Behaviour

Creativity is something that comes from within each and every one of us, and is shown or displayed in what we do with materials and experiences. When we provide art and craft materials for children, we provide them with the opportunity to make and use materials in their own special and creative way.

Providing ready-made cut-outs of butterflies and snowmen, or traced drawings of animals for children to colour in, does not make a creative experience. Neither do colouring books, stencils or dot-to-dot drawings. Such materials only provide practice in fine motor skills and are, in any case, adult-directed.

Try to provide children with the opportunity to create for themselves, rather than always be involved in experiences that are dictated by what we, as adults, might approve of.

There are many things you can do to make your learning environment more pleasing, interesting and creative - and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Below are some suggestions about the different materials you can use.

Open-ended materials are those that can be used in any way and there is no end to what can be done with the material. Play dough, clay, dramatic play materials, such as hats, bags, cooking materials, are all open-ended in their possibilities, as against a puzzle, game or fixed climbing equipment, which have more limited uses.

Open-ended materials give children the time and the opportunity to think creatively, finding new uses for familiar items.

There are many natural materials around us that can be utilised by children in the program. We don't need to spend a lot of money purchasing plastic toys and equipment when natural items will provide an equal (or better) substitute.

Examples include gumnuts, seaweed, sponges, stones, leaves, bark, small branches and twigs, seed-pods, pine cones, etc.

Leaves	Rocks
Shells	Sea sponges

When you go out on the weekend, look around and collect other natural materials from the environment that you can use to enrich your program for the children.

Examples include paper, cardboard, empty food cartons (check that there have not been any traces of nuts as this may have a major effect upon a child who is allergic), yoghurt containers, milk cartons and bottles, ice cream containers, wine caskets, lids, soft drink bottles, etc.

Always ensure materials have been washed prior to use.

Bottles	Boxes
Corks	Egg cartons
Magazines	Material
Popsticks	Straws
Containers	Lids
Patty pans	String