The Creative Clubhouse: A Unique Learning Experience

Baby bookworm and I had the pleasure of learning at the Creative Clubhouse recently, a space where children are "encouraged to explore, create and learn" through activities and classes.

We attended an "open studio" session where various stations were set up for the children to do exactly what their motto suggests!  From play dough, to Legos, to painting, to puzzles, to gluing little pieces of colored pasta on a wooden picture frame - there was fun, playful, creative learning occurring in every corner of this "cozy spot" nestled in a storefront in Havertown.  Even the windowsill at the front of Clubhouse was being used quite ingeniously as a play space for wooden blocks.

It was a truly enjoyable morning that had baby bookworm buzzing with excitement from her new found toys, playmates, and precisely crafted pieces of artwork that are currently being displayed in her bedroom.

Since baby bookworm and I do spend a large amount of time learning together one-on-one through play and books - I think it's important to "get out" and be social.  And, I am not the craftiest or most artistic mom on the block (or in the blogosphere), so I like to leave the heavy duty stuff (and conveniently the mess) for the true professionals like former elementary teacher Amy McClements, owner of the Creative Clubhouse, who holds a master's degree in Early Childhood Education.

What can I say about our experience?

We loved the open session. And by "we" I'm speaking of my mom persona, and my "Dr Marissa" educational psychologist persona.

Why did "we" love it so much?  Why do I think you should visit the Creative Clubhouse if you are in the Philadelphia area?

Because the Creative Clubhouse provides a unique learning opportunity that sometimes we as parents (I'm including myself here) overlook, or one we can't always recreate at home.

Here's what I mean.

The Creative Clubhouse is an environment that encourages parents to engage with and take part in their child's learning.

I mean, I try to do as much of this as I can at home, but how often do I get distracted by the dishes piling up in the sink, or the laundry staring at me in the closet, or that blog entry that just needs to be written!  In the clubhouses space, you can play and create and learn with your child.  You can pull up a bench and build that Lego house together.  You can show your child how if you mix yellow and blue together, you get green. You can spread out on the floor and provide guidance as your child puts together a new puzzle.  The clubhouse provides the space and materials necessary so that your child can be the focus of your attention, and that's a beautiful thing.

It's also an environment that encourages self-initiated and self-directed learning.


In the open play session we attended, there was no agenda.  Baby bookworm was free to take her curiosity where she so desired; she was in charge of her own learning, and I followed her lead.  I was there, sure, to guide her along the way, but she chose what to play, or what to create, or what to build, and when to stop.  Self-initiated and self-directed learning shows a child: "Hey, your interests and passions and opinions matter."  And that's a very important part of learning.

Her curiosity led her to building with blocks

The Creative Clubhouse's activities allow children to engage in critical thinking.

Playing with puzzles, blocks, Legos, and paint is not just fun.  It helps children build an essential skill needed throughout life: critical thinking.  It's the ability to reflect, analyze, reason, plan and evaluate.

Using critical thinking while putting together a puzzle

And where would the "Creative" Clubhouse be without creativity, right?

Yes, (and maybe most importantly) The Creative Clubhouse is a place that encourages children to be creative.

Creativity matters.  Creativity is what takes learning to the next level.  It's the ability to think outside the box, and engage in higher level thinking skills.  And believe it or not, creativity is an important aspect of "academic" subjects like math and reading. While at the clubhouse, baby bookworm was able to joyfully create a play dough sculpture or painting by using her imagination.  There was no "right" or "wrong" way to use the paint or the play dough utensils; there was no script for decorating a frame with pasta (in fact, she glued pasta where the picture is supposed to go); there was no manual for building a Lego castle.  Her creations were hers.  Which I could tell made her proud.

Using her imagination to make a Lego creation

We can't wait to visit the Creative Clubhouse for another open studio session, especially since their motto stresses all of the educational philosophies that I support.

What's your favorite place to engage creative learning outside of your home?  The Creative Clubhouse is now at the top of our list.

To find out more about the Creative Clubhouse, their membership, open studio, and classes offered please visit here.

Disclosure: We attended this open studio session free of charge, but no other compensation was given.  

