Cultivating Creative Thinking in Early Childhood Classrooms

Cultivating Creative Thinking in Early Childhood Classrooms

“Helping people to connect with their personal creative capacities is the surest way to release the best they have to offer.” — Sir Ken Robinson

This three-day session explores creative thinking as an essential competency that should be intentionally valued and cultivated in early childhood classrooms—for both children and educators. Participants will examine what creative thinking is and how it connects to wonder, imagination, curiosity, risk-taking, autonomy, and other key dispositions for learning. Through activities, presentations, classroom observations, and discussions, participants will consider why creative thinking and its related capacities are critical to develop in the early years, how classroom environments and educator–child interactions can nurture creative thinking, and how it can inform responsive pedagogy. Educators from Bing will share classroom experiences that highlight play as a powerful context in which children express and strengthen their creative thinking in action.

Hosted by the Kordestani Program for Parents and Educators at Bing Nursery School.

Session Days and Times:

Wednesday, July 22: 10:00am - 6:00 pm

Thursday, July 23: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Friday, July 24: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Registration Information:

Open to Early Childhood Educators. Limited to 30 participants total. Limit of three participants from one organization.

Fee: $750 (lunches and opening dinner included). Full payment due upon registration to secure a ticket.

Registration will open on April 1, 2026 at 9am PT.

Refund policy: Withdrawal by May 15, 2026 for a full refund. Refunds will not be granted after May 15.

Certificate of course completion provided. Separately, in conjunction with Stanford Continuing Studies, participants can receive an optional 2 units or 20 professional development hours upon course completion for an additional $75 (paid separately).

Contact [email protected] with questions.

Visit bingschool.stanford.edu/educators for more information.

Participation Disclaimer:

Registration as a Summer Session for Educators participant and attendance at or participation in events on campus or other Bing Nursery School or Stanford University activities constitutes an agreement by the participant to the University’s use, licensing, and distribution (both now and in the future) of the participant’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions, or audiotapes of such events and activities. Such images or voice recordings may appear in a variety of media, including, but not limited to websites, Facebook, and other promotional materials.

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Host or Publisher Bing Nursery School