Creative Arts and Child Development: A Reflective Learning Folio

This essay presents a reflective folio exploring the significance of creative arts in early childhood education. It delves into various art forms such as visual arts, storytelling, drama, puppetry, music, and dance, highlighting their impact on child development. The author reflects on their initial perceptions of art and how they have evolved, recognizing the crucial role of creative expression in fostering cognitive, social, and emotional growth in young children. The folio includes practical examples and strategies for incorporating these art forms into the classroom, emphasizing the importance of encouraging children's creativity, imagination, and overall development. The document concludes with key learnings from the journey, reinforcing the value of integrating creative arts into early childhood education.

Essay
CONTENTS

FOLIO ITEM – 1 (REFLECTION)...........................................................................................1
FOLIO ITEM – 2 (VISUAL ARTS OR DRAWING)...............................................................1
FOLIO ITEM – 3 (STORYTELLING)......................................................................................3
FOLIO ITEM – 4 (DRAMA).....................................................................................................4
FOLIO ITEM – 5 (PUPPETRY)................................................................................................6
FOLIO ITEM – 6 (MUSIC AND SONG).................................................................................8
FOLIO ITEM – 7 (DANCE AND CREATIVE MOVEMENT)...............................................9
FOLIO ITEM – 8 (LEARNINGS FROM THE JOURNEY)...................................................10
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................12

FOLIO ITEM – 1 (REFLECTION)
1). Prior starting this unit, my attitude towards art was quite different. In usually had a belief
that art is something which is very uninteresting and tedious and one cannot grow their future
career in this subject. In addition to this, I was also not aware about different art forms and
their significance in early childhood learning and thus, had a negative attitude in relation with
the creative arts. I knew that creative art is something where an individual utilizes their
imaginations along with original ideas for creating something new. However, have never
done this practically and applied to any of my work. In addition to this, I earlier I knew that
creative art is also known as craft which is nothing but the skill of making things by hand.
Thus, could be anything such as practical object or the procedure of preparing food or drinks
in traditional manner. Furthermore, I tool art as a simple process which just involves fun and
nothing relation with education, innovation and creativity. For me, creative art was just waste
of time as it never adds to the knowledge, learning and understanding in an early childhood
education.
2). Art education for me was just playing, sharing, enjoying and doing fun within the
classroom and other fellow members. Moreover, I used to think that art education does not
have any sort of relevance in the current competitive and dynamic global world. considering
this, I used to think that art education is a complete wastage of time as this valuable time can
be used for some other important subjects such as Science, Maths and English which will
help the children in acquiring good jobs for their living. For me, art education was something
which helps in developing a negative culture and climate in schools, as students forget
discipline and do whatever they think good for them without any hesitation.
FOLIO ITEM – 2 (VISUAL ARTS OR DRAWING)
1). Stages of drawing development
Scribble
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Scribble is the first stage of drawing development which is being done by toddler
from 1.5 years to 2.5 year. They are just exploring their motor coordination and thus,
develops uncontrolled scribbles on the paper.
Basic shape or forms
This is the second stage where children between the age group of 3 to 4 years begin to
utilize some basic shape in their drawings.
Pictures and portraits
This is stage where children between the age group of 4.5 to 5 years begin to show
their creativity and make use of people, basic shapes such as triangle, square, diamonds,
circle and spontaneous letters for drawing something unique.
2). All the three pictures and art forms are quite relevant and important for the learning and
development of children. For illustration, considering the first artform that uncontrolled
scribble, here the children are learning and grasping motor coordination. They are learning
about the properties of objects, shapes and different tools such as pencils, pen, paper and
crayons. Further, in the second art form, children learn about gripping and holding. They
even learn about a good tripod grasp through utilizing triangular crayons (Fisher, Frey &
Hattie, 2016). They also learn about basic image and shapes. On the other hand, in the last art
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form, children have good control over pencils and pens and started showing their love and
interest in their drawings.
3). As a teacher, for developing dispositions and skills of children towards visual arts, I
would encourage children to draw their ideas and viewpoints, will discuss the art work of the
children as a message, promotion of dialogue in small groups, putting art work on display,
using different colour for showing them lines and drawing fast, utilization of brush for
applying colour, making marks, squishing clay, certain of workplace and so forth.
FOLIO ITEM – 3 (STORYTELLING)
1). Alphabet story book
This is being regarded as the most useful book for the toddler age between 1.5 to 2
years. This book contains all the 26 alphabets from A to Z and rhythmic book. It has a perfect
rhyme and delightful illustrations which helps in introducing colours, names and shapes to
toddlers.
I love me story books
This is a perfect story book for children age between 2.3 to 3.5 years. It is quite
suitable for them as it includes different statements for little readers. Further, this story book
is full of engaging and helps in uplifting affirmations for every day of the week.
