Understanding creative thinking and critical thinking:  By Shannon Lane

When comparing the difference between creative thinking and critical thinking one must understand that one form of thought has no boundaries or limits and the other form of thought is cut out nice and neat with clear and apparent boundaries. Some people have the ability to think more creatively and others are designed to think in a more critical fashion. It takes both types of people to run the world. One could not exist without the other.

When we look at a large bridge that connects to masses of land over a large body of water we are viewing both creative and critical thinking. The design and concept came from the creative thinker while the architecture and construction came from the critical thinker. The bridge could never been built with out both types of brains contributing to the final outcome.

Another example that clearly compares the two ways of thinking can be seen in any restaurant you have eaten in. The creative thinker is going to decide what to serve and the critical thinkers is going to figure out how much to charge for each item in order to make the overhead expenses needed to run the restaurant. The creative thinker will be in charge of how the food is presented and critical thinker will decide how much of each item to serve to make the meal cost effect.

Example of both types of thought are all around us, everywhere we turn. Just look at the world of fashion. It takes a creative person to design the garments but it takes a critical thinker to break it down into manageable pieces for assembly. Even the fabrics that are chosen have to come from two very different types of thought. Someone imagined silk for a wedding gown and someone else had to figure how to make and manufacture that silk. It is a long way from the source of where silk begins. But together the creative and the critical thinkers made it happen.

I am a mother of two daughters and I witness the two different type of thought everyday. My oldest daughter can assemble an outfit that looks like she just came off of the runway from garments we buy at consignment shops. This shows her ability to price well and choose within the budget that is set for her. While the other has no creative ability at all when it comes to fashion, she does not want the consignment store garments. She wants the brand new outfits that have been assembled for the manikins. She is the one that can build anything with a pack of construction paper and glue. I have seen her make a three dimensional castle just from looking at it in a book. While both of children show a degree of creativeness I believe my oldest daughter to be more of a critical thinker than my younger one.

Source:  http://www.helium.com/items/1848229-understanding-creative-thinking-and-critical-thinking