Promoting creativity in early childhood education

• We may encourage them to think by asking open-ended questions (T22). • In order for them to discover creative thinking, games and activities should be designed to increase their curiosity (T2). • Children should be provided environments that can arouse their curiosity. We should trig- ger their curiosity by offering opportunities for play and give them a chance to experience their creativity (T10). • We should open a door to their inner world by using games and determine their needs (T5). • We should not stereotype them while they are making these discoveries (T16). • The Opinions of Preschool Teachers Candidate on the Second Theme The opinions of preschool teacher candidates on promoting creativity and creative thinking in preschool stage children are presented below: When Table 6, which presents the suggestions of teacher candidates for promoting creativ- ity and creative thinking in children, is studied, the suggestion that is most emphasized is the need to offer an environment of freedom to the children. It is emphasized that creating a rich environment by presenting different materials to children is another important factor that pro- motes children’s creativity. Another major opinion of teacher candidates for the second theme is creating authentic activities for children and providing hands-on learning. A general evaluation of subthemes for the second theme Creating a suitable environment in which the child can think freely was greatly emphasized by teacher candidates as a suggestion for promoting creativity and creative thinking in children.

Having different materials that motivate children to think in a different way may be stated as another suggestion that supports creative thinking. Example suggestions by teacher candidates for adding variety to materials, the quality of the questions to be asked, the children participat- ing actively in the learning process, guiding children to create solutions to problematic situa- tions are as follows: • We may design and implement activities in which the children can use their imagination (TC4). • We must give them opportunities to discover without intervention. We should help them with hands-on learning (TC11). Table 6. The opinions of teacher candidates on promoting creativity in children. Theme 2: Promoting creativity Sub Themes Freedom Fruitful environments and materials Problem solving Being able to express oneself Motivating students to think Authentic and individualized activities Hands-on learning Caring for different thoughts Promoting imagination https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294915.t006 PLOS ONE Creativity in early childhood PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294915 December 6, 2023 12 / 21