To Craft or Create? The Value of Adding Playful Learning to Your Child's Life

This post and activity was inspired by a few books, articles, and blog posts that I've read recently on the topic of creativity and the EVER. SO. POPULAR. hot topic these days: play versus academic-style learning (particularly with respect to preschool classrooms).  

One post that I read titled, Flash Cards or Finger Paints: Should Academics or Play Be the Goal of Preschool? really got me reflecting on the ways that I inspire creativity in our lives.  The post's author Amy Webb, Ph.D. does a wonderful job of summarizing some key research on how children learn.  As she states, findings on this topic reveal that recent "emphasis on “academically rigorous” preschools may, in fact, be undermining youngsters’ ability to learn and be creative."  

In light of the research she summarizes, I found myself wondering.....Am I doing enough play with baby bookworm?  Am I "teaching" academic-like subjects too much?      

I like finger painting and playing with baby bookworm at some of our favorite spots like the Please Touch Museum, The Little Treehouse, and her very own playroom.  BUT...

I do like flashcards.  There, I said it.  And, in fact, I think flashcards get a bad rap.  Do I think you should drill and bore children with them -  no, of course not!  Do I think they can be used in creative ways to help young children learn counting, colors, letters, and sounds (I feel a post on this topic coming soon, as to explain myself better).  Yes.  Did we play with flashcards together when she was an infant?  Yes.  Do we play with them now that she's a toddler?  Yes.

I also like doing crafts with baby bookworm.  I am NOT crafty, but if you are familiar with this blog, well...you'll find some good attempts at being crafty.  And with the sudden Pinterest craze, craft inspiration (especially in the kid-friendly blogosphere) is EVERYWHERE.  But, does a craft really promote creativity and problem-solving abilities in a child?  Most crafts follow a specific adult-driven model, and where is the creativity in that? Should we be doing more "art" with children - allowing them to create as they please with some subtle guidance from an adult?  It may not be as pretty as a craft, but is it a better learning strategy? 

Do I want my child to grow up to be a problem poser and solver? An investigator? And a teenager with the curiosity of a toddler?  Yes. Yes. Yes.  Will we stop doing crafts and playing with flashcards?  No.

Will I, though, make more of a conscious effort to incorporate play and creativity into our day to day lives? YES!

Why?  Well, aside from that inspiring post from Dr. Webb - I've recently read Creativity Matters (by Amanda Morgan, MS - which you can download for free from her blog, Not Just Cute), The Power of Play (by David Elkind, Ph.D.), and Don't Move The Muffin Tins: A Hands-Off Guide To Art for the Young Child (by Bev Bos).  All of these are enlightening, thought-provoking reads that will likely change how you think about how children learn.  They definitely influenced me.

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from what I've read:

"Creativity is what gives all the math and reading skills application, and therefore, meaning." 

-- Amanda Morgan

"If you could observe the joy of children creating their own art, you would never think 'craft' again."

-- Bev Bos

"Because children are spending so much time in front of television, as well as other screens, there is little time for exercising their predisposition for fantasy, imagination, and creativity - the mental tools required for success in higher-level math and science."

"I now appreciate that silencing children's play is as harmful to healthy development (if not more so) as hurrying them to grow up too fast too soon."

--David Elkind, Ph.D.

So what is the take-home message?  Find a way to bring self discovery, active self-initiated learning, creativity and problem-solving into your child's life.

I will admit, though, that we will not be giving up computer games, iphone apps, Sesame Street, crafts, or even flashcards.

But, I will be adding more playful teaching (and reading) practices to our day-to-day lives.  It might actually involve a little more planning, but it will be well worth it.

So here is a brief look at us being real "artists".  Let me be the first to tell you....baby bookworm was VERY excited about finger painting with absolutely no agenda or model to follow.  I put on some classical music and we had a blast.  In fact, she kept saying "I'm an artist" the whole time!  No, there isn't a pretty craft that I can Pin to my board, but still a very satisfying activity nonetheless.

  

 Need some creativity inspiration from a few books?  We like:

Fancy Nancy Aspiring Artist
by Jane O'Connor

Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crockett Johnson

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

I hope you find some of the resources mentioned valuable, and that they enlighten you, too.