Developing creativity in preschool children through science education: A systematic review
Main Article Content
Abstract
This article reviews developing creativity in preschool children through science education. Fifteen relevant studies published between 2009 and 2024 were selected and analyzed to identify methods for developing children's creativity in science education, their effectiveness, influencing factors, and challenges. The review results show diversity in approaches, including inquiry-based learning, STEAM activities, play-based learning, and nature-based science activities. All methods demonstrated positive outcomes, although assessment techniques varied. Factors influencing effectiveness include teacher training, learning environment, parental involvement, and technology access. Challenges include time constraints, language barriers, and difficulties in assessing creativity. Based on these findings, we propose the NECiSE conceptual framework to provide a comprehensive tool for researchers, educators, and policymakers in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that nurture creativity in preschool children through science education.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Early childhood education, creativity, review, science education, STEAM.
References
Amabile, T. M. (2012). Componential theory of creativity. Harvard Business School, 12(96), 1-10.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
Chen, C. H., & Wang, K. C. (2019). Enhancing preschoolers' creative thinking through STEAM activities. In Proceedings of the 2019 7th International Conference on Information and Education Technology (pp. 251-255).
Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Craft, A. (2003). The limits to creativity in education: Dilemmas for the educator. British Journal of Educational Studies, 51(2), 113-127.
Craft, A. (2013). Childhood, possibility thinking and wise, humanising educational futures. International Journal of Educational Research, 61, 126-134.
Craft, A., Cremin, T., Burnard, P., & Chappell, K. (2020). Possibility thinking: From what is to what might be. In M. A. Peters (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory (pp. 1-6). Springer.
Cremin, T., Glauert, E., Craft, A., Compton, A., & Stylianidou, F. (2015). Creative little scientists: Exploring pedagogical synergies between inquiry-based and creative approaches in early years science. Education 3-13, 43(4), 404-419.
Erol, A., Buyuktaskapu Soydan, S., & Akkaya, S. (2023). The effect of STEAM activities based on engineering design process integrated with stories on preschool children's creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 47, 101134.
Fleer, M. (2013). Affective imagination in science education: Determining the emotional nature of scientific and technological learning of young children. Research in Science Education, 43(5), 2085-2106.
Fleer, M. (2015). Science for children. Cambridge University Press.
Gerde, H. K., Schachter, R. E., & Wasik, B. A. (2013). Using the scientific method to guide learning: An integrated approach to early childhood curriculum. Early Childhood Education Journal, 41(5), 315-
Glăveanu, V. P. (2018). Creativity in perspective: A sociocultural and critical account. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 31(2), 118-129.
Gonzalez, J. J., Ortiz, A. M., & Rosario, H. J. (2020). Promoting creativity in preschool science education: A case study. Early Child Development and Care, 190(2), 244-257.
Gopnik, A. (2012). Scientific thinking in young children: Theoretical advances, empirical research, and policy implications. Science, 337(6102), 1623-1627.
Guilford, J. P. (1967). The nature of human intelligence. McGraw-Hill.
Henriksen, D. (2014). Full STEAM ahead: Creativity in excellent STEM teaching practices. The STEAM Journal, 1(2), 15.
Hoffmann, J., Ivcevic, Z., & Brackett, M. (2019). Creativity in the age of technology: Measuring the digital creativity of millennials. Creativity Research Journal, 31(2), 149-158.
Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M. P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O'Cathain, A., Rousseau, M. C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34(4), 285-291.
Huang, P. S., Peng, S. L., Chen, H. C., Tseng, L. C., & Hsu, L. C. (2020). The relative influences of domain knowledge and domain-general divergent thinking on scientific creativity and mathematical creativity. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 35, 100631.
Jang, H. (2022). Exploring the structural relationship between creativity, collaborative skills, and STEAM literacy. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 43, 100979.
Kaufman, J. C., & Sternberg, R. J. (2010). The Cambridge handbook of creativity. Cambridge University Press.
Kay, J., & Buxton, L. (2023). Making an impact: Makerspace learning in early years and primary education. Education 3-13, 51(1), 68-82.
Kewalramani, S., & Veresov, N. (2022). Young children's engagement with digital technologies in play-based settings: Promoting learning and development. Early Child Development and Care, 192(7-8), 1125-1138.
Kim, H. Y., & Lee, H. J. (2021). The effect of digital storytelling on creative thinking and science understanding of preschool children. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 20(2), 237-248.
Larimore, R. A. (2020). Preschool science education: A vision for the future. Early Childhood Education Journal, 48(6), 703-714.
Leggett, N. (2017). Early childhood creativity: Challenging educators in their role to intentionally develop creative thinking in children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(6), 845-853.
Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books.
Maslin, L., Grogan, D., Randles, M., & Johnston, K. (2024). Creativity in young children's online STEM learning experiences: A case study of one primary school class. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 22(1), 46-60.
OECD. (2020). Early learning and child well-being: A study of five-year-olds in England, Estonia, and the United States. OECD Publishing.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71.
Patel, S., Mehta, K., & Mehta, N. (2022). Nurturing scientific creativity in early childhood: A longitudinal study of nature-based science activities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(7), 1205-1216.
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
Popay, J., Roberts, H., Sowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Rodgers, M., Britten, N., Roen, K., & Duffy, S. (2006). Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews. A product from the ESRC methods programme. Lancaster University.
Ritter, S. M., & Mostert, N. (2017). Enhancement of creative thinking skills using a cognitive-based creativity training. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 1(3), 243-253.
Runco, M. A. (2014). Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice. Elsevier.
Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). The standard definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92-96.
Sawyer, R. K. (2017). Teaching creativity in art and design studio classes: A systematic literature review. Educational Research Review, 22, 99-113.
Shea, B. J., Reeves, B. C., Wells, G., Thuku, M., Hamel, C., Moran, J., Moher, D., Tugwell, P., Welch, V., Kristjansson, E., & Henry, D. A. (2017). AMSTAR 2: A critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ, 358, j4008.
Smith, L. L., Motsenbocker, C. E., Sallean, B., & Pittman, S. (2018). Effects of inquiry-based learning on fifth grade students' science process skills and interest. Journal of Agricultural Education, 59(4), 306-325.
Stylianidou, F., Glauert, E., Rossis, D., Compton, A., Cremin, T., Craft, A., & Havu-Nuutinen, S. (2018). Fostering inquiry and creativity in early years STEM education: Policy recommendations from the Creative Little Scientists Project. European Journal of STEM Education, 3(3), 15.
Tee, Y. J. (2022). The effects of creative play-based integrated STEAM on preschoolers' creativity. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(4), 665-675.
Torrance, E. P. (1972). Predictive validity of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 6(4), 236-252.
Trundle, K. C., & Saçkes, M. (2015). Research in early childhood science education. Springer.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1967). Play and its role in the mental development of the child. Soviet Psychology, 5(3), 6-18.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (2004). Imagination and creativity in childhood. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology, 42(1), 7-97.
World Economic Forum. (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. World Economic Forum.
Yalçın, M., & Erden, Ş. (2021). The effects of STEM activities on problem solving and creative thinking skills of 5-6 years old children. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 7(4), 1032-1047.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
Chen, C. H., & Wang, K. C. (2019). Enhancing preschoolers' creative thinking through STEAM activities. In Proceedings of the 2019 7th International Conference on Information and Education Technology (pp. 251-255).
Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Craft, A. (2003). The limits to creativity in education: Dilemmas for the educator. British Journal of Educational Studies, 51(2), 113-127.
Craft, A. (2013). Childhood, possibility thinking and wise, humanising educational futures. International Journal of Educational Research, 61, 126-134.
Craft, A., Cremin, T., Burnard, P., & Chappell, K. (2020). Possibility thinking: From what is to what might be. In M. A. Peters (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory (pp. 1-6). Springer.
Cremin, T., Glauert, E., Craft, A., Compton, A., & Stylianidou, F. (2015). Creative little scientists: Exploring pedagogical synergies between inquiry-based and creative approaches in early years science. Education 3-13, 43(4), 404-419.
Erol, A., Buyuktaskapu Soydan, S., & Akkaya, S. (2023). The effect of STEAM activities based on engineering design process integrated with stories on preschool children's creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 47, 101134.
Fleer, M. (2013). Affective imagination in science education: Determining the emotional nature of scientific and technological learning of young children. Research in Science Education, 43(5), 2085-2106.
Fleer, M. (2015). Science for children. Cambridge University Press.
Gerde, H. K., Schachter, R. E., & Wasik, B. A. (2013). Using the scientific method to guide learning: An integrated approach to early childhood curriculum. Early Childhood Education Journal, 41(5), 315-
Glăveanu, V. P. (2018). Creativity in perspective: A sociocultural and critical account. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 31(2), 118-129.
Gonzalez, J. J., Ortiz, A. M., & Rosario, H. J. (2020). Promoting creativity in preschool science education: A case study. Early Child Development and Care, 190(2), 244-257.
Gopnik, A. (2012). Scientific thinking in young children: Theoretical advances, empirical research, and policy implications. Science, 337(6102), 1623-1627.
Guilford, J. P. (1967). The nature of human intelligence. McGraw-Hill.
