Increasingly cognitive scientists would describe intelligence as our ability to solve problems and to create. Howard Gardner (Multiple Intelligence Theory) would define intelligence as a ‘bio-physical process that allows us to solve problems and create goods and services that are useful to society and the individual’. This definition has a socio-economic impact in that developing intelligence this way creates a balanced individual (happy, productive) and contributes towards a balanced society.

Whatever your views on intelligence there is no doubt that in developing creativity in a child it can leave a lasting impact. As an adult they will be more adept at dealing with life’s challenges because of their natural ability to use their intellect in a multi faceted way and play a full part in the emerging creative economy.

In ImaginationGYM® we define creativity as a ‘subset of imagination but with its own proviso that there must be an action to it that manifests an object or a social change in a three dimensional reality’.  Imagination is the input, thought is the process and the outcome is an object or an action new to the world. E.g. a child’s unique drawing of a yacht, solving a problem that results in a new set of circumstances or taking a picture to represent something one initially imagined.

The ImaginationGYM® Methodology uses imagination to stimulate creative thought processes that, as part of the proper and full implementation of the Methodology, always include an action element; draw a picture, write a story, join a club, etc. By using imagination to stimulate creativity you are contributing to the intellectual development of the child.

 

Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed.