environment. It is the way children are
designed to learn and grow,” says Julie
Lam, founder of Highgate House, a
pre-school at the Peak.
Children have unlimited creative
potential, referred to by Loris
Magaluzzi – founder of the Reggio
Approach – as their “100 languages”,
says Ginny Humpage, head of
curriculum at Bebegarten, a learning
centre that nurtures children’s innate
creativity. “It is important for adults to
be aware that children really do need
extended amounts of time to explore
their creativity. They may express
their creativity in many different
forms, for instance, through words,
actions, writing, cooking, drawing,
painting, sculpture, music, dance,
drama, non-verbal and verbal cues,
design, photography and shadow play.
Parents should closely observe their
children and find out what language
their creativity speaks and then nurture
and give them opportunities to spend
extended amounts of time trying and
testing in whatever form that is.”
Inner voices
According to Anastassia Katafygiotis,
director of Anastassia’s Art House and
Red Square Gallery, creativity can be
described as the power of imagination
and the power of manifesting,
demonstrating and communicating
such imaginative ideas. Creativity
greatly facilitates children’s
communication skills and, as a result,
promotes their ability to build strong
human relationships.
Barbara believes that by
expressing their creativity, Timothy
and Madelaine are expressing their
“
inner voices”. “Their fantasy world is
what children base their emotions on.
Creative play, be it by using hand-
puppets to tell a story or by building a
tent with two chairs and a blanket to
hide under for quiet time, allows them
to improve their problem-solving skills
and manage their emotions,” she says.
March 2013