Creative activities: why they’re important for preschooler learning and developmentThe preschool years can be a very creative time. Creative activities like drama, music, dance, art and craft are great for learning and development in these years. They can help preschoolers: Show
Encouraging preschoolers to enjoy creative activitiesPreschoolers like to be spontaneous, so it’s good to follow your child’s lead with creative activities. The key is for your child to explore their own creative interests and express themselves, so see what your child wants to do before you suggest something. Sometimes your child might need some extra help or encouragement. Or your child might want you to join in the fun! By being actively involved, you can develop your child’s skills and understanding. Being creative and playing with your child is also good for your relationship. When you’re doing a creative activity with your child, it’s good to show your child how there’s more than one way to do something. For example, you can ask questions like ‘How many ways can you draw a person?’ or ‘Show me how many sounds you can make with the drum’. This encourages your child to enjoy being creative rather than trying to do something ‘right’ or make something perfect. You can also ask your child questions about their thinking and problem-solving processes. For example, ‘Tell me about what’s happening in your picture’ or ‘How did you attach the feather to the cardboard?’ Whatever creative ideas your child comes up with, give your child plenty of descriptive praise. For example, ‘I love the picture you drew. You really know how to put colours together’. This boosts your child’s confidence and encourages them to keep exploring their creativity. Art and craft: creative activities for preschoolersPreschoolers love to express themselves and their ideas using crayons, paints, playdough, clay, scissors, glue and paper. Your child will begin making basic shapes and might enjoy experimenting with texture, space and colours. For example, preschoolers often draw houses with shining suns above the roof. This is because this kind of picture is made up of basic shapes like squares, triangles and circles. Here are ideas to get you started on art and craft activities with your toddler:
Create a home art gallery for your child’s artwork. A kitchen wall or pinboard is ideal for sticking up pictures and paintings. You could ask your child to choose one special painting each week to frame in the centre of the gallery. This shows that you value your child’s creations. Drama: creative activities for preschoolersPreschoolers often use songs and stories as the basis for dramatic activities. One moment they’re a crocodile eating chickens, and the next they’re Mook Mook the owl! Preschoolers often get completely involved in stories too. For example, when you read your child a story, you might notice them moving their arms, legs or face and miming what’s happening in the story. Drama and storytelling also give your child opportunities to build and practise vocabulary and learn about the structure of stories. And when your child acts out roles like a caring nurse, they see the world from someone else’s point of view. This helps them build empathy. Here are some drama activities to spark your child’s interest and imagination:
It’s good to include some ‘art appreciation’ in your child’s life. Why not visit a local art exhibition or see a multicultural or Aboriginal dance or theatre performance together and talk about your favourite parts? Music, sound, movement and dance: creative activities for preschoolersPreschoolers usually enjoy singing. They love songs with repetition and simple melodies. They can make up their own words to familiar songs, and words often come from the events and people around them. Your child can usually recognise and name favourite songs and sing parts of them. Singing helps children understand the differences between fast and slow, long and short, high and low, and loud and soft. Your child might make up actions and dance moves to go along with music. Other times you might find them flying like a butterfly, creeping like a caterpillar or hopping like a frog. Movement with music is also good for releasing energy and emotions. For example, your child might jump for joy or stamp angrily. These ideas can get your child singing, dancing and moving creatively:
Diversity in play is good for children. It helps children learn about people from diverse backgrounds, avoid stereotypes and understand equality. For example, you could encourage children of all genders to dress up as nurses or builders. Or choose stories or songs from diverse cultures or languages. Creative activities for preschoolers with diverse abilitiesYou can adapt creative activities to suit preschoolers with diverse abilities. For example, if your child:
What can be done in a preschool classroom to encourage exploration?You can foster this exploration and help them begin to build their understanding of concepts with thoughtful guidance.. Work alongside children. ... . Watch and listen. ... . Ask open-ended questions. ... . Encourage peer discussion. ... . Inspire children to use the language of science.. Why is problemProblem-solving skills build upon how toddlers sense, think, and understand the world around them, making them vital for early childhood development. By being active participants in exploration, toddlers learn to make connections they can apply to other areas of life through new experiences.
What is exploration in early childhood education?Play and Exploration in early years settings means children are able to choose activities where they can engage with other children or adults or sometimes play alone, and during those activities they learn by first-hand experience – by actively 'doing'.
What is problemA model of problem solving in an early childhood classroom involves four steps: (1) identifying the problem; (2) brainstorming solutions; (3) choosing and implementing one solution; and (4) evaluating the solution used.
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