Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children
Play, imagination and learning
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Published:30th Sep '12
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Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children draws together two essential strands in contemporary educational discourse: the importance of high quality care and education in the early years; and the central role that imaginative arts experiences can and should play in the lives of all young children. A number of underlying themes are important throughout the book. All are related to the potential for quality arts experiences in the early years to achieve transformational outcomes for children. These include:
- the enhancement and development of children's creativity and imagination
- the encouragement of children's innate problem solving abilities
- the opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures and a broad world view
- the scaffolding of positive attitudes, skills and ways of being (habits of mind) to help children flourish in the 21st century.
This book is grounded in current research and practice about the importance of the Arts in young children's lives. Written explicitly for early childhood pre-service and in-service teachers, parents and caregivers, it includes a range of engaging and practical creative arts activities and suggested experiences for children from birth to eight years of age.
Key points:
- Provides a combination of research, activities and real world vignettes.
- Reinforces partnerships between parents and early childhood practitioners and teachers.
- Covers a broad range of artistic experiences such as storytelling, art appreciation, puppetry, paint and clay, drama and music.
- Aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework and the key learning areas in the Australian national curriculum for the Arts. <
AUSSIE actor Cate Blanchett has issued a plea for more play in schools, warning the nation is at a "crossroads" in education.
The Hollywood star claims the vibrancy of children is in "great jeopardy" if the outcome of their education is measured through literacy and numeracy alone.
Speaking out with her playwright husband Andrew Upton in the foreword of a book designed for parents and early childhood educators, Blanchett said an element of the arts and play were vital to the energy of any classroom.
"One of our strongest motivations for coming back to Australia to live was because we felt it was such a great place to grow up," the duo wrote. "Our memories were not of tests and quotas but of games and play.
"Australia is currently at a crossroads in education and we must ensure that the arts are embedded in the early childhood curriculum for all children so that the porous, oddly shaped, unclassifiable aspects of their life are given voice and genuine consideration."
The couple, who said dramatic play in education was vital, wrote the comments as Sydney Theatre Company representatives in Creative Arts in the Lives of Young Children, published by the Australian Council for Educational Research.
"A vital outcome of education is of course literacy and numeracy, but if the desired outcome is used to determine the approved process exclusively, the natural vibrancy of the children subject to it is in great jeopardy," they wrote.
Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh said play-based learning was often ignored, but helped develop language skills.
"Young children learn best when they are excited by what they are learning, and play has a huge role in setting children up for a lifelong love of learning."
-- Cate Blanchett * Herald SISBN: 9781742860237
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 300g
176 pages