The effects of warm-up activities on small group divergent problem-solving with young children

This study investigated the effects of warm-up activities on divergent production by young children in small group problem-solving settings, hypothesizing that game-like activities designed to develop a psychological set for creative thinking previous to group problem-solving will actually facilitate idea production. One hundred five first-grade children were randomly assigned to four conditions with number and sex equated: three differing warm-up treatments (two task-related and one not) and one condition of no warm-up for 20 minutes previous to a small group administration of an activity from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Scores obtained for fluency, flexibility, and originality showed significant treatment effects on originality, with flexibility approaching significance, for the two task-related warm-up treatments. It was concluded that these types of activities positively influence a psychological set for divergent production.