What makes kids creative?

Welcome to the Talent Talk Thursday news round-up. Each week, we'll choose a story relating to gifted issues to spark discussion. Tell us your thoughts! Remember, this blog is powered by your feedback. This week’s topic is creativity, as recent articles have sparked discussion about the impact of technology on creative expression. Check out this recent report from the Wall Street Journal: "A Box? Or a Spaceship? What Makes Kids Creative?" What is creativity? How do you develop it—and do you need to? The increased popularity of technological gadgets and video games has led to a growing concern among parents, educators and academics about a loss of creativity and imaginative play in young people. But is that the case? Is creativity innate and spontaneous or does it require nurturing?  Does the environment or medium—unstructured play, art, technology—matter? According to experts in the field, there are many factors that influence creativity and its expression including genetics, personality, and environment.  Children need time and permission to express their ideas and develop their talents, but how that happens is still a hot topic. Find additional reflections on creativity in gifted young people on the CTD web site. And learn more about the debate over play from this article in the New York Times. What do you think? How do you define creativity? How important do you think things like play and artistic expression are to young gifted children?