CREATIVE MOVEMENTS Movement that reflects the mood or inner state of a child and they are free to express their own personalities in their own style. –Physical movements is the young child’s first means of nonverbal communication. –Through creative movement activities a child is able to express her creative self in a very natural way.

CREATIVE MOVEMENTS  Creative movement can be done to poetry, music, rhythm or even silence  If creative movement is a regular part of young child’s curriculum, a number of objectives may be reached. 1.Relaxation and freedom in the use of the body. 1.Experience in expressing space, time, and weight. 1.Increased awareness of the world 1.Improvement of coordination and rhythmic interpretation.

PLANNING CREATIVE MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES TO MEET YOUNG CHILDREN’S NEEDS GUIDELINES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS  Teachers need to keep in mind the characteristics of each age group.  Instructions needs to be followed by many opportunities for practice.  Several different activities should be incorporate use of a particular skill, thus allowing for extended overall practice time and preventing children from getting bored.  Teachers may want to prepare 2 or 3 movement activities.

USING POETRY AND MUSIC TO STIMULATE CREATIVE MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES 1.Music Listening to music is a natural way to introduce creative movement. Distinctive types of music or rhythm should be chosen for initial movement experience. Some basic concepts for teachers to remember when using music for creative movements are 1.The teacher makes it clear that anything the children want to do is alright, as long as it does not harm them or others. 1.The child is allowed to “copy” someone for a start if desired. 1.The children are encouraged to respect each other as different and able to move in different ways. 1.Encourage children to experience freedom of movement, the relationship of movement to space, and the relationship of movements to others.

CREATIVE MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES WITH MUSIC AND A PARTNER 1.Face your partner and do a “mirror dance” with your hands and arms. 2.Hold hand with partner and slide, leap, gallop etc. 3.Move the same way your partner moves. Because older children may be self-conscious you may need other kinds of ways to encourage their creative movements. –A small group activity involving mirror movements, copying and shadowing movements is appropriate for older children.

2.Poetry and prose –For creative movements, poetry has rhythm as well as the power of language. –Poems should be chosen that fit the young child's level of appreciation. –Older children are able to sustain their interest for longer period of time and enjoy the procedure of listening, picking out roles, and acting out what is read. –They also enjoy adding costumes and props to their creative movements.

3.Fingerplays and creative movement. –Fingerplays provide an endless supply of creative movement opportunities. –Keep fingerplays used for creative movement experience open- ended. By using open-ended divergent question, you invite children to get actively involved right from the beginning. –Encourage children to invent movements when learning a new fingerplay or ask them to suggest variations to revitalize a well- loved rhyme. –Always accept individual interpretations. –Movement activities benefit young children by developing their relaxation, freedom of expression, and increased awareness of their own bodies.