Birth to 5 Matters Expressive Arts and Design Resources
An enabling environment for art and design
A childminder’s case study on enabling a 2-year-old’s sensory play
Shadow Duet – movement and dance
Case study illustrating what children’s movement play might look like in Ranges 1-2, and how adults might support it
Supporting children’s exploration of paint
Case study considering children’s learning through the visual arts, paint and painting in Ranges 3-4, and how adults can support it
Case study showing shows the potential learning benefits of children developing their narrative ideas over time, making connections in a supportive environment
Case study showing how a childminder tunes into a child’s interest and enthusiasm, and expands upon this in the home setting to include the younger children in her care
Action drawing within children’s multi-modal meaning making
Visual art case study of a child who combining sounds, marks, gesture, facial expression and the action of drawing to share his thinking and understanding of the world
Interacting with infants’ vocal play
Case study illustrating what children’s musical learning in Ranges 1-2 might look and sound like, and how adults can support
Glossary – Expressive Arts and Design
Guide to the complex skills of early writing, including motivation and purpose, physical skills, meaning, narrative and phonics
Creative Woodwork in the Early Years
Pete Moorhouse describes the value of woodwork for children’s creative exploration and expression
Subject association for visual arts, with key aim to inspire and enable high quality art education; free resources and membership options
Best start in life part 3: the 4 specific areas of learning
Ofsted’s report on EAD and valuable opportunities through the arts to develop problem-solving/creative thinking
BOING, WHOOOOSH, ROLY POLY – Engaging two-year-olds through fun and creative play
This short free handout by Jasmine Pasch offers lots of practical ways to support children’s holistic movement development
Reading Rights Interim Report: Books build a brighter future
BookTrust report on policy change needed to bring stories and reading to all communities and all children
Co-Creating Stories with Children, by Susan Ramsey
Reggio-inspired pedagogy to foster early literacy, communication, and storytelling in young children
Creative Representation: the child’s unique response to experience
Article by Kathy Ring in Early Education Journal exploring what creative representation is, through a wide range of art and design experiences
Drawing in the Museum – drawing out ideas
Article by Nicola Wallis exploring how inviting young children to sketch inside museum galleries acts as a powerful tool for social interaction, cognitive development, and emotional expression
Telling Stories in Early Years
Practical ideas from National Literacy Trust to support telling stories in different ways
Loris Malaguzzi International Centre
Short film portraying the Reggio Emilia pedagogy and work of the centre
We Think Everywhere – creative use of digital media in early childhood
An Erasmus-funded project looking at creative and expressive uses of digital media and technology with young children
Froebel Trust pamphlet by Lucy Parker, with practical advice on setting up clay-based sensory and open-ended play spaces using Froebelian principles
Helicopter Stories with Make Believe Arts
Creative story making inspired by the work of teacher and author, Vivian Gussin Paley
Range of research and resources to support creative practice for birth to threes, families, practitioners and artists
CPD and online toolkit designed to help early years educators build communities of practice that integrate musical activities with speech, language, and communication development
Free guidance for practitioners, teachers and parents/carers to support children’s musical development through broad musical experiences.
Songs, Rhymes and Finger Plays
Practical leaflet from the Froebel Trust exploring songs and finger rhymes
This article by Cath Reding from Refocus Journal explores children’s creative use of movement and music in nursery and reception
Practical leaflet by Paula Lester from the Froebel Trust on using rhythm, physical movement, and finger plays to enhance early language skills and cognitive development