Creativity and the education system

Having taught in a school myself, I’m wonderfully aware of how we kill creativity in children. Imara and I were talking yesterday about how creative and imaginative Joshua and Rafael are in making up their own games and keeping themselves entertained.

A cardboard box that we bought from the grocer has given them hours of imaginative play. It started out as a boat, transforms into a monster mask, prick a few holes and it’s a stage for a finger puppet show. I’m excited to see what it transforms into tomorrow.

Kitchen utensils (especially spoons) are even more fun. I was commenting to Imara that ones they go to school all this creativity will slowly get killed.

Today while browsing TED I came across the most popular presentation on the site where Ken Robinson confirms that view in Schools Kill Creativity.

It’s a sobering thought but I’m happy that we’re at least aware of it and we can do what's in our power to nurture it.

Technorati Tags: education,creativity

Joshua and Rafael can play as much video games as they like

Sorry about the long break from posts. Just after Christmas, Rafael came down with the chicken pox which wasn’t so bad. He had a few spots for a couple of days and then it subsided.

The new year started with Imara getting it and that was bad, she’s just now fully recovered from it. So all in all it kept the father very busy.

So hopefully things are going to be a little easier on the poor dad, oh and we have Imara’s mum come down for a year.

Anyways back to the point. Over the holidays I bought an XBox 360, I did want a WII but they were too expensive and the XBox was on sale. Joshua is just two and too young to play with it but he likes us to put on the fish game for him.

Coming from a Sri Lankan background and never having played much video games I had been debating with myself and Imara too had her doubts on the kids playing video games but this informed article on Video Games has laid that to rest. Video games are good for the kids.

In fact I might start playing more games as well as reading more books whenever I do find the time.