By about age 10, children’s creativity tends to fall off as they move increasingly toward conformity to achieve peer acceptance and to realize school success measured largely by testing and grading of projects and papers based upon adult standards. This trend was first documented over 40 years ago by educational psychologist E. Paul Torrance, who…

What happens to our ability to demonstrate creativity as we age? Outcomes from a study to determine originality in children and adults reveal dramatic drops. According to findings from testing conducted to determine original thinking, which was presented at a NOVA University program in April 2009, • 90% of 4-year olds showed originality • 70%…

Art education is a wonderful way to help integrate children’s learning, including symbols that characterize the American experience. At the Academy of Christian Education in Fairfax County, Virginia, as in many public and private classrooms nationwide, children engaged in activities that connected them to our general election. This class of approximately 20 students, representative of…

Art education offers a palette of positive after school program choices for children Abrakadoodle remarkable art is a proud national partner of the ninth annual Lights On Afterschool campaign (see http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/), which kicks off this week to celebrate what children can accomplish in quality after school programs and to emphasize the importance of keeping after…