Last Tuesday, the day before my 42nd birthday, Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of the hugely popular children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, died. He was 83 years old. He was a very creative man, prolific in both his writing and illustrations. And though he had no children himself, and didn’t claim to even […]
How Can Education Be Redesigned to Both Teach and Test Creativity and Entrepreneurship?
In the article below, Jennifer Medbery makes the argument that standardized testing isn’t all that bad, as long as those tests are evaluating a student’s ability to contribute to future challenges. And for all of you who like to cram a bunch of information into your head and regurgitate it on a test, rote memorization […]
Slivers of Eternity: One Minute Meditations On The Ground of Creativity, #13
In this clip, filmed at the end of bath time, my two-year-old daughter, Sierra Lucia, watches the strange and hypnotic movements of water going down the drain. Warm bath water, her tiny fingers, the spin of the earth, and the pull of gravity all play their part in this common nighttime ritual for parents of […]
What are the links between creativity, children, and monsters?
Answer: The natural creativity exhibited in children allows them to draw fantastic creatures that most of us see as, for lack of a better word, childish. In this article by Sam McNerney entitled, “Killing Creativity: Why Kids Draw Pictures of Monsters & Adults Don’t” , he explores how all of us could improve our creativity […]
What is creative entrepreneurship and how does it relate to small business?
So called “creative populist,” Carl Nordgren, who believes the qualities associated with creativity are inherent to the human condition, has written an insightful article entitled, “Why creative entrepreneurship is vital to small business owners.” In it he outlines why each and every one of us must “intentionally grow our creatively entrepreneurial qualities.” I like what […]
How do “digital toys” spark creativity and imagination in children?
I must admit, when I first watched my daughter perform the signature side-swipe to unlock my wife’s iPhone, I had a strange feeling that she was somehow unlocking Pandora’s box. Undoubtedly, the current world is becoming more and more digitized and informationally-driven, making it important for children to learn the emerging technologies (and leave us […]
What is the relationship between creativity and play?
According to Ruth Churchill Dower, who works alongside professionals working with young children in the United Kingdom, “we can only nurture young children’s creative potential by developing our own.” What is the relationship between creativity and play? In my experience, play is a component of creativity in that when we play, really play, we relax […]
Excerpt from Austin’s new book, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening
Here is an excerpt from my new book, Between the Bridge and the Water: Death, Rebirth, and Creative Awakening. In it I explore the compelling parallels between the outpouring of creativity in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge’s infamous reputation as the world’s number one suicide destination. It is my opinion […]
How to Promote Creativity in Young Children
Children are naturally creative. Yet certain activities encourage that creativity more than others. According to Dr Rebecca Palacios, it is important to encourage creativity in children by presenting them with open-ended materials where their ultimate use is created by the child. Objects with specific functions, however, such as a toy that is designed to illicit […]
Take The Childish Approach: Too Much Of An Adult Mindset Stymies Creativity
According to this article by Sam McNerney our natural ability to daydream and wonder drops precipitously for most of us around the fourth grade. Those who maintain their creative capacities throughout their lifetime, however, are those who can suspend reason and tap into their childlike selves. What happens to our innate creativity when we age? […]