Nurturing The Joy of Creativity Through Productive Struggle

We grow our capacity to think creatively as we engage in the productive struggle to learn or to produce something new. As we learned to ride a bike, we had to overcome challenges, learn through mistake making and problem solving as we tried different strategies. We had to think critically and build connections between different areas and times of learning. There was a great sense of achievement, fun and joy when we finally got it. Parents and others gave us clues but we had to think creatively, form connections, persist and problem solve to finally succeed. We had to do the mistake making, thinking and learning.

We learn best when we bring these same dispositions to all areas of learning. Bringing wonder, curiosity and creativity into our learning promotes critical thinking, problem solving and innovation, builds connections, enables us to explain the unexpected, and grapple with uncertainty. It lights up our brains. Approaching our learning, the world and life with, I wonder if..., Imagine if..., What if…, opens us to new possibilities and growth. Where we bring a creative spirit, we are open to a sense of fun. Wonder, curiosity, and creativity enhance our learning across all dimensions of life and our wellbeing.

God created us in His own image. Being in the image of the great Creator, means that each of us have a strong creative spirit. As we engage creatively there is a strong sense of joy and possibility. Our minds are open. There is a spirit of playfulness that energises.