All Modules B6-Development Matters in the early years | Page 49

8 Expressive Arts arts - Science & design: Being imaginative
A Unique Child:
41.
42.
43.

Positive Relationships:

Enabling Environments:

observing what a child is learning

what adults could do

what adults could provide

Uses different gestures, sounds and movement to initiate interactions
Discovers the world around by exploring with all senses and being proactive, persistent in
that exploration
Begins to understand the value of others help

See Characteristics of Effective Learning; Communication
and Language; Physical Development; Personal, Social and
Emotional Development

See Characteristics of Effective Learning; Communication
and Language; Physical Development; Personal, Social
and Emotional Development

44. Expresses self through physical action and sound.
45. • Pretends that one object represents another, especially
when objects have characteristics in common.
46. Uses objects to represent different things when pretend
playing

• Show genuine interest and be willing to play along with a
young child who is beginning to pretend.

• Provide a variety of familiar resources reflecting
everyday life, such as magazines, real kitchen items,
telephones or washing materials.

47. Beginning to use representation to communicate, e.g.
drawing a line and saying ‘That’s me.’
48. • Beginning to make-believe by pretending.
49. Enjoys music, dancing, pretend playing and painting

Birth - 11
months

• Observe and encourage children’s make-believe play in
order to gain an understanding of their interests.
• Sometimes speak quietly, slowly or gruffly for fun in
pretend scenarios with children.
• Be interested in the children’s creative processes and talk
to them about what they mean to them.

• Provide story boxes filled with interesting items to spark
children’s storytelling ideas.
• Offer additional resources reflecting interests such as
tunics, cloaks and bags.

Babies and toddlers need to explore the world and develop a
range of ways to communicate before they can express their
own ideas through arts and design. See Characteristics of
Effective Learning; Communication and Language; Physical
Development; Personal, Social and Emotional Development

8-20 months

16-26 months

22-36 months

48

Expressive arts and design: Being imaginative

Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically support children’s learning across all areas