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Creativity in the Early Years
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This book offers an accessible and comprehensive new introduction to the subject and practice of creativity in early years education. Taylor takes a uniquely rights-based and inclusive approach to creativity, providing students with a holistic, internationally-minded overview of creativity and its place both inside and outside the classroom. Sections focus on:

  • Defining creativity and its benefits
  • Different modes of creativity
  • Creativity in a policy and social context
  • Creative pedagogy in practice
  • Creative leadership

Each chapter offers questions for critical reflection, illustrative contemporary case studies, and ample suggestions for further reading.


 
Section One: Defining Creativity
 
Chapter 1: What is creativity? definitions and debates
 
Chapter 2: The Value and Benefits of Creativity: Children’s Wellbeing and Development (Nicola Watson)
 
Chapter 3: The Modes of Creativity
 
Section Two: Creativity in Practice
 
Chapter 4: Storytelling, imaginative and symbolic play
 
Chapter 5: Art and children’s drawings: making meaning and visual literacy
 
Chapter 6: Music and movement: communication and community
 
Section Three: Creativity, Policy and Inclusion
 
Chapter 7: Creativity and the Policy Context
 
Chapter 8: Global perspectives on creativity (Janet Harvell)
 
Chapter 9: SEND, inclusion and creativity
 
Chapter 10: Social inclusion, creativity & global citizenship
 
Section Four: Creativity, Research and Pedagogy
 
Chapter 11: Children as Researchers: supporting children’s natural curiosity through STEAM
 
Chapter 12: Creative Pedagogies: across all areas of learning (Nicola Watson)
 
Chapter 13: The Creative & Reflective Practitioner
 
Chapter 14: Conclusions and Next Steps

This key text would support our student's knowledge and understanding of creativity in the early years. It provides practical examples and reflections from practice which would serve a number of modules on our course.

Mrs Samantha Sutton-Tsang
Centre For Early Childhood, Worcester University
July 8, 2025

A useful book that can be related to many areas of the curriculum. Well written and research-based

Mrs Angela Hodgkins
Institute of Education, Worcester University
June 6, 2024

Students found some interesting and helpful tips to use in practice to foster creativity in young children

Mrs Emma Whittam
Dept of Education, Bolton University
September 19, 2024