Creative play
"Creative play is a vital part of childhood and child development. Through creative and imaginative play children can grow emotionally, socially, intellectually, and even physically." (The Little Gym).
According to Morton, J and Thorp, M (2003) “Bowlby describes how maintaining the equilibrium of the relationship between adult and child, through being caring, sensitive, available and responsive, allows the child to develop an attachment with the adult” and further goes into saying that “children who have secure attachment relationships are more able to be independent, to relate to their peers and engage in more complex and creative play.”
Creative play can be anything, including; role play, painting, drawing/colouring, building blocks, dressing up, listening to music or playing with musical instruments. All these mentioned allow the child to express themselves and have fun.
Creative play should be all about “fun and stimulating, and develop the child’s knowledge and senses as they learn new skills and challenges” according to Jacqui, 2018.
Here is a video of how creative play and the activities can help with a child’s development:
For children to have creative play and the opportunities, it is important that teachers and carers provide them with different materials, resources, space and time. When children are being provided with opportunities and it is more child driven, Ginsburg, K (2007) states “when play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.”
Although, it is important to remember that teachers can support the children however when it is being controlled by the teachers or adults it can get influenced by them instead of the child.
Through creative play it allows the child to express their emotions, gross and fine motor skills, thinking skills, finding themselves, gain experiences and make judgements from them.
They are learning through play, even if they do not realise it at times!
Drama
Role play can be seen as drama, as children are acting and playing different roles from different scenarios, for example, it could be a superhero or a villain, doctor or nurse. It is allowing them to explore different characters and scenarios.
Drama can help develop teamwork, creativity, risk taking and stimulating imagination, and giving the child or young person to explore issues and experiences and “drama also helps students develop tolerance and empathy” according to Buchanan, M.
Drama can help or make children or young people feel like that they are walking in someone else’s shoes, this allows them to experience someone else’s life but in a comfortable and safe environment.
Furthermore, it can help with self-confidence because they are taking risks in the class and with the performances, and also drama allows them to express their emotions, whilst also teaching them self-regulation as Punkoney, S (2013) states “pre-schoolers are known for acting with impulse, so dramatic play is a great stepping stone for learning to self-regulate their emotions and actions.”
Here is a video which shows more benefits to drama for children and young people:
Here is a video which shows more benefits to drama for children and young people:
Drama can benefit both primary and secondary schools, as it gives them the opportunity to explore, think and discuss issues whilst also being able to express their emotions, and if this done from early childhood it can help them with their lives in the future.
The Foundation Phase which is the curriculum for children in Wales has seven areas of learning, and one of them is creative development. Both creative play and drama can link within the creative development as the Welsh Government (2015) states “children should be continually developing their imagination and creativity across the curriculum. Their natural curiosity and disposition to learn should be stimulated by everyday sensory experiences, both indoors and outdoors. Children should engage in creative, imaginative and expressive activities in art, craft, design, music, dance and movement. Children should explore a wide range of stimuli, develop their ability to communicate and express their creative ideas, and reflect on their work.”
