ABSTRACT

This chapter suggests ways to nurture young children's creativity by: listening more and talking less; giving children time and space; standing back to observe more; and documenting what children tells to revisit their learning. The nursery school practitioners were in the process of developing a system for observing children and their play opportunities in the workshop areas, indoors and outdoors. A powerful motivating force within this work was the language development of children, as one of the main aims of the nursery was to enhance the vocabulary development and language skills of the children. As practitioners observed children and the play opportunities, they wrote down what they saw and heard. The chapter reflects on many aspects of learning and teaching linked to creativity, considering the role of the artist in the preschool environment. Through the dialogue between adults and other children Ben explored and reflected on his creative ideas.