The Unusual Box Test: A Non-Verbal, Non-Representational Divergent Thinking Test for Toddlers

Abstract

Standard divergent thinking tests, e.g., the Wallach-Kogan Tests, and the Thinking Creatively in Action and Movement test, have verbal, representational, and imitative requirements limiting their use for children under 3 years. We present a new non-verbal, non-representational divergent thinking test that shows validity in relation to other standardized tests in 3- and 4-year-olds, and which is also reliable for use with toddlers as young as 19 months. This research is of value in understanding the early emergence of creativity. It could also aid research into Artificial Intelligence and robotics.