Creativity and Making in Early Childhood: Challenging Practitioner Perspectives

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Creativity and Making in Early Childhood brings together practice and research insights on creativity, to offer new perspectives on what creativity is, how it manifests in early childhood education and what can be done to support it. Each chapter includes practitioners own experiences and looks within these observations and reflections to highlight key questions and challenges. Insights and perspectives are drawn from research in order to engage deeply with these challenges and to develop future practice in early childhood education. Particular focus is on creativity as physical 'making' processes. Topics covered include: - childrens developing identities - sharing and social interactions - how time, choice and physical environments influence young childrens creativity - instructions, resourcing and expectations of creativity in the early childhood setting Practical learning features guiding students through the book include: research spotlight sections introducing readers to key pieces of research, questions to aid reflection on experiences in relation to relevant theory, summaries and tasks for the reader designed to deepen thinking. This text is an excellent resource for undergraduate students in early childhood and education, as well as postgraduate students and practitioners who have returned to study.

Reviews

This energetic and engaging text offers practitioners new ways forward. Informed by research which is shared in an accessible manner, it is packed with rich examples of children playfully making and creating. It will not only prompt reflection and deeper understanding of childrens creative identities, it will also help shape future practice. An inspiring read. * Teresa Cremin, Professor, The Open University, UK *
A rich resource for current and future early childhood practitioners interested in the physicality and materiality of childrens creativity. Written by a team of practitioners and researchers, the book combines theory with practical suggestions, making it an invaluable guide to childrens creativity. * Natalia Kucirkova, Senior Research Fellow, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK *
This essential guide to early childhood creativity covers a wide range of topics that educators will find immediately relevant to their work with young children. The authors provide clear explanations of the current research and theory on young childrens creativity, illustrated with practitioner observations. The reflection activities throughout the book will get educators thinking about how to provide students more opportunities for creativity, for example by examining their beliefs about time, questioning their perceptions of childrens artwork, and reconsidering the physical environment they provide in the classroom. * Heather Malin, Director of Research, Stanford Center on Adolescence, Stanford University, USA *

Author Bio

Mona Sakr is Lecturer in Education and Early Childhood at Middlesex University, UK. She is author of Digital Technologies in Early Childhood Art (Bloomsbury, 2016). Roberto Federici is an Early Years Practitioner at Mount Carmel Kindergarten, Hertfordshire, UK. Nichola Hall is an Early Years Practitioner at Merchant Taylors Prep Nursery, Hertfordshire, UK. Bindu Trivedy is an Early Years Practitioner at Rowland Hill Children's Centre and Nursery, London, UK. Laura O'Brien is an Early Years Practitioner at St Albert The Great RC Primary School, Hertfordshire, UK.