15.5: Promoting Creativity with Infants and Toddlers

Creativity is an essential aspect of development that begins in the earliest stages of life. For infants and toddlers, creativity is not just about producing art; it is about exploration, problem-solving, discovery, and expressing themselves in various forms. This section will explore how professionals can support creativity with infants and toddlers through daily interactions, visual arts, music and movement, dramatic arts, and other learning areas.

Creativity in the Visual Arts

"Sarah Playing in Sand" by Heather Carter is licensed CC BY-SA.

Introducing infants and toddlers to a variety of materials is crucial for fostering creativity in the visual arts (Mayesky, 2014). Materials should focus on safety with non-toxic items that engage the five senses. Some examples include:

• non-toxic and washable paints,
• crayons,
• clay,
• edible play-dough,
• natural materials like leaves or sand,
• cardboard boxes,
• tape,
• tearing tissue paper,
• jumbo chalk, etc.

For example, a toddler might be given a piece of paper and a set of chunky crayons. Rather than instructing the child on what to draw, the professional can encourage the child to explore the colors and textures, perhaps by making marks on the paper or even on different surfaces. This free exploration allows the child to experiment with cause and effect, which is a foundational aspect of creative thinking.

Creativity in Music and Movement

Music and movement are natural forms of expression for infants and toddlers. Supporting creativity in movement involves allowing children to move freely and explore their bodies in space. The music and movement area are also great ways to introduce diversity within cultures, providing them a way to learn more about themselves and others. For example, during music time, a caregiver might play a variety of music styles and encourage the toddler to move however they wish. This might involve jumping, spinning, or simply swaying to the rhythm.

Exploring different sounds is another way to foster creativity in young children. Early childhood professionals can provide instruments like drums, shakers, or even pots and pans for children to experiment with. For example, a toddler might discover that tapping a pot with a wooden spoon produces a different sound than tapping it with their hand. Instruments from other cultures, like the didgeridoo, rain sticks, steel drums, maracas, castanets, etc. all make different sounds that can be explored. Incorporating music and sounds into daily routines can make everyday activities more enjoyable and creative. For instance, a caregiver might sing a song while helping a toddler get dressed, or create a rhythm game during clean-up time.

Picking Songs and Fingerplays

Try to pick and introduce songs and fingerplays to infants, toddlers, (and preschoolers) that:

• can easily be remembered,
• has repetition or a predictable pattern,
• avoids high notes or difficult chord progressions, and
• use language (lyrics) that are easy to say.

Creativity in Dramatic Arts

Encouraging role-playing activities can help toddlers explore different scenarios and roles. For example, a professional might provide a set of simple costumes or props, such as hats, scarves, vests, wallets, or stuffed animals, and invite the child to engage in pretend play. A toddler might pretend to be a doctor, using a toy stethoscope to “check” a stuffed animal’s heartbeat. This type of play allows children to experiment with different roles and scenarios, fostering creativity and social-emotional development.

Storytelling is another way to support creativity in the dramatic arts. Professionals can create stories with the child, allowing them to contribute ideas and direct the narrative. For example, a caregiver might start a story about a bear that goes on an adventure and then ask the child, “What happens next?” This not only encourages the child to think creatively but also supports language development and narrative skills.

Creativity in Other Learning Areas

Creativity is not limited to the arts; it can be nurtured in various other learning areas, including science, mathematics, blocks, and manipulatives. Science provides endless opportunities for creative exploration. For example, a caregiver might set up a simple experiment, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar, and ask the toddler to predict what will happen. This encourages the child to think critically and creatively about cause and effect. Additionally, exploring nature—such as examining leaves, rocks, or insects—can spark curiosity and creative thinking.

"Bird Watching with Infants" by Heather Carter is licensed CC BY-SA.

Mathematics is another area where creativity can be nurtured. For instance, caregivers can introduce counting games that involve sorting objects by size, color, or shape. When toddlers are given a set of blocks, they might begin by simply stacking them, enjoying the challenge of balancing one on top of the other. Over time, as they become more familiar with the materials, they might start to build more complex structures, such as towers, bridges, or enclosures. This process involves trial and error, as children experiment with how different shapes and sizes of blocks fit together. Encouraging children to experiment with different arrangements and combinations of blocks and manipulatives helps them to express their creativity through design and organization.

References

Mayesky, M. (2014). Creative Activities and Curriculum for Young Children. Cengage Learning.