Developmental effects of digitally contextualized reading on preschooler's creative thinking: A quasi-experimental...

It has been argued that preschool years are an important period for fostering creative thinking skills. Digital technologies are increasingly used in class activities to enhance creativity. However, few studies have experimentally explored how digital technologies can create multisensory reading activities to promote creative thinking in preschoolers. This study introduced digitally contextualized reading, which transforms picture-based reading into an emotionally immersive video reading experience. Unlike traditional methods, this approach emphasizes multisensory immersion and interactive engagement. To examine its impact on creative thinking, a quasi-experimental study was conducted with 251 children aged three to six in China (Intervention group N = 137) over six months, using pre- and post-tests. Results of independent t-tests, ANCOVA, and a two-way ANOVA showed that digitally contextualized reading significantly improved the fluency, elaboration, originality, and abstractness of creative thinking as measured by Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. These findings highlight the viable role of digital technologies in fostering creative thinking, and its potential to enrich educational practices and advance young learners' creative abilities.