and Brian Swimme in dialogue with K. Lauren de Boer. EARTHLIGHT 13, no. 3, 12-18.
  • Greene, M. (1995). Releasing the imagination: Essays on education, the arts, and social change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Hall, G. S. (1906). Youth: Its education, regimen and hygiene. New York: Appleton.
  • Huebner, D. E. (1967). Curriculum as concern for man’s temporality. In V. Hills (1999). The lure of the transcendent (pp. 131-142). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Huizinga, J. (1955). Homo Ludens: A study of the play element in culture. Boston: The Beacon Press.
  • Jardine, D. (1988). Play and hermeneutics: An exploration of the bi-polarities of mutual understanding. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, 8(2), 23-41.
  • Jardine, D., Clifford, P., & Friesen. S. (2003). Back to basics of teaching and learning: Thinking the world together. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, Publishers.
  • Jardine, D., Friesen. S., & Clifford, P. (2006). Curriculum in abundance. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Kenny, R. M. (2008). The whole is greater: Reflective practice, human development, and fields of consciousness and collaborative creativity. World Future: The Journal of New Paradigm Research, 64(8), 590-630.
  • Millar, S. (1968). The psychology of play. London: Cox and Wyman.
  • Norris, J. (2012). Steppingstones to appreciating the importance of play in the creative act. Learning landscapes, 6 (1), 299-314.
  • Piaget, J. (1963/2001). The psychology of intelligence. New York: Routledge.
  • Rodriguez, H. (2006). The playful and the serious: An approximation to Huizinga’s Homo Ludens. Game studies: The International Journal of Computer Game Research, 6, (1). Accessed September 5, 2015. http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/rodriges
  • Sawyer, R. K. (Ed.). (2011). What makes good teachers great? The artful balance of structure and improvisation. Structure and improvisation in creative teaching (pp. 1-24). New York: Cambridge University Press.Seath, J. D. R. (November, 2007). Etymology of play. playworkings. Retrieved from https://playworkings.wordpress.com/play-connectivity/etymology-of-play/
  • Seidel, J., & Jardine, D. W. (2014). Ecological pedagogy, Buddhist, pedagogy, hermeneutic pedagogy: Experiments in a curriculum for miracles. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Group.
  • Swimme, B. (1984). The universe is a green dragon: A cosmic creating story. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Company. Tsai, K. C. (2012). Play, imagination, and creativity: A brief literature review. Journal of Education and Learning, 1, (2), 15-20.
  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1967). Play and its role in the mental development of the child. Soviet Psychology, 5, (3), 6-18.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Creativity
Authors

Ayman Aljarrah This is me

Publication Date March 6, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 5 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Aljarrah, A. (2017). Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, 5(1), 23-36.
AMA Aljarrah A. Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity. JEGYS. March 2017;5(1):23-36.
Chicago Aljarrah, Ayman. “Play As a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity”. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists 5, no. 1 (March 2017): 23-36.
EndNote Aljarrah A (March 1, 2017) Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists 5 1 23–36.
IEEE A. Aljarrah, “Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity”, JEGYS, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 23–36, 2017.
ISNAD Aljarrah, Ayman. “Play As a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity”. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists 5/1 (March 2017), 23-36.
JAMA Aljarrah A. Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity. JEGYS. 2017;5:23–36.
MLA Aljarrah, Ayman. “Play As a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity”. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, vol. 5, no. 1, 2017, pp. 23-36.
Vancouver Aljarrah A. Play as a Manifestation of Children’s Imagination and Creativity. JEGYS. 2017;5(1):23-36.
By introducing the concept of the "Gifted Young Scientist," JEGYS has initiated a new research trend at the intersection of science-field education and gifted education.