A Hammer… or Something More?

Picture this: you spot a tool that looks like a hammer.

Your mind says, hammer, of course.

But what if it hides a seatbelt-cutting blade, a flashlight, and a window-shattering tip?

It isn’t a simple hammer at all: it’s an emergency car tool, designed to save lives. That moment when you pause and think, Wait, what else could it be? is divergent thinking in action: moving beyond the first obvious answer to explore new possibilities.

What Is Divergent Thinking?

Psychologist J.P. Guilford first described divergent thinking in the 1950s as the ability to generate multiple ideas or solutions from a single starting point. It’s the heart of creativity, something children do naturally and it’s becoming essential. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 ranks creative thinking among the top skills expected to grow in demand by 2027.

Everyday Ways to Nurture It

You don’t need elaborate setups to spark this kind of thinking - just small, intentional invitations to wonder and imagine:

• Visible Thinking Routines
  Prompts like “See, Think, Wonder” help children slow down, observe carefully, and share different perspectives.

• STEM Challenges
  “How many ways can you move water without using your hands?” or “Can you build a structure that stands in front of a fan?” Simple questions turn ordinary materials into design experiments.

• Quick Brain Breaks
  “This is not a circle… what else could it be?” A one-minute prompt that stretches imagination anytime.

• Real Objects With a Twist
  A sponge as a spaceship, a key as a musical instrument—everyday items invite endless reinvention.

• Loose-Parts Play
  Wire, foil, cardboard, or natural materials encourage children to design and problem-solve with no set outcome.

How We Bring It to Life at Anandi Early Years

At Anandi, divergent thinking isn’t an extra activity; it’s part of daily learning:

• Concept-Driven Units
  Children investigate big ideas, ask their own questions, and follow lines of inquiry that lead to action.

• Hands-On STEM
  Projects invite experimentation and trial-and-error problem-solving.

• Arts Integration
  Music, drama, and visual arts open space for collaboration and multiple perspectives.

End-of-Unit Culminations Students apply their learning to authentic challenges: designing eco-friendly