Nursery World - EYFS Best Practice in schools

Following an increased engagement in visual art during the pandemic, how can early years settings continue to support children's creativity, asks Charlotte Goddard

Activities such as spin painting can be more enjoyable for those children who are daunted by formal approaches to art

In the early days of the pandemic, children's art seemed to be more visible than ever before. From chalk pictures on the pavements to painted stones placed in a line, their creativity was on display throughout the community. Arts and community organisations shared activities and resources through social media and their own websites.

‘Among my mum friends, there was a huge push around arts and crafts activities during the initial shutdown,’ says Emma-Jo Bairstow, founder of Artworks Education.

Researchers from Yale University found that parents in the US and in South Korea prioritised arts and crafts over other parent-child interactions during school closures, and noted that sales of arts and crafts toys had increased. Some children enjoyed being able to spend as long as they wanted on an activity, rather than having to put aside their project and move on to phonics or numeracy as they might have had to at school.

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