How to embed creativity into children's learning

As we are all born creative, children particularly are exploding with creative potential. ALL children. Shy. Hard-working. Anxious. Those with special needs. Disruptive. Those who like to please. All children have creative potential and when this gem is nurtured and recognized it can add real valuable to learning and progression. Music is a subject which exudes creativity, imaginative thinking and fun exploration. Music empowers, connects, consolidates and reinforces. There is much we can do to enhance skills, progress learning, and consolidate knowledge when we incorporate music into children’s education. 

·      Learn an instrument

·      Regular exposure to a variety of music and musical genres

·      Creating sound combinations in the home

·      Learning, singing and performing rhymes and songs

·      Composing songs, sound stories, sound tracks, and jingles

·      Watching and evaluating live music performances

·      Outdoor music

·      Home made instruments

·      Listening to various musical excerpts and respond through movement, art, drama

·      Music and movement

·      Silent animations/movies

The list is endless. By participating in such creative music activities, children can develop an array of skills such as communication, confidence-building, language, construction, word sequencing, turn-taking, creative thinking, information-gathering, social, fine motor, gross motor, observation, evaluation, assessment, and much, much more. Music can be embedded into virtually everything. All forms of learning both at school and home. Any type of music activity is certainly beneficial. However, there is one specific activity which I have used, refined, researched and trialed over the years. It is a model based on guided music improvisation. It is an innovative model which can be accessed by all parents and educators as there is no need to have a musical background. It is child-centred, child-focused, and child-led. It is fun, inclusive, cross-curricular, motivating, discipline enhancing, and highly effective in learning and skills acquisition. It is a music improvisation revelation which I discovered in my early teaching career.  During these times of social isolation, virtual learning, anxiety and fear, I truly recommend getting creative with music, in any of its forms…

‘Rediscover, reignite, release…the creative mind.’ ~ Dr Denise