Title: Minds-On Instruction And Creative Thinking Skills Among Pupils In Early Childhood Education Centres In Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: SOBULO Elias Adeshina, ODEBOWALE Ireti Tina Ph.D , ABIDOGUN Babajide Gboyega Ph.D
Volume: 10
Issue: 9
Pages: 353-360
Publication Date: 2026/09/28
Abstract:
This study investigated minds-on instruction and creative thinking skills among pupils in early childhood education centres in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population comprised pupils in early childhood education centres in Lagos State, from which a sample of 252 respondents was used for the inferential analysis. Data were collected using structured instruments designed to measure minds-on instructional practices and pupils' creative thinking skills. The instruments were subjected to appropriate validity and reliability procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the level of minds-on instruction among pupils was high, with an overall mean of 3.18 and standard deviation of 0.87. The level of pupils' creative thinking skills was also high, with an overall mean of 3.16 and standard deviation of 0.86. The results further established significant positive relationships between minds-on instruction and creative thinking skills (r = .684, p < .001), questioning and creative thinking skills (r = .612, p < .001), and problem-solving activities and creative thinking skills (r = .653, p < .001). The study concluded that cognitively engaging instructional practices, particularly effective questioning and problem-solving activities, are important for nurturing creative thinking among young children. It recommended continuous professional development for early childhood teachers, increased use of open-ended questioning and problem-solving activities, and provision of supportive learning environments that encourage pupils to explore, imagine, experiment and generate alternative ideas.