Creative Activities

Creative activities: why they’re important for  learning and development

The primary school years can be a very creative time. Creative activities like drama, music, dance, art and craft are great for learning and development in these years. They can help children:

• develop imagination and creativity
• build confidence
• understand and express emotions
• learn about the world and their place in it
• communicate thoughts, experiences or ideas
• practice and improve social skills
• practice and improve fine motor skills, gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• build vocabulary and memory
• practise decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking.

When we are doing a creative activity with your child, we will show them how there’s more than one way to do something. For example, we will ask questions like ‘How many ways can you draw a person?’ or ‘Show me how many sounds you can make with the drum’. This encourages your child to enjoy being creative rather than trying to do something ‘right’ or make something perfect.