The impact of an experiential learning management model on creativity and social interpersonal performances for early childhood: An experimental study

Abstract

This study aimed to develop the Experiential Learning Management Model (ELMM) based on the Reggio Emilia approach and evaluate its impact on creativity and social interpersonal performance in preschool children. A total of 69 children from a kindergarten in northeastern Thailand were divided into an experimental group (n=34) and a control group (n=35). The experimental group participated in a two-month intervention consisting of 32 structured experiential learning activities, while the control group received traditional face-to-face instruction. Creativity and social interpersonal performance were assessed before and after the intervention using two standardized scales. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (One-way MANOVA). Results indicated that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in creativity (pre-test M=18.88; post-test M=26.02, p<0.05) and social interpersonal performance (pre-test M=11.20; post-test M=13.35, p<0.05). And the experimental group outperformed the control group in both creativity and social interpersonal performance (p<0.05), highlighting the effectiveness of the ELMM intervention. The findings suggest that the ELMM, grounded in the Reggio Emilia approach, is effective in enhancing creativity and social interpersonal performance in preschool children. The structured experiential learning activities provide a supportive and engaging environment for skill development.