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Interactive story books
This is an interactive story book about three cats. It is all about cats opening their top
secrets to the readers and suddenly become suspicious. It is quite suitable for the children
aged between 4 to 6 years. It involves reader by asking them to perform certain test such as
meowing, purring, stretching etc.
2). Storytelling artform plays a very crucial role in the learning and development of children.
It supports them to learn and know about sounds, language and words. It also helps in
developing literacy skills among the children. Further, it supports in learning the difference
amid real and make believe. Additionally, it also helps in developing the brain of child and
increases their focus and concentration ability (Clark & Grey, 2013).
3). In regards with the alphabet book, it is essential for me to read the story aloud so that
children can listen to what I am saying and catch the lisping. On the other hand, for the I love
me picture story books, it is important to show the pictures and retelling the story on the won
words so that they can underrated and related to what they have learned. Further, for the
interactive book, it is crucial that to involve students and ask them to read aloud.
FOLIO ITEM – 4 (DRAMA)
1). Worksheet
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Drama books
Binder
2). Artforms such as drama plays a very crucial role in learning and development of children
as it helps in increasing the creativity along with imagination of the children. They also get
motivation for exploring new things and also makes them an independent thinker. Other than
this, drama is being regarded quite significant to be added in early childhood education
because through this, children develop a feeling of cooperation with a group as it involves
group work. Furthermore, it also supports in increasing the psycho-motor skills of the
children through creation of coordination along with balance in organs, flexibility in the
movements and agility. Thus, it is important that artforms such as drama should have a place
in childhood education as it makes an important contribution to all the areas of development
of pre-school or early children (America Next, 2015).
3). There are different resources which are being used for the drama ideas and they are being
utilized in different ways for encouraging:
 Process drama – Process drama includes involvement of both teacher and student and
both are being working in and out for their role. In this, worksheets can be used for
the purpose of defining the act, roles, responsibilities along with dialogues. Worksheet
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act as an important drama idea resource that helps in entailing the work that needs to
be done in and out of the role.
 Teacher role involvement – In this teacher act as a guide and push the children and
students when they are being stuck anywhere. In this, binder as a drama resource can
be utilized which includes all the plan, process and details about the drama to be
performed along with roles and activities to be performed by each and every one
involved in the drama (Buck & Snook, 2016).
 Child participation – For making the child actively participate in the drama, a teacher
can make use of different drama books and best drama can be selected which fosters
maximum participation of child.
FOLIO ITEM – 5 (PUPPETRY)
1). Sock puppets
Paper bag puppets
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String puppets
2). Making use of such kind of artforms are considered as one of the most important
educational activities that can be exposed to the children in their early childhood. They are
not just for fun and entertainment, however there are different developmental advantages
which are being embraced when children play with puppets. Firstly, it helps in developing of
language within the child as they interact with puppets while playing. It also helps in social
development of the children as they become more social through this medium. The puppet
becomes the spokesperson for the group. In addition to this, the puppet can also teach
students and children about their emotions (Wright, 2017). They share their capability to be
angry, happy, sad and funny with puppets. Other than this, one of the most important skills
that they develop is listening skills. When puppets are at hand, it motivates children to listen
to the instructions or a story. They even support children in learning different rhymes and
songs.
3). A teacher might utilize puppets in different ways such as:
 Telling stories – Puppets can be used for telling story by making the puppet as a
narrator and using two puppets for playing two characters in the story.
 Helping children participate in experiences – Through using puppet as a tool to give
voice even those children can be encouraged who feel shy and hesitate in engaging in
general classroom conversations. Subject and interest specific topics can be chosen
for alluring interest of children.
 Understanding moral and social issues – Puppets can be also utilized for
comprehending moral as well as social issues. This can be done by including those
scripts into the play that is based on some social or moral issue. Though this, children
will better understand the situation (Brooks, 2017).
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FOLIO ITEM – 6 (MUSIC AND SONG)
1). Pictures
2). The role of art-form in the development of child is very high. Art has been considered to
be very effective as it is able to attract the early development of the activities that the brain of
a child is capable of. It is considered to be the way in which the tutors are able to engage with
the child and create a level of communication with them (Hawi, Samaha and Griffiths, 2019).
It is also said to be the factor that supports the development of the cognitive and social
emotional attraction that builds the multisensory skills. Hence, it can be found that the growth
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of the childhood is also considered to be related to the types of art they are exposed to in the
beginning of their learning. From various studies it has been found that the Art is the factor
that is able to stimulate the sides of the brain it is also able to influence the brain memory and
help the business in reading skills and help the children perform better. It is also related to the
new vocabulary concepts and that the use of art is very effective in the learning of children.
