Kids and Creativity

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Kids can create, too

This lens is about children and the way that they relate to the arts. Blessed is the child who discovers his gifts and talents at an early age and is nurtured.

"The successful man is prosperous, because he has developed ninety-five percent of his ability. The failure is poor, because only five percent of his natural talents have been utilized." Charles E. Popplestone quote

The Effect of Music on Children 

Dr. Frances Raucher and Dr. Gordon Shaw of the University of California have determined that there is a connection between music and the ability to discern spatial relationships. "Spatial reasoning the ability to perceive the visual world accurately, perform mental images of physical objects and to recognize variations of objects." These abilities are crucial for complex math, music and chess.

Studies performed on children who did not have music lessons during an eight month period and those who did showed that the children who had the music lessons performed better on spacial awareness testing.

Retrieved from:
www.cyberg.com/music/INTELLIGENCE.html

Children who study arts achieve higher grades in school and score higher on standardized tests. Music teaches children to be compassionate toward people of other cultures. Music training helps develop brain areas involved with language and reasoning. Students of the arts learn the "details of how things are put together" and they learn the difference between good and mediocre work." They learn "discipline, hard work, and dedication." As a result, children "learn how to stretch their inner resources."

Other benefits of music:
*Strengthens eye-hand coordination
*Strengthens fine motor skills
*Stimulates creativity
*Fewer discipline problems
*Most music students attend preferred colleges
*Students score higher on fractions tests
*Music majors are most likely to be admitted to medical school
*Music majors have the highest reading scores.

I had a student whose behavior changed dramatically after she had been taking piano lessons, so much so, that she stopped hanging around with the "tougher" students so that she could spend more time on the piano. (Read more about this in the article at the link below entitled "Teaching Piano to Children.")

Writings on children 

Making Constructive Use of Time 

In this day and age there are so many harmful influences that can affect children. Children are very impressionable and are unable to discern on their own whether their involvement in certain activities is detrimental. Therefore, parents must become "involved in the child's life and monitor" (Perkins, 2001) their day to day activities.

According to Dr. Peter Benson, Ph.D., Judy Galbraith, M.A. and Pamela Espeland, authors of What Kids Need to Succeed, there are eight different factors which enable a child to develop a sense of security, make wise decisions, and to grow up to be responsible, caring, and compassionate. These factors are grouped under external assets and internal assets. The external assets include support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations and constructive use of time. The internal assets include commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity.

In order for the children to develop these assets, they must be involved in relationships with adults, their peers and younger children. They must also hear consistent messages from the adults relative to what is important and what is expected from them.

The constructive use of time is what I would want to focus on. I know that when I was a child, my mother kept her children busy. We never ran out of things to do. She taught us crafts, while my father taught me art. I can remember sitting around my mother in a circle while she taught us how to knit and crochet. My sisters and I laugh now about the little ones who were only able to crochet chains. They must have had crocheted a chain about a mile long! I learned how to make cookies when I was six and I learned sewing in school. By the age of 14, I could sew well enough to make my own clothes. We always played music in our house. On rainy days, we would often thumb through the two sets of encyclopedias or read other books.

We loved music and whenever my sister and I came in contact with a piano, we would try to play songs and learned how to play from other students. It was not until I was an adult that I developed an interest in playing the piano.

I never realized how valuable these experiences were until I met women in my adult life who could not do the things that I could. I cannot say that my home life was perfect, but I can say that as children, my sisters and I never got into trouble with the law. I am not saying that all children should take piano lessons, but most children like creative activities of some sort.

Here are some things you can do to insure that your children are making constructive use of their time:

1. If you play an instrument or have creative ability of any kind, practice your instrument or craft often to set a good example for your children.
2. If your children show an interest in playing the piano or some other interest or craft, encourage them to become involved by enrolling them in lessons. Provide all the supplies that they need and encourage them to practice.
3. Experience the arts everyday in some way such as attending concerts, recitals, operas, listening to music, singing in choirs or choral groups.
4. I am available for piano lessons in Newport, RI. Send me an e-mail at: gailcav@cox.net.

Reference

Benson, Galbraith, & Espreland, (2007), What kids need to succeed, In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.

Perkins, D., (2001), Resiliency and thriving in families and youth, Penn State, 2, 3, 3
http://www.resiliency.cas.psu.edu/RTFY/RTFYSept2001.pdf


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Friends of Bezalel 

Using Creativity in Worship

Bezalel was the first person mentioned in the Bile as having been filled with the Spirit of God. He was filled with the Spirit of God so that he could create. Exodus 31:1-5 says, " Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage i all kinds of craftsmanship."

People who are filled with the Spirit of God have a driving desire to create and many decide to use the creativity in response to the beauty of God as observed in nature or upon hearing a sermon which speaks to the heart.

The person who is equipped to apprentice creative musicians and artists are able to express themselves creatively in many ways. For instance, they may have the ability to play many instruments. In searching for a music teacher, look for someone who is muti-talented.

Great Stuff on Amazon 

Children Through Literature

These are resources for developing character in your children.

