Creativity and motor skill learning among kindergarten children: Investigating Predictive correlations and performance differences

Abstract

Creativity, often linked to enhanced problem-solving and adaptive thinking, may play a considerable role in how children acquire and retain motor skills. This study investigates the effect of creativity on motor learning in kindergarten children. Using a sample of 120 Arab Israeli kindergarten children (60 girls and 60 boys, aged 5–6 years), we measured creativity through Torrance's Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement (TCAM) and assessed motor learning through invented letter task (ILT), in terms of speed and accuracy, administered at multiple time points: beginning and end of training, 24 hours post-training, and 4–5 weeks post-training. Our results indicate a significant correlation between the creativity measures and skill acquisition, consolidation, and long-term retention. Additionally, the results show that the creativity tests predict, skill acquisition and learning. Moreover, children with higher creativity scores exhibited significantly better performance in both speed and accuracy throughout the motor learning phases. Specifically, these children showed superior acquisition of skills, enhanced consolidation 24 hours post-training, and better retention. While the TCAM test focuses on creative thinking within physical activities, the observed association between creativity and motor learning suggests that creative activities may foster adaptive learning strategies and enhanced motor development. The study's findings underline the importance of incorporating creative activities into motor learning interventions. Such integration could, potentially, optimize developmental outcomes by fostering cognitive and motor skill development. This study deepens our understanding of the relationship between creativity and motor development, providing valuable insights for designing educational methods that support child development.