Aussie Childcare Network Forum

hey i am new to this,
i am stuck on this question.

What is the relationship between loose parts/open-ended materials and creativity?

Thanks for any help

Thankyou

Hi Jewels
I am posting my answer that I got right. Hope it helps you too..

open-ended materials allow children choices and independence, both crucial in stimulating genuine creativity. Key to this kind of creative work by children is the teacher’s respect for both the child and the materials and the availability of open-ended materials like clay, paint, and tools for drawing and writing. Open-ended materials are particularly effective because they have no predetermined use. When children play with open-ended materials, they explore the look and feel of the materials. They develop a sense of aesthetics by investigating what is beautiful and pleasing about the material. The wide variety of forms of different kinds of materials, along with suggestions of things to do and to look at, flows over into artistic and scientific creation. The more children use open-ended materials, the more they make them aesthetically pleasing by fiddling, sorting, and ordering, and the more they see the potential in the materials and in themselves. Play and the creative arts in early childhood programs are essential ways children communicate, think, feel, and express themselves. Art making, fiddling around with bits of wood and fabric or pieces of plastic and leather, reveals the gentle spirit creating simple forms and arrangements, touching the hands, hearts, and minds of young children—and adults. Children will succeed when they have access to a wide variety of art-making materials such as reusable resources, and when they are surrounded by adults who see and believe in the creative competence of all children and are committed to their success in expressing themselves. As we trust the process, as we encourage and observe the emerging self-initiative and choice making of the children, we come to more fully understand the intimate connection between the spirit of play and the art-making process. Given these optimum circumstances, children surprise and delight us- they create structures and thoughts no one has seen or heard before. We adults develop a greater appreciation for the children and for the power of creative art making and materials, thus providing a strong motivation for adults to continue teaching and children to continue learning in this way. In this era of performance standards and skill-based/outcome-based education, it is more important than ever for educators and families to articulate the values and support the creativity of play and exploration as ways to meet the standards - and to go beyond them.

thankyou. that helped alot