Twenty activities which develop gifted children's creativity; power of reasoning; and ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate are listed. (DB)

The article focuses on research on improving creativity, including early efforts to enhance, operationalize, and define creativity. Studies dealing with behavioral management of creativity are discussed, as are those concerning the effects of self-statements and cognition. (CL)

One hundred fifty-six gifted elementary students (grades 3 through 6) responded to the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory on a pre- and posttest basis during a 3 week, 45 hour College for Kids program, designed as an enrichment program with focus on critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, research, and questioning. Thirty students responded to…

Since evidence indicates that the potential for play must be developed in a child, just as the potential for thinking, it is important that teachers be aware of the need to provide a climate which is conducive to imaginative play. This article suggests steps to be taken in creating such a climate. (Author/NQ)

The author describes four capacities--interpretation, instrumentation, interaction, and inner direction--that are as important as traditional academic subjects in preparing young adults for college and career success. He suggests how high schools should address each of these capacities. For example, to develop students' capacity for inner…

For forty years, the nursery school movement has emphasized play as part of the socialization process, but in the past few years, much research has been aimed at the question of stimulating cognitive development in the preschool years, especially for culturally deprived children. (Author/CB)

Adapting the cognitive behavior modification work of Bandura and Mahoney, the author suggests a "mediational approach" to teaching creativity in the art classroom; here the desired behavior is modeled, guided experience is offered for practice, then reward in the form of approval is given for successful completion of the event. (Editor/SJL)

The synectics model is an exciting strategy for development of thinking skills for gifted and creative children. The three-phase strategy teaches about direct analogy, personal analogy, and symbolic analogy. (CB)

Creative musical experiences appropriate to children's cognitive and psychomotor development should begin in kindergarten. Structured creativity through the process of musical composition can be used at grade 4 and above. Lesson plans using Haiku poetry, penatonic scales, rhythmic durations, and melodic contour to create a song are provided. (VW)

This discussion of the limits of creativity education defines the concept of "limit," explores the limits of intellectual abilities, outlines efforts used by psychologists and psychiatrists to improve mental performance, and notes the importance of extending creativity through the life span. (JDD)

Head Start children (n=446), divided into intervention and comparison groups, received programing to enhance thinking skills. Intervention group children identified as gifted also received programing in their talent area. Intervention group children, whether or not identified as gifted, made significant gains over the comparison group in cognitive…

This retrospective case study investigates the experiences of a highly gifted young artist and two mentors who guided his high school development. Examination of the mentors' influences on the artist's cognitive and affective development found that the mentorship validated the boy's style of thinking, sharpened metacognitive abilities, helped with…

Investigated the development of individual style in 3- to 10-year-old children's drawings. Assessed about one-third of children as having distinctive styles; these children were most frequently younger and showed higher aesthetic and creativity ratings in their drawings. Considered the probable sequence in children's development of artistic style.…

A study used a case-contrast approach to explore children's multiple story-telling motivation. Kindergarten children were invited to dictate stories during free play once a week. The stories were written down in a book-like pamphlet and later, read to the class during story time. Many children chose this activity but one child, Rachel, told many…

Creative thinking and problem solving processes were studied in 233 gifted elementary students. (Author/DLS)