Level 2 Introducing Caring Children Young People Questions and Answer
1.1 Describing why creativity and imagination is important for development of child
Creativity and imagination are considered as crucial in children development; these contextual components lead to foster cognitive, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Further, this supports in enhancing holistic development of child by providing them opportunity in terms of taking decisions (Livingstone and Pothong, 2022). In Early Childhood education [ECE] creative play are encouraged for promoting creativity in child; this comprised with using wide variety of tools and materials for making useful things such as arts and crafts. Creativity is a part of exploratory play through which children use their sense and actions for learning about objects and environment (Livingstone and Pothong, 2022). For example- Children collects natural materials such as leaves and sand from outside environment and then use it for making art and crafts. This provides opportunity to child with regards to showing their creativeness and contributes in their development procedure.
Whilst, imagination is linked with holistic development of child and allows them to explore new ideas while using critical thinking skills. There are different types of imaginative play such as dramatic, communication and fantasy play; these provides opportunities to children for expressing their unique ideas and thinking (Bunce and Woolley, 2021). Through imagination children imagine themselves in role of other individuals; this creates fun and excitement for children and boost their morals, as a result, participation of children increased in the setting. Further, children become able to express their emotions and feelings, this often promotes cooperation among children. Through imaginative play language and communication of children enhanced to greater extent and this encourage them to use them self-help skills that involves changing dress and putting on shoes. Both creativity and imagination contribute in development procedure of child; by engaging in creative and imaginative play children can solve varied problems that enhances their problem-solving skills (Bunce and Woolley, 2021). When child is encouraged for showing their creativity through imagination then it enhances their critical thinking as they analyse situation and evaluates ideas for undertaking informed decisions.
Creativity enables children to try new things and enhances their resilience capabilities for adopting any situation, creative experience often builds effective connection with brain that improves child focus, independence and willingness (Kind, 2022). Creativity and imagination are leading to social and emotional development; creative activities providing varied opportunities to children within safe and secure environment and this enables them to explore and express their emotions for fostering self-awareness. There are different group activities are organised in ECE so children can show their creativity; such group tasks are specifically for promoting creativity and imagination in child and this leads to increase social interaction among children which is crucial for their social development (Kind, 2022). Thus, there is no doubt in stating that, creativity and imagination enhances social development of children. Thus, it is important for early year practitioners and educators that they must promote creativity and imagination within children as this leads to enhance their development.
Practical benefits such as fine motor skills, language development, curiosity and adaptability are at the forefront of promoting creativity and imagination within ECE. Different activities such as painting, acting, drawing and dancing develops hand-eye coordination in children which further results in improving their fine motor skills (Armah and Landers-Potts, 2021). Children express their thoughts in verbal and non-verbal form that improves their language skills; an environment that promotes creativity and imagination develops curiosity in child for taking participate in activities (Armah and Landers-Potts, 2021). This leads to develop inclusive environment within setting; henceforth, there is no doubt in articulating that creativity and imagination is contributing in children development and further empowering them in terms of taking decision by own. By promoting creativity and imagination in children practitioner can ensure their holistic development and therefore, it is pivotal to focus on this area so that significant outcomes could be gained along with ensuring consistent support to children.
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1.2 Describing the contribution of different activities on child’s creative and imaginative development
There are varied activities such as craft, storytelling role-playing and so on that foster’s child development. Such activities align with promoting exploration and expression within children. Below mentioned is the detailed explanation of the activities contributing in children creative and imaginative development
Arts and Crafts
Painting drawing and sculpting enabling children for experimenting with varied materials and techniques. This is enabling them explore different kind of materials such as papers, colours, natural resource and many more (Harris, 2022). As a result, children become able to develop specific understanding regarding different objects and further use it for making and effective piece of art. Activities such as building blocks enhances the abilities of children in terms of structuring and designing elements; child can use their imagination for making a structure while adding their creativity. Hence, this results in enhancing creativity and imaginative development of child.
Storytelling and Reading
Activities related to reading aloud and discussing stories in classroom enhances vocabulary of students and improves their comprehension and imagination skills (Tok, 2022). Furthermore, children get the opportunities of developing their own stories and scripts which promotes their language development. Further, children get the opportunity for developing imaginative story by own and it enhances their imaginative development.
Role-playing and pretending play
These types of activities enable children to explore situations, roles and emotions; this ultimately lead to enhance their social and emotional understanding. The imaginative capabilities of children get improved through these types of play (Kewalramani and Veresov, 2022). Therefore, imaginative play that is meeting requirement of children must be organised in settings. This leads to foster their imagination and further they become able to understand different types of situations.
Music and Dance
Organising activities such as listening to music and dancing enable children to express their emotions while developing coordination and rhythms (Tok, 2022). Further, by encouraging children for developing their own music dance expression and collaboration can be promoted. Music and dance are a form of art that fosters creativity skill in children and apart from studies enable them to indulge in creative activities.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
In ECE it is essential to organise such activities which provides opportunities to children for exploring in outside environment. This develops curiosity in them and enhances their observation abilities that further contributes in creativeness. Going on walks and playing in garden enhances creative skill in child as they collect leaves and flowers. Often, they use these materials for making art (Holmes et al, 2022). Thus, this results in fostering creativity among children and develops curiosity for participating in creative play. Such kind of activities also promotes knowledge of children regarding sustainability and enables them to show their creative abilities as well. Therefore, outdoor activities must be promoted for enhancing creative and imaginative development of child.
Puzzles
Board games, words games and puzzle enhance cognitive abilities of children and allows them to use their strategic thinking. This opens up opportunities for children for enhancing their creativity and innovation (Holmes et al, 2022). It boosts interest among children and foster their engagement and permits them to show their unique capabilities. Therefore, organising creative and imaginative play-based activities proves to be pivotal for enhancing child development.
Thus, above mentioned information significantly depicting about the importance of organising different activities complying with imaginative and creative play. This leads to ensure holistic development in children and further contributes in enhancing their creativity and imagination.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
- Armah, A. and Landers-Potts, M., 2021. A review of imaginary companions and their implications for development. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 41(1), pp.31-53.
- Bunce, L. and Woolley, J.D., 2021. Fantasy orientation and creativity in childhood: A closer look. Cognitive Development, 57, p.100979.
- Harris, P.L., 2022. Children's imagination. Cambridge University Press.
- Holmes, R.M., Kohm, K., Genise, S., Koolidge, L., Mendelson, D., Romeo, L. and Bant, C., 2022. Is there a connection between children’s language skills, creativity, and play?. Early Child Development and Care, 192(8), pp.1178-1189.
- Kewalramani, S. and Veresov, N., 2022. Multimodal creative inquiry: Theorising a new approach for children’s Science meaning-making in Early Childhood Education. Research in Science Education, pp.1-21.
- Kind, A., 2022. Imagination and creative thinking. Cambridge University Press.
- Livingstone, S. and Pothong, K., 2022. Imaginative play in digital environments: designing social and creative opportunities for identity formation. Information, Communication & Society, 25(4), pp.485-501.
- Tok, E., 2022. Early childhood teachers’ roles in fostering creativity through free play. International Journal of Early Years Education, 30(4), pp.956-968.