Developing Godly Character in Children

A Handbook & Resource Guide Sixth Edition Revised and Enriched Unit Studies designed to be used in whole or in part, in the order of your choice. Covers ninety-five character qualities under nine major headings, taking no doctrinal position. Each unit includes: Key Verses; Definitions; Hymn & Choruses; Scripture for Meditation; Sub-Qualities; Recommended Projects to bring home the principles in practical ways; Bible Facts; and a Resource Section for other books, videos, albums and games available from Christian suppliers. Offers valuable suggestions to help identify areas of need in individual children, for setting goals for each child, and for charting progress. A reproducible Lesson Plan Form simplifies planning. Soft-cover, 8½ x 11"; washable cover.

Amazon Price: $23.95 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Raising Kids with Character: Developing Trust and Personal Integrity in Children

Raising Kids with Character shows parents, clinicians, and policy-makers how the love relationship between parents and children is the workshop of the child's maturing personality, connecting everyday moments in family life to the growth of the child's sense of values and meaning. The book explains how children develop into fine, morally strong adults through their identification with loving parents, and combines practical wisdom about ordinary family experiences with an in-depth discussion of emotional development from birth through adulthood.

Amazon Price: $16.34 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Teach Your Children Well: A Parent's Guide to Encouraging Character and Integrity (Essentials Series Book)

This book answers some of the basic questions we have as parents for our children. How can we help our children to develop the skills and character they need? What should our role be? How can we know when to act and how to act when we see that character is at issue? Of course, there are no hard and fast answers to these questions. This book will share with you that in our daily interactions with our children, we influence them and affect the development of their character, sometime positively, sometimes negatively.

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

The Death of Character: On the Moral Education of America's Children

Turning his philosophical gaze again to questions of cultural importance, critic Hunter (Culture Wars) takes on morality and character. He contends (in an analysis that unfortunately remains somewhat abstract and theoretical) that a sense of objective morality, of right and wrong, has been replaced by a psychological approach to values: instead of being taught that there are absolutes by which they must abide, children are taught, "You'll feel better, if you do the right thing."

Amazon Price: $15.30 (as of 11/10/2009) Buy Now

Photos of Children 

Statue by cynthiacloskey

Statue

Mareel Floor Plan by Shetland Arts

Mareel Floor Plan

DSC_0172 by enersauce

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Children play by the pool by quinn.anya

Children play by the...

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IMG_2979 by Ranger82

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IMG_2973 by Ranger82

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IMG_2981 by Ranger82

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IMG_2969 by Ranger82

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IMG_2933 by Ranger82

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automatically generated by Flickr

Child Prodigies - You Tube Videos 

Here is a child prodigy at age 3. Although some of our children may not reach this child's potential, it still gives you an idea of what could happen when children practice and parents take their gifts seriously.

Patricio Molina Debut as pianist (3 Years Old) "For Soraya"

PATRICIO MOLINA - www.patriciomolina.cl Debut as pisnist at the age of 3 years old in the Programm "Come with Me" of Channel 13 of the Catholic University of the chilean television, in July 13, 1993. Debut como pianista a la edad de 3 años en el Programa "Venga Conmigo" de Canal 13 de la Universidad Catolica de Chile, el 13 de Julio de 1993. Corporación de Televisión de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UCTV), generally known by its broadcast frequency Canal 13, is the second oldest television station in Chile. It is owned by the one of the most important Chilean pontifical university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. It began broadcasting on August 21, 1959. Canal 13's programming is heavily dominated by local versions of international shows, telenovelas (soap operas), reality shows, investigative journalism, and other programs. Canal 13 is one of the most viewed television stations in the country.

Runtime: 2:06
45501 views
10 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Child Prodigies 

Chelsea Dock at age 6.

Here is another child prodigy at age 6. This child could be an inspiration for your own child who plays well but skips practice.

Chelsea performs Sonatina in C major by M. Clementi at 6.

Chelsea performs complete Sonatina by M. Clementi at the age of 6. Keep up with me at twitter.com/chelseadock.

Runtime: 4:57
47677 views
10 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

FEEL FREE TO LEAVE SOME FEEDBACK 

Pastiche wrote...

Art is truly at the heart of learning. Lensrolled to Pastiche Family Portal and Crafts for Kids Lensography.

ReplyPosted May 29, 2009

qlcoach wrote...

Great job with this lens. I am a musician too. I found you on Link Referral. Hope you will visit mine about emotional healing. Sincerely: Gary Eby, author and therapist.

ReplyPosted May 29, 2009

kathypi wrote...

very inspiring lens, i am doing a lens roll to my grammas unite, gotta love em lens, thank you, kathy

ReplyPosted November 10, 2008

marsha32 wrote...

This is an excellent lens

ReplyPosted October 02, 2008

Lensmaster

Olympia Scott wrote

Great compilation of information!

Reply Posted July 20, 2008

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by gelise1

I have been working with children for several years teaching piano and art. I am amazed at the talent that I am seeing and want to share what I have... (more)

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