Inspire Early Childhood Artistic Creativity, Cultivate Future Educators!
Is creativity innate, or can it be cultivated? Thirteen students from the Early Childhood Education programmes participated in a three-day “Early Childhood Creative Art Teacher Training Workshop” organised by IM Creative and our department in February 2025. Through studio visits and various creative art activities, the students broadened their perspectives on creative art education and deeply understood that creative art plays an important role in child development.
The first day of training took place in the creative studio, where students were impressed by the design of the studio environment. Children are allowed to create art in various spaces, such as classroom doors, glass walls, and hallways, which create a childlike environment. The students also experimented with creating artwork with tape and experiencing the creative process of combining hands-on work with imagination.
The following two days of training were held on the Tai Po campus of EdUHK, where students learned about design thinking and other theories of creativity. They also learned various artistic techniques, such as Chinese paper cutting and long pen drawing (長筆繪畫). They explored the use of different materials, such as coffee, toothbrushes, and cans to create artwork, as well as making clothing from newspapers. Finally, the workshop taught students how to design classroom activities that encourage children to express their thoughts and emotions, so as to stimulate their imagination.
This workshop has inspired students that the process of art creation is more important than the final product. By creating a free, open, and supportive learning environment, educators can encourage children to find the joy from the artistic learning activities, and let them shine brightly in their growth.
Picture 1: Studio Environment
Picture 2: Long pen drawing (長筆繪畫)
Picture 3: Explored the use of different materials
Picture 4: Making clothing from newspapers
Picture 5: Group photo