Background information

What is Creativity?

Creativity is a skill and a way of thinking, rather than a talent we are each born with (or born without!) Creativity is an essential skill in many aspects of life - problem solving, resilience, maths, science, and social and emotional intelligence; and it is our most valuable human resource.

Creativity is a process that allows us to form original thoughts and ideas through exploration, discovery and imagination. The creative process is very much about the process rather than the product, the journey rather than the destination. We all have the capacity to be creative, however it is a skill that requires practice. It is also important to provide an environment and resources that support creative thinking and expression, especially for young children.

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity? (https://vimeo.com/20146136)

The benefits of nurturing Creativity

Creativity is a vital skill for the 21^st century. Creative thinking allows us to solve problems, cope with change, innovate and connect with others. Engaging in creative thinking develops our whole brain, helps us to understand the world we live in and how we might contribute to our community.

Why is Creativity important for young children?

Creativity is important for young children because it provides a way for them to explore, discover and make sense of the world around them. It provides opportunities to express their thoughts and feelings without judgement, deal with stress, explore ideas, hypothesise, experiment, imagine and think deeply about all that they see, think and feel.

The creative process gives children the opportunity to try new things without being right or wrong. They can try, and try again.

Providing opportunities for children to be creative is critical for their development and well being. Being creative develops neural pathways and connections in the brain and requires the use of the whole brain. This provides a foundation for creative thinking, problem solving, social and emotional intelligence, well being and resilience.

Want to know more?

Check out the Cool Australia Factsheet: How can Educators and Families Nurture Creativity in Young Children?

Keep it fun. Try a new art form or medium each month and explore all sorts of ideas using that art form (try singing, dance, clay, puppetry, storytelling, painting, mosaics, weaving, video or photography, etc).

Lead by example. Show the children that it is fun to try new things and try out something new yourself.

Cater for all learning styles. We all learn differently so have a backup plan so that if some children are not engaged with one activity there is something else to capture their imagination and interest which uses a different part of the brain or body (an active physical activity and a visual or thinking activity).

Use all your senses. Creativity and imagination are fed through all your senses so make your creative activities sensory.

Make creativity part of everyday. Play some music during transition, meal or quiet times; incorporate actions, finger plays, role play or character voices when reading stories; provide loose parts and open ended toys rather than toys with one purpose or function; try some bath body or finger paint; or get creative with your cooking.

Ask open-ended questions to encourage creative thinking. I wonder…. ?

Nurturing Creativity: My life as a ...

Purpose:

This activity is designed to nurture creativity through movement, dance and role play, developing the creative potential of young children through experiential learning in the arts. Movement, dance and role play provides opportunities for children to develop communication skills, fine and gross motor skills (balance, coordination, proprioception, etc), social and emotional development and teamwork.

Equipment needed:

You can undertake this activity with no resources and have children use only their bodies and their imagination to create actions and sounds. You can also provide materials they could use as props (blankets to make a chrysalis, or a box or basket to use as an egg). You could also use dress-ups, or provide materials for children to make costumes such as wings, eggs, caterpillars, leaves and flowers as part of the activity.

Instructions:

This activity sees children act out the life cycle of a range of plants and animals. This provides an opportunity to appreciate the many wonders of nature and experience life cycles from a different perspective.

Step 1:

As either a large group, several small groups or individually; choose a life cycle to investigate (use the Life Cycle Flash Cards for a graphic representation).

Step 2:

Discuss the life cycle of the chosen life form (butterfly, apple, flower, frog, chicken, bee, ladybird, etc).

Step 3:

In groups, or by themselves, ask children to work out a way to act out the life cycle of the life forms. They might like to choose a stage each if they are in a group or act out the whole cycle if they are by themselves. They could use dress-ups, art supplies, blankets, or just their bodies.

Provocations:

I wonder what your life is like as a …
I wonder how you grow and change ...
I wonder what it feels like ...
I wonder what you need to survive ...
I wonder how, or if, you move ...
I wonder what you need to be careful of ...
I wonder what you might do ...

Possible lines of development:

Undertake this activity as a game of charades where children perform their life cycle and others have to guess what they are.
Investigate and represent life cycles using other mediums - drawing, making (using recycled or natural materials, sculptures, 3D models, etc).

Scaffold this activity based on the age and needs of your children.

Undertake this activity as a group, in small groups or as individuals.

Provide opportunities for children to investigate several different life cycles.

Connect this activity with other Cool Australia activities relating to biodiversity, such as bugs in the garden, eating like a bird, sounds of nature, plant pattern shapes and names, animal adaptations, getting to know a tree, what ants eat, etc.

Connect this activity with opportunities to explore growth and change.

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning, listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenges and persisting when difficulties arise
Wellbeing	Being involved

Nurturing Creativity - My Life as a...

Activity Summary

Activity Guides and Printables

Activity Details

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required