Understanding Creativity in Early Childhood

Meaning-Making and Children′s Drawing

Susan Wright author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Sage Publications Ltd

Published:16th Feb '10

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Understanding Creativity in Early Childhood cover

Do you want to understand young children′s development in greater depth? Would you like to see how they view the world around them, and what they think the future might look like?

Creativity in early childhood is an area of fascination for all those working with young children, and this book investigates why children create, and what their creations mean. Chapters describe the processes and depict the outcomes of meaning-making, and of making room for children′s voices through the open-ended activity of drawing.

Issues examined include:

- the increasingly popular use of multi-modal texts;

- links between creativity and literacy;

- the importance of art in early childhood;

- concrete examples of children′s meaning-making, from the author′s research.

We see how non-verbal and verbal communication is used to convey meaning, and how children′s voices emerge; the important role imagination and narrative play in the early and continuing development of children is emphasized throughout the book.

Ideal for students of early childhood, and for anyone working with young children, this book is a revelatory guide to the mind of the young child.

′[This book] features concrete examples of children′s meaning-making and is an attempt to...further understand children′s development in greater depth and also to see how they view the world around them′ -
Early Years Educator

′This will be an important ′seminal′ text for many years in the early childhood field. Wright′s work is based on her extensive research and work with young children, and her passion for this aspect of children′s learning and development is evident throughout the text′ - Dr Catherine Meehan, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University


Excellent book- see my comments on the back of the book! -- Dr Catherine Meehan * drupal *
This is an interesting and well structured book.
This will be of benefit to particular students as they write their end of year assignments, depending on their focus however unfortunately the course aims to cover a wider range of topics in the year than are in the book. As such, it would not be appropriate to suggest this as an essential textbook for my students. -- Dr Jim Clack * drupal *
Love the practicalities of this book. It is easy to read, and has lots of ideas for practitioners to adopt.
Will have it in my library box for them to loan, and recommend they purchase it if they are looking for a book on creativity. -- Jayne Lewis * drupal *
Very relevant text that relates to current curriculum developments in Wales. -- Miss Alyson Lewis * drupal *
vey useful for the work our students underake on childrens drawings -- Miss Donna Luck * drupal *
This is a good book although more images would have been nice, this is a good book for anyone studying or undertaking creativity in the Early Years -- Mr David Corry-Bass * drupal *
This is great to help project students design their experiments with children and get a basic understanding of the relationship here with creativity.

This is offered as supplemental material as not all students choose to study creativity with children. -- Mr Neil Howlett * drupal *
Interesting and relevant to course material. Good theortical background on early creative thinking. -- Mrs Caitriona Ryan * drupal *
This is an interesting study of creativity in early childhood. It gives important insight into the valuable role of drawing to young children. I will be recommending it on the Art & Design modules. -- Mrs Ceridwen Copping * drupal *
This is a really helpful book which encompasses a lot of the key topics covered in the module. -- Mrs Claire Carkin * drupal *
Very clear structure to the book.
The outline of what can be achieved at the completion of the chapter is very useful for students when researching information on relevant topics. The summaries at the end of chapters draw together key points which again, assists students with synthesis. A very good, comprehensive Reference List. Thank you for a very useful teaching tool. -- Mrs Eleonora Teszenyi * drupal *
This is an excellent book on the topic of creativity in Early Childhood. The pictures used to illustrate the points made bring the book to life and help set the theories in context. -- Mrs Heather Macdonald * drupal *
A good supplementary text to support students deeper understanding of child development in particular the growing understanding of the importance of creativity in the more formal learning environment as well as within the early years; supports effective analysis observations. -- Mrs Janet Harvell * drupal *
Very useful text which is well illustrated.

This text has been included in the reading list for one of the FDEYS modules as recommended reading. I have also requerted that CCCU Library order more copies. -- Mrs Janet Wood * drupal *
i have planned to use sections of this book with my students especially
The messages and theory are easy for students to read and understand - especially like the reflective tasks and case study approach -- Mrs Julie Brierley * drupal *
throughout the whole course the learners used this book widely some learners have purchased the book. Great for observations to include all areas of creative development -- Mrs Karen Cooke * drupal *
This is a highly thought provoking book which I shall recommend to our early years trainees during their art course -- Mrs Lorna Hill * drupal *
Informative easy to read text, ideal for those students on early years degree courses -- Mrs Michelle Rogers * drupal *
Students have enjoyed reading this book and have found it very useful to further their understanding of creativity -- Mrs Rosie Walker * drupal *
From the very beginning, e.g. the cover the concept of creativity seems a little closed. The child is using a pen to ′colour in′ a pre-drawn outline of a figure!
Overall the book seems to be mis-titled and therefore misleading as it is almost wholly about children′s drawing (p2. creativity through the "act of meaning making within the medium of drawing")." -- Mrs Sheena Smart * drupal *
Good clearly written book for Early Years trainees- lots of illustrations to help understanding. Interviews were useful too
-- Mrs Shirley Harrison * drupal *
Some lovely chapters - really extends thinking -- Mrs Tanya Richardson * drupal *
Great practical activities and advice for any one working with children -- Ms Alison Stevenson * drupal *
A clear and informative text, which complements theoretical texts on creativity. -- Ms Babs Anderson * drupal *
this book is essential for play and creativity modules. It is a really excellent resource for early years students on all levels from foundation degree to level 3 graduate
good examples and helpful for research students as well.
The focus on drawing is very interesting and illustrations of the children′s work engaging -- Ms Carol Lloyd * drupal *
This text fully supports the intended learning for students across two courses. The author has presented a cohesive text that addresses many misconceptions regarding creativity in the early years. -- Ms Clare Harris * drupal *
A clearly written and easy read book. Very informative. I liked the great examples of the children′s drawings. The reflections at the end of the chapters were helpful and made you think about the issues further. -- Ms Denise Elliott * drupal *
Based on her own considerable research and work with young children, Meehan′s book gives the reader a sense of "what is going on in the mind of the child". Actual pictures of their drawings and the reference to children′s associated narratives, combine to emphasise the significance of children′s creativity. This will be particularly useful for trainee teachers who have not had a first degree in early childhood studies and might otherwise overlook the links between aspects of children′s symbolic representation. -- Ms Veronica Towers * drupal *

ISBN: 9781847875266

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 350g

200 pages