Creativity and curiosity in early childhood

Have you ever had an empty box suddenly become a car, a house, a hat, or a rocket ship to play with? What you're witnessing is your children's creativity in action.

Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, once said: “Children have 100 languages, but we steal 99 from them.” He wrote the poem The Hundred Languages of Children, in which he spoke about all the ways children express themselves through drawings, dances, games, and more.

According to Malaguzzi, children have a hundred ways to think, to express themselves, to say what they want. Taken as a metaphor, we can say that your children have countless ways to tell you what they feel, think, or imagine. That’s why it’s so important for you to value all these languages, as they are closely connected to creativity and curiosity, which in turn foster their development. 

When we talk about creativity, we mean any idea, action, or object that changes something that already exists or transforms it into something new. In other words, creativity is something everyone can develop—it’s not limited to those with artistic talents because it is a fundamental form of human expression. So, pay close attention to what your children are trying to tell you when they play, imitate, draw, or talk to you.

Creativity doesn’t come alone it is accompanied by curiosity, which is the driving force behind it.

Have you noticed how your children stare at certain objects? Thoughts like these cross their minds: What will happen if I press this button? Why does the blender make noise? What happens if I pull the tablecloth? 

When your children begin to explore the world around them, they want to know how things work, why they come in different sizes, what happens if routines change, and so on. This is what we call curiosity—the impulse to learn, to understand, and to solve questions. And surely, your children are starting to get curious about almost everything, and all day long you keep hearing: Why? Why? Why? Questions help us start conversations, learn how others think, and create closer bonds. 

Curiosity can show up in many ways—it can be through direct exploration, like when your children look at something and want to know how it works, what it’s for, or what happens if it breaks. But it can also come through questions. So if your children are in the “why” stage, typically around 3 to 4 years old, remember that all they’re trying to do is understand the world around them and start conversations with you, their trusted adult. 

Curiosity sparks creativity, but sometimes children don’t take the next step toward creating. Daring to create requires a great deal of courage, so we want to share some recommendations to help you encourage their creativity. 

Creativity thrives on:

• Moments of relaxation: Taking a bath, listening to soft music, or going for a short walk helps the mind connect ideas better.
• Variety: Changing activities regularly, keeping flexible routines with different tasks throughout the day, instead of doing the same thing for long periods.

When these two conditions are met, it’s much easier for creativity to emerge. You can apply this to yourself too at work or in your daily life by scheduling breaks, switching activities often, and looking for ways to recharge. This will also help you come up with new ways to play and support your children’s development. 

Here are some simple recommendations to foster creativity and curiosity in your children: 

• Do activities they enjoy, like drawing, dancing, or playing their favorite games.
• Play music, explore different rhythms and genres, and invent fun dance moves together.
• Set up a creative space at home with simple materials in different shapes, colors, and textures—such as playdough, crayons, markers, building blocks, fabrics, or bottle caps.
• Encourage free play. Let them explore and find answers to their questions through hands-on experiences.
• Try new things: visit new places, taste new foods, or change your daily routine.
• If your child is in the “why” stage, instead of giving a direct answer, you can respond with another question: What do you think it is? How do you think it works? 

Creativity is one of the 21st-century skills promoted by the Inter-American Development Bank to build better citizens. It helps solve problems and allows us to see the world from different perspectives. 

Our students learn through curiosity and exploration. We know children have many ways to express themselves, and understanding them is essential to the teaching-learning process. Thanks to the educational techniques we use, they feel confident to ask questions and explore. In this way, they build their own learning and develop creativity and curiosity in a safe, loving, and fun environment. 

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