Creative Activities and Curriculum for Young Children By Mary Mayesky Slides Prepared by Jennifer Johnson ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 16 Creative Movement ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

The Importance of Creative Movement Activities for Young Children Use of large and small muscles Motor coordination Movement as main means of learning Rich opportunities for development of total self Kinesthetic ways of knowing Understanding/negotiating the world ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Benefits of Creative Movement Sensory awareness — visual, auditory, tactile Social development Body awareness Concentration Personal development ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Developmental level Characteristics of age group Time to be creative ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Preschool creative movement Have children find their own space Start with moving one body part and add others Develop a signal for stopping the activity ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Creative movement in the elementary classroom Define expectations Prepare the room Cues Spatial arrangements Working with partners Time limits Commenting on students’ work ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Outdoor creative movement activities Teacher is the play leader Suggest new and different ways play equipment can be used Bring music outdoors Use open areas for large group activities ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Transitions and creative movement activities Use pretend Turn your jump rope into a worm Have children use their imagination and stretch Create feel boxes Clap rhythms More … ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Guidelines for using music and poetry to stimulate creative movement activities Music Mirror dance Partner dance Move like your partner Move with your partner Poetry and prose Act out the poem ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Guidelines for Planning Creative Movement Activities to Meet Young Children’s Needs Art and creative movement Dance and art Creative movement and sound collages Dance a painting Magic wand Artists that move Sculpture or architecture dances ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Creative Movement Activities for Children with Special Needs Children participate at their own level Sense of belonging to group Focus on what the children can do Large motor activities are important for strength, endurance, and coordination Integrate gross motor activities into daily schedule Follow with quiet activities ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Creative Movement Activities for Children with Special Needs Developmental delays Use exercise videos Encourage child to participate in gross-motor activities Demonstrate activity first Allow children to watch a role model Familiarize yourself with developmental sequences ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Creative Movement Activities for Children with Special Needs Physical impairments Slow movements are best Encourage the child to move independently Have the child do what they can Occasionally have the child be the “time keeper” ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Creative Movement Activities for Children with Special Needs ADHD and behavioral issues Teach children how to manage their behavior Give praise when the child follows the rules Make sure each child has space Maintain eye contact Eliminate waiting Keep activities short Give clear directions ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Adapting Creative Movement Activities for Children with Special Needs Visual impairments Give lots of encouragement Give clear directions Discourage anxieties Describe the movement Use the child’s name to get their attention Tell the child what will happen next ©2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.