Effects of School Environments on the Development of Young Children's Creativity

Abstract

THOMAS, NANCY G., and BERK, LAURA E. Effects of School Environments on the Development of Young Children's Creativity. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1981, 52, 1153-1162. The effect of 3 types of school environments-informal, intermediate, and formal-on changes in figural creativity over a school year for firstand second-grade children was examined. It was hypothesized that school settings rated intermediate on a formal-to-informal continuum would lead to the greatest growth in creativity. A total of 225 children in 9 school environments participated. In general, the results supported the hypothesis, although girls were found to profit from intermediate and informal environments more than boys. In contrast to previous research, teachers tended to view creative children positively and as well adjusted in the classroom.