Christof's Art Newsletter

Creative play is often described as imaginative or emotional, but it is physical too. Every dab, squeeze, tear, roll and dance gives a young child’s body useful practice.

What is happening in a toddler’s mind while they are painting, building or inventing a game? Far more than the finished object can show.

A toddler cannot always say, “I feel frustrated,” “I miss someone,” or “Today was exciting.” Creative activity can give those feelings another way out.

Who is responsible for teaching a young child to be creative? The reassuring answer is that no single person has to do it alone.

When should creative learning begin? Long before a child can draw a recognisable person, hold scissors accurately or explain what they have made.

Creativity is sometimes treated as an enjoyable extra: something children do after the “real learning” is finished. In early childhood, however, creative activity is part of how real learning happens.