The design and implementation of a physical education program to promote children’s creativity in the early years

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design and implement a physical education program to promote creativity in preschool children. The study was based on the following phases: (a) to design and formulate 20 physical education lessons in order to provide children with opportunities to develop their creative thinking through the use of movement elements, motor skills and movement exploration; (b) to train early educators to be able to implement the proposed physical education program; (c) to undertake an initial evaluation of preschoolers; (d) to implement the program; and (e) to undertake a final evaluation of preschoolers. Two hundred and fifty‐one children, aged four to five years, were randomly selected from 12 preschool centers and participated in the 10‐week physical education program. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and estimated with a pre‐ and post‐program creative thinking evaluation. The results showed that children improved their creative fluency and imagination and useful information was provided by children’s behavior during their participation in the proposed physical education program.

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a research grant from the Greek Ministry of Education and the EU, EPEAEK, Action 2.2.3 (Code 87301), Department of Early Childhood Care & Education, ATEI Thessaloniki. The Archimedes Project research group comprised the following individuals: Eva Vidali‐Laloumi, Triantafilia Natsiopoulou, Efthimios Kioumourtzoglou, Elizana Polatou, Ioannis Papastathis, Chrisoula Melissa‐Chalkiopoulou, Megalonidou Christina and Tzolia Katerina.