3). These three types of art are going to help in the development of the children in the
following ways. First and the second art which is the poem called “come along and sing with
me” and Sonnez Les Matines” are going to be the strategy that would help the children
develop the understanding of how the business. This music is going to increase the
engagement of the children and also influence them to learn about how to sing along in a
poem or song. In addition to this, they will also be going to ignite all the areas of the child
such as motor, language and social emotional skills through learning and understanding
meanings of words.
FOLIO ITEM – 7 (DANCE AND CREATIVE MOVEMENT)
1). Scarf or ribbon dance (Music choice – I am a little Teapot)
Butterfly stretches or rocking boat (Music choice – Incy Wincy spider)
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Good morning (Music choice –Walk, Stamp, Tiptoe, Hop)
2). Dance and creative movements are considered very significant artforms for children’s
learning and development. It is being referred as the source of happiness for all the ages.
Numerous benefits are being associated with creative movements and dance such as boosting
the muscular strengths of the children, improvement in the coordination in the body organs,
bringing out enhancement in the flexibility of the body of children and improves blood
pressure. Other than the physical benefits, they also help in boosting self-confidence, physical
confidence and enhances their social skills.
3). Dance along with the creative movements plays a significant role in boosting the social
development of the children. When each and every child is being involved in different dances
being explained in the above pictures such as scarf and ribbon dance, good morning dance,
butterfly stretches or rocking boat, they express their emotions in front of them. Other than
this, each of the dance items also encourages children to make use of their senses for
gathering as well as processing information, for example stretching the legs in the right
direction, taking scarf upwards, using their body confidently as well as expressively etc. In
addition to this, it also involves stretching of hips and legs in the same direction which
enhances the motor skills of the children (Bowman, Donovan & Burns, 2021). In addition to
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this, when student dance, they collectively express their emotions in front of the audience.
They all groove and feels safe to open up the world. all this makes them comfortable in front
of huge gatherings or any social setting.
FOLIO ITEM – 8 (LEARNINGS FROM THE JOURNEY)
1). Through this unit, I have learned many new things in regards with arts and art education.
My perception and attitude towards the art education is now completely changed. Prior to this
unit, I always used to think that arts and art education that art is something which is very
uninteresting and tedious and one cannot grow their future career in this subject. However,
now I understood that different forms of art and art education is quite essential for helping the
children ion learning creative problem-solving skills. Dance, music, puppetry, drama and
storytelling all helps in boosting the critical thinking, positive attitude and self-confidence
with a child. I have also learnt that through these different artforms children gets an
opportunity to share and express themselves freely. It is important both for their social
development and mental development. This unit has supported me in realizing how arts and
art education is connected with the overall development and learning of children.
2). For developing an arts-rich curriculum as a teacher, it is important and necessary to
understand the areas where arts can be incorporated. For examples, songs can be used for
helping children in memorizing the math fact. In addition to this, subtraction can be taught to
the children through simply showing them some visual arts. Other than this, art rich
classroom should be created for better learning of the children. For preparing the students and
children for any lesson, good story telling exercise can be used. Further, dance and creative
movements can also be used for making children learn about different alphabets, patterns and
shapes. Moreover, the teacher can also make use of drama, puppetry and storytelling for
developing literacy and language skills among the children. All these types of learning
experience will support children in building their comprehension of printed texts.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
America Next. (2015). K-12 education reform. Alexandria: America Next.
Bowman, B., Donovan, S. & Burns, S. (2021). Eager to Learn: Educating our Pre-schoolers.
Committee on Early Childhood Pedagogy, National Research Council. Washington,
DC: National Academy Press.
Brooks, M. (2017). Drawing to learn. In M. Narey (Ed.), Multimodal perspectives of
language, literacy, and learning in early childhood (pp. 25-44). Cham, Switzerland:
Springer.
Buck, R., & Snook, B. (2016). Teaching the arts across the curriculum: Meanings, policy and
practice. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 17(29).
Clark, B., & Grey, A. (2013). Positioning the arts in early childhood education: Fostering the
creative spirit. In B. Clark, A. Grey & L. Terreni (Eds.), Kia tipu te wairua toi –
fostering the creative spirit: Arts in early childhood education (pp. 87-99). Auckland,
New Zealand: Pearson.
Fisher, D., Frey, N., & Hattie, J. (2016). Visible learning for literacy (Grades K-12):
Implementing the practices that work best to accelerate student learning. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Corwin Literacy.
Hawi, N. S., Samaha, M., & Griffiths, M.D. (2019). The digital addiction scale for children:
Development and validation. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking,
22(12), 771-778.
Wright, S. (2017). Young children’s meaning-making through drawing and ‘telling’:
Analogies to filmic textual features. Australian Journal of Early Education, 32(4),
37-48.
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