We read about early learning teaching breakthroughs all the time. Literacy matters. Now math is important. In all of this curriculum, though, creativity drives a lot of the learning in the baby-to-kindergartener set.

This week, Learning for Life offers a five-part series on the power of creativity – everything from working in a theater to turning leaves into toys, and reminds us imagination is often the fuel that helps prepare children for kindergarten.

“Creativity in children improves problem-solving, social skills, and even helps children work through myriad of emotions in a safe, child-friendly way. Being creative and simply having unstructured play time can strengthen the child's ego, allow for independence, and help the child confront and cope with many things in life.” – Learning for Life series summary. (The series is a joint venture between Thrive by Five Washington and BELO Seattle.)

If I ever need proof of the power of creativity, I don’t have to look beyond my own kids. After I reviewed a book about wilderness activities for families, for example, my first-grade son quickly grabbed the book and folded over pages with things he wanted to try – building huts out of sticks, a homemade catapult and various types of campfires. He turned over nearly every page.

It is also fitting that Thrive began this series only days after the new film “Where the Wild Things Are” opened in theaters. Whatever your opinion of the movie, one of the plot lines is how the boy uses his own creativity to build an imaginary world that helps him understand the real world.

In an era of transforming toys and toddler video games, it is refreshing to hear this week’s Learning for Life series emphasizes the use of everyday items, such as household material and sticks, to spur creativity.

It is worth checking out on KING 5.com’s Learning for Life page or when it airs on KING Morning News (KONG channels 6 or 16) between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.