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Your own spontaneity with music, movement, or acting provides creative inspiration. Others who are more reluctant to come forward may be enticed by an atmosphere that is nonjudgmental and where everyone's work is a masterpiece. Some children like to 'perform' and welcome the opportunity to show off their newest work. Make the time and space for children to share their music, movement, and dramatic creations with others-always by invitation, never by force. Your quiet acknowledgement helps children become aware of what they are doing and helps them feel supported. Some children are not aware of how creative they're being by making up a song or dance because it is so natural and spontaneous. Sometimes just a smile or nod is all that's needed to tell a child that you support her creative expression. And like a conductor, rather than leading or controlling, you need to create a supportive environment: Follow the children's lead and respect and nurture their passion for the arts. Much like an orchestra conductor who doesn't play the instruments, you are an artist who inspires children's natural, spontaneous, creative expression. Your role in fostering self-expression and kindling creative passion should be that of facilitator and supporter. Jumping as high as possible, telling a joke, taking a bath, making funny faces - almost any activity has the potential for children to perform, to be seen, to be acknowledged. Life is a stage for young children, and they demonstrate this in most things they do.Ĭhildren's involvement with performance is not only in the arts but also in everyday life. Performance art is the little songs children make up while they are working with clay, the dances they do while waiting in line to go outside, the characters they pretend to be in a play. Some children are comfortable with taking center stage, while others are more quiet and shy All children, however, delight in being acknowledged for their expression, no matter how large or small. This is part of the natural desire we all have to be recognized. Performances Large and SmallĬhildren have a need to demonstrate what they are feeling and thinking.

By exploring other points of view, children learn compassion for others and gain a sense of connection to the world. In doing so, they learn more about who they are and about others as well. They try on feelings, expressions, and different ways of being.

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Through the performing arts, children feel free to create and re-create themselves at will. Higher-order thinking skills, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, are also developed through activities that promote self-expression.

As we support children's innate desire to create, express, and perform, we build on their natural curiosities, spark their imaginations, and provide opportunities for verbal and physical expression. When introducing the performing arts, our job is to encourage creative expression rather than to teach specific skills.Ĭhildren grow emotionally, socially, creatively, and cognitively through spontaneous music, movement, and drama. How do imagination and creative expression affect children's growth and development? How do we support this process? Music, movement, and drama provide an important means for spontaneous creativity that comes from the rich and deep inner life of the child.