Henriksen, D. (2014). Full STEAM ahead: Creativity in excellent STEM teaching practices. The STEAM Journal, 1(2), 15.
Hoffmann, J., Ivcevic, Z., & Brackett, M. (2019). Creativity in the age of technology: Measuring the digital creativity of millennials. Creativity Research Journal, 31(2), 149-158.
Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M. P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O'Cathain, A., Rousseau, M. C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34(4), 285-291.
Huang, P. S., Peng, S. L., Chen, H. C., Tseng, L. C., & Hsu, L. C. (2020). The relative influences of domain knowledge and domain-general divergent thinking on scientific creativity and mathematical creativity. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 35, 100631.
Jang, H. (2022). Exploring the structural relationship between creativity, collaborative skills, and STEAM literacy. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 43, 100979.
Kaufman, J. C., & Sternberg, R. J. (2010). The Cambridge handbook of creativity. Cambridge University Press.
Kay, J., & Buxton, L. (2023). Making an impact: Makerspace learning in early years and primary education. Education 3-13, 51(1), 68-82.
Kewalramani, S., & Veresov, N. (2022). Young children's engagement with digital technologies in play-based settings: Promoting learning and development. Early Child Development and Care, 192(7-8), 1125-1138.
Kim, H. Y., & Lee, H. J. (2021). The effect of digital storytelling on creative thinking and science understanding of preschool children. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 20(2), 237-248.
Larimore, R. A. (2020). Preschool science education: A vision for the future. Early Childhood Education Journal, 48(6), 703-714.
Leggett, N. (2017). Early childhood creativity: Challenging educators in their role to intentionally develop creative thinking in children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(6), 845-853.
Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books.
Maslin, L., Grogan, D., Randles, M., & Johnston, K. (2024). Creativity in young children's online STEM learning experiences: A case study of one primary school class. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 22(1), 46-60.
OECD. (2020). Early learning and child well-being: A study of five-year-olds in England, Estonia, and the United States. OECD Publishing.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71.
Patel, S., Mehta, K., & Mehta, N. (2022). Nurturing scientific creativity in early childhood: A longitudinal study of nature-based science activities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(7), 1205-1216.
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
Popay, J., Roberts, H., Sowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Rodgers, M., Britten, N., Roen, K., & Duffy, S. (2006). Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews. A product from the ESRC methods programme. Lancaster University.
Ritter, S. M., & Mostert, N. (2017). Enhancement of creative thinking skills using a cognitive-based creativity training. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 1(3), 243-253.
Runco, M. A. (2014). Creativity: Theories and themes: Research, development, and practice. Elsevier.
Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). The standard definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92-96.
Sawyer, R. K. (2017). Teaching creativity in art and design studio classes: A systematic literature review. Educational Research Review, 22, 99-113.
Shea, B. J., Reeves, B. C., Wells, G., Thuku, M., Hamel, C., Moran, J., Moher, D., Tugwell, P., Welch, V., Kristjansson, E., & Henry, D. A. (2017). AMSTAR 2: A critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ, 358, j4008.
Smith, L. L., Motsenbocker, C. E., Sallean, B., & Pittman, S. (2018). Effects of inquiry-based learning on fifth grade students' science process skills and interest. Journal of Agricultural Education, 59(4), 306-325.
Stylianidou, F., Glauert, E., Rossis, D., Compton, A., Cremin, T., Craft, A., & Havu-Nuutinen, S. (2018). Fostering inquiry and creativity in early years STEM education: Policy recommendations from the Creative Little Scientists Project. European Journal of STEM Education, 3(3), 15.
Tee, Y. J. (2022). The effects of creative play-based integrated STEAM on preschoolers' creativity. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50(4), 665-675.
Torrance, E. P. (1972). Predictive validity of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 6(4), 236-252.
Trundle, K. C., & Saçkes, M. (2015). Research in early childhood science education. Springer.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1967). Play and its role in the mental development of the child. Soviet Psychology, 5(3), 6-18.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (2004). Imagination and creativity in childhood. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology, 42(1), 7-97.
World Economic Forum. (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. World Economic Forum.
Yalçın, M., & Erden, Ş. (2021). The effects of STEM activities on problem solving and creative thinking skills of 5-6 years old children. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 7(4), 1032-1047.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Thạc sĩ Viet Nhi Tran, Thi Thuy Linh Duong, Sinh viên Thi Ngoc Tu Phan, Sinh viên Thi Quynh Thi Huynh, Thi Hieu Nguyen, Thi Luan Nguyen, Researching STEAM in early childhood education between 2013-2023: A bibliometric analysis of Scopus database , Dong Thap University Journal of Science: Vol. 13 No. 7 (2024): Social Sciences and Humanities Issue (English)