Developing Creativity and Curiosity Outdoors


Book Description

This accessible guide will inform, prompt and inspire practitioners as they develop their own creativity and seize the rich opportunities offered by outdoor environments to cultivate and encourage the creative skills of the young children in their care. Including information on Forest School, Developing Creativity and Curiosity Outdoors builds on theories of creative learning and development, and offers a wealth of ideas and activities for application in a range of outdoor settings. From designing and building structures, to making music and exploring colour, shape and pattern, this book illustrates how engagement in and with the natural world might extend children’s creative development, encouraging them to speak, listen, move freely, play and learn. Case studies demonstrate good practice and each chapter concludes with questions, encouraging the reader to reflect on and develop their own practice. Practical ideas can be adapted for use in more urban environments, and further reading, online resources and lists of suppliers make Developing Creativity and Curiosity Outdoors an essential resource for those looking to maximise the natural curiosity of children. This book will give early years practitioners and students the confidence and knowledge they need to embark on an exciting journey of outdoor discovery with young children.




Creative Activities for the Early Years


Book Description

′An excellent resource for all those working with young children... jam-packed with exciting, inspirational activities that encourage young children to nurture their creativity and imagination while helping practitioners to facilitate what children do naturally... It is a book that celebrates and encourages original thought and action to support learning through exploration and investigation, recognising that creativity is about representing one′s own image and not reproducing someone else′s′ - Early Years Educator ′[I]nspirational... This book is easy to read, refreshing and exciting, and I would recommend it to all those working with young children. It is also useful for students, clearly articulating the reasons for providing well-organised child-initiated creative opportunities rather than adult-directed activities′ - Nursery World It is an interesting and informative manual aimed at those who work with children in the 3-5 years age range, and is therefore most suited to anyone in a Pre-School or Day Nursery setting, and could also be valuable to a Reception Teacher...over all, I found this to be a very useful book′. - National Childminding Association Packed full of exciting ideas and powerful visual aids, this book will help those working with young children to encourage and nurture their creativity and imagination. The book takes examples of what has worked in an early years setting, and transfers these inspirational activities onto the page. The book includes: " practical activities in Art, Dance and Music and ideas on how to link them together; " advice on how to make the most of music, lighting, space and nursery resources; " showing how the work supports the Foundation Stage Curriculum; " ideas for cross-curricular work; " suggestions for recording children′s progress; " advice on how to choose materials, and a list of specialist suppliers. Everyone involved in working with young children should read this book. Nursery practitioners, early years teachers, Sure Start workers, play workers and Children′s Centre staff will find it an invaluable resource. It is also useful for specialist staff in hospitals and other areas of health.







Creative Learning and Play


Book Description

A comprehensive new guide to planning, implementing and reviewing play to promote a child’s learning, creativity and well-being in the ELC setting. Themes and theories are applied to practice throughout.




EBOOK: Supporting Creativity and Imagination in the Early Years


Book Description

Reviews of the first edition “In addition to expected information about developmental stages and caregiver response, Duffy discusses diversity and accessibility issues that affect children’s response to opportunities to express their creativity … an admirably detailed guide to creativity for persons involved in caring for young children.” Education Review “The strength of Bernadette Duffy’s book is her ability to share through tables, examples, theory and reflections her deep understanding of children’s creative process…” Montessori International Magazine Learning through the arts has the potential to stimulate open ended activity that encourages discovery, exploration, experimentation and invention, thus contributing to children’s development in all areas of learning and helping to make the curriculum meaningful to them. Bernadette Duffy draws on her extensive experience of promoting young children's creativity and imagination to examine how visual representations, music, dance, imaginative play and drama can enable children to express their feelings, thoughts and responses. She highlights examples of good practice and provides practical guidance for those working with young children in a variety of settings, including home, school and centre-based care. Updated throughout, this second edition considers creativity and imagination in the light of contemporary initiatives such as Every Child Matters, Birth to Three Matters, Sure Start and the Foundation Stage curriculum. Supporting Creativity and Imagination in the Early Years is essential reading for early years practitioners and students, as well as anyone who delights in young children's learning and development and wants to explore new ways of supporting it.




Nurturing Creativity


Book Description

Tap into children's natural curiosity and scaffold their creative abilities across all domains of learning--and nurture your own creativity!




Young Children's Creative Thinking


Book Description

The importance of promoting young children’s creative thinking, and the social relationships which support it, is now seen as a vital element of good early childhood practice. The authors push forward our understanding of what young children’s creative thinking is, and how it promotes young children’s well-being. By drawing on research evidence, they examine key issues from the perspectives of the child, the parents or careers and early childhood practitioners, and make links between theory and practice.




Multicultural Children in the Early Years


Book Description

How do multicultural children and their parents experience the very beginning of their school careers? How do teachers mediate the demands of the educational system, and how do the children adapt? What kind of access to the National Curriculum is offered to multicultural children? In answering these questions the authors draw on two years' intensive research in three multi-ethnic institutions. They explore teachers' values and beliefs and how they attempt to put them into practice. They describe how, at times, teachers were constrained to get things done because of pressures operating on them, but at other times, taught creatively in a way particularly relevant to the children's concerns and cultures.




Creative Learning for Inclusion


Book Description

Introducing creativity to the classroom is a concern for teachers, governments and future employers around the world, and there has been a drive to make experiences at school more exciting, relevant, challenging and dynamic for all young people, ensuring they leave education able to contribute to the global creative economy. Creative Learning to Meet Special Needs shows teachers how to use creativity in the curriculum for key stages 2 and 3 to support the learning of pupils with special educational needs in a way which effectively engages them and leaves a lasting impact on their school experiences and later lives. Describing the different ways in which a creative approach can help pupils with SEN access the curriculum, with activities and practical materials for teachers, this book will explain: why creativity is central to making the curriculum accessible how to use personalised learning with pupils with SEN how to promote achievements and motivation through creative experiences how the curriculum can be extended and represented in innovative ways for pupils with SEN how to use interactive methods of teaching and alternative methods of communication. Providing case studies and examples of the ways in which teachers have delivered the curriculum creatively to pupils with special educational needs, this book is an invaluable guide for all those involved in teaching and engaging young people with special needs.




Learning Through Woodwork


Book Description

This essential guide provides clear and comprehensive support for those looking to introduce creative woodwork into early years settings. With theory, practical advice, stunning colour images and case studies, the book will inspire practitioners to embrace woodwork and encourage children’s independent creative learning. Focusing on the numerous benefits that working with wood offers young children, from boosting their self-esteem and problem-solving skills, to enhancing their communication and social development, the author draws on over 25 years of experience to discuss each and every aspect of establishing woodwork in the early years curriculum. Including practical information on materials and tools, staff training, and health and safety advice, this go-to guide provides a treasure trove of ideas to engage children at various stages of development, drawing the maximum benefit from working with wood and tools. Both inspiring and informative, Learning Through Woodwork will become an essential tool for early years practitioners and teachers wishing to explore and develop woodwork provision.