Resilience is a very important life skill, and it's surprising how seemingly non-related skills can help it.
Teaching elementary school students to harness their creativity can enhance their resilience in facing real-life challenges, according to recent research.
Let's find out more!
An unusual study
The study trained third to fifth graders in literary techniques like perspective shifting and counterfactual thinking to boost problem-solving creativity.
The strategies helped children devise innovative solutions, offering them a backup plan when faced with difficulties.
The research, led by Angus Fletcher, a professor of English at The Ohio State University, aimed to address concerns about children's resilience in the aftermath of COVID-19.
The study, published in the Journal of Creativity, involved two separate studies with students attending a summer camp.
The creative training involved thinking of a friend with unique problem-solving abilities to guide their own perspective.
Results revealed that trained students exhibited more creative solutions for various problems.
Judges rated the creative solutions as more effective.
Why is it important?
The study's findings highlight the potential of creativity training to equip children with alternative approaches to tackle real-world challenges and build resilience.
This research suggests that cultivating creativity, often through arts like literature and theater, can help children develop valuable problem-solving skills.
