Creative Arts in Early Childhood Settings: Unlocking Children’s Creativity

Presenter: Agnieszka RudnickiCreative Arts Professor at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, Toronto ON

Contact: agnieszka.rudnicki@senecacollege.ca

Workshop description

“Creativity is now as important in education as literacy, and weshould treat it with the same status". - Sir Ken Robinson

Creativity and critical thinking have both been flagged as essential 21stcentury learning skills. In this interactive workshop you will learn how tosupport and nurture emerging creativity of young children, even if you donot consider yourself a creative person! We will examine the importance of the creative process in the early years and develop an awareness ofdevelopmentally appropriate art activities for children that truly nurturecreativity. You will discover crucial links between art and literacy and gainpractical information regarding a successful art centre set up. Lastly, you will learn how to talk to children about their art to support higher order thinking skills, without saying “I like it”!

Creative Teaching Starts with Empowerment!

In this interactive workshop you will:

• look at creativity in a new way• discover how play, creativity and critical

thinking are connected

• learn about the creative process • discover the difference between

teacher guided and teacher directed art activities

• see links between art and literacy

• gain new knowledge about art centre set up

• learn how to talk to children about their art

• become a confident art specialist

Victoria, age 4, Full Day Early Learning KG Program