Understanding Creativity in Early Childhood
Meaning-Making and Children's Drawing
- Susan Wright - Professor and Chair of Arts Education in the Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Early Childhood Education
Creativity in early childhood is an area of fascination for all those working with young children, and this book investigates why children create, and what their creations mean. Chapters describe the processes and depict the outcomes of meaning-making, and of making room for children's voices through the open-ended activity of drawing.
Issues examined include:
- the increasingly popular use of multi-modal texts;
- links between creativity and literacy;
- the importance of art in early childhood;
- concrete examples of children's meaning-making, from the author's research.
We see how non-verbal and verbal communication is used to convey meaning, and how children's voices emerge; the important role imagination and narrative play in the early and continuing development of children is emphasized throughout the book.
Ideal for students of early childhood, and for anyone working with young children, this book is a revelatory guide to the mind of the young child.
A clear and informative text, which complements theoretical texts on creativity.
Very relevant text that relates to current curriculum developments in Wales.
throughout the whole course the learners used this book widely some learners have purchased the book. Great for observations to include all areas of creative development
Based on her own considerable research and work with young children, Meehan's book gives the reader a sense of "what is going on in the mind of the child". Actual pictures of their drawings and the reference to children's associated narratives, combine to emphasise the significance of children's creativity. This will be particularly useful for trainee teachers who have not had a first degree in early childhood studies and might otherwise overlook the links between aspects of children's symbolic representation.
i have planned to use sections of this book with my students especially
The messages and theory are easy for students to read and understand - especially like the reflective tasks and case study approach
This is a good book although more images would have been nice, this is a good book for anyone studying or undertaking creativity in the Early Years
Very clear structure to the book.
The outline of what can be achieved at the completion of the chapter is very useful for students when researching information on relevant topics. The summaries at the end of chapters draw together key points which again, assists students with synthesis. A very good, comprehensive Reference List. Thank you for a very useful teaching tool.
This is a highly thought provoking book which I shall recommend to our early years trainees during their art course
Students have enjoyed reading this book and have found it very useful to further their understanding of creativity
Good clearly written book for Early Years trainees- lots of illustrations to help understanding. Interviews were useful too
