This article appears in the current issue of Creativity Portal (creativity-portal.com). If you’re not familiar with Creativity Portal, check it out- it has wonderful ideas and articles for artists, writers, teachers, and other creative people! The Creative Magic of Naming How to use the Naming Game to empower children and foster creativity. By Abby Connors […]
Tag Archives: children and creativity
11 Strategies to Support Children’s Creative Thinking We often think of creativity as being kind of magical – a touch of inspiration, the voice of an inner muse – something you either have or you don’t. Creativity isn’t something that can be taught. Or can it? Of course it can! Creativity is a process of generating […]
(This article appears in the October issue of TEMPO, the magazine of the NJ Music Educators Association.) Reinventing the Wheels on the Bus: Music Improvisation with Young Children Several years ago, I was presenting a workshop on rhythm instrument activities to a group of elementary music teachers. It was going well, the participants seemed interested […]
A couple of years ago, I experienced one of my most exciting moments as a teacher. I was playing a game with a class of three-year-olds, when a little girl named Kyla raised her hand and said, “I have an idea!” What made this moment so special for me was that in the eight months […]
Hi! I had a very fun chat with Anna Wilmoth, the wonderful Marketing Director at Gryphon House, about my career in early childhood music, my new book, and more. It appeared on the Gryphon House blog last week. You’ll find a lot more great early childhood information and resources at their website. KidsChat: Abigail Flesch […]
This article is in this month’s issue of Creativity Portal. “I Have an Idea!”: Creating Music and Dance with Young Children By Abby Connors | Updated 7/3/15 From the way young children react when they see me enter their classroom for a music enrichment class, you’d think I was driving an ice cream truck with […]
I’m so happy to announce the publication of my new book! ISBN: 9780876593493 Pages: 184 Publisher: Gryphon House Published: 06/01/15 Item Number: 10061 Shake, Rattle, and Roll Rhythm Instruments and More for Active Learning by Abigail Flesch Connors Music and movement go together like books and reading—they spread joy! It’s no secret that quiet doesn’t always […]
“Flap Your Wings” You don’t have to be a chicken to sing and play along with this silly movement song! If you have arms and an imagination, you’re good to go! Have children stand in a circle. Tell them that in this song, we’re going to flap our “wings” and then clap. This is how […]
This article originally appeared in Creativity Portal in September 2010. How to Help Children Stay Creative Picasso famously stated, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Anyone who lives or works with young children knows they truly are artists, buzzing with creativity, filled with wonder, curiosity, and […]
I bet I know what you’re doing this week, early childhood professionals! You’re coloring eggs! Since I’m a music teacher, I’m not personally dealing with in the whole- ‘nother-dimension of messiness that dying eggs with preschoolers involves. Butthat doesn’t mean I don’t have a great tip for you! Save those egg cartons for music time! You’ll often […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 