Abstract
Early childhood represents a critical window for cognitive, emotional, and creative development, during which maternal behaviors and home learning environments exert a profound influence. This empirical study investigated the relationship between the creativity levels of preschool-aged children (48–72 months) and their mothers' creative parenting attitudes. Utilizing a correlational research design, data were collected from a sample of 234 mother-child dyads enrolled in early childhood education centers. Children's creative abilities were assessed using the Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement (TCAM) test, evaluating fluency, originality, and imagination, while maternal creative parenting behaviors were measured using the Creative Parenting Behavior Scale (CPBS), encompassing dimensions such as encouragement of non-conformity, provision of active learning resources, and democratic climate. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed statistically significant positive correlations between maternal creative parenting attitudes and all dimensions of children's creativity. Specifically, maternal encouragement of open-ended exploration and autonomy-supportive parental guidance emerged as the strongest predictors of child originality and fluency, even after controlling for child age, sex, and socioeconomic background. These findings underscore the vital role of maternal behavioral modulation in fostering early divergent thinking and highlight the necessity of designing maternal empowerment interventions that emphasize creative stimulation within daily home routines.
