Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/caring-for-the-little-ones-creative-activities-for-infants-and-toddlers/5011335/
One reader expressed to me that the most difficult thing about her job was thinking of a different craft activity to do each day. Her program required that all children, even toddlers, have something to carry home each day to show that they have a "creative" program. She suspected that this is not an appropriate goal for toddlers and wanted my opinion.My answer to her is that developing creativity in infants and toddlers is an appropriate goal, but having a product to take home is not. Instead, focus on developing aptitudes for creativity in your very young children.
What early experiences give someone the disposition to express himself or herself creatively? Let's think about "pre-creative" activities - the foundations of creativity, starting in the first year.
Feeling Valued
In order for someone to want to express himself creatively, he must first feel that someone out there thinks he is interesting - that his ideas have value. How do we let infants and toddlers know we think they are interesting?
_ We respond to infants when they cry; and we try to understand and interpret all their various grunts, facial expressions, and gestures.
_ We "shine" on babies when they accomplish things. "Look at you!" we ...