Nursery World - A Parent's Guide to ... Expressive Arts and Design

Have you ever watched your child playing with mud and wondered what it is that so enthrals them? Their enthusiasm almost certainly lies in a desire to explore and be creative, and such explorations start at a very early age.

Within the revised Early Years Foundation Stage, it is the area of learning called Expressive Arts and Design that encompasses all things creative (see box).

It is a very broad area of learning and covers:

Within this area of learning, 'creative development' is divided into two main aspects:

'Exploring and using media and materials' is all about introducing your child to creative experiences, such as music, and giving them opportunities to explore materials (paper, clay, fabrics), learn about tools (for example, paintbrushes and scissors) and experiment (with colour, texture, form).

'Being imaginative' is about your child using what they have learned about 'media and materials' to express themselves in original ways and to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas through art, role play, stories and so on.

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