Skip to content
Glimmers of Imagination and Creativity
The first glimmers of imagination and creativity appear at about 12 months, as your toddler begins to play pretend games which involve mirroring activities, such as using the doll’s brush to comb his own hair. Notice what pleasure your baby’s takes in exploring the characteristics of an object and trying to understand how it works.
Your Very Little Artist
Your child’s developing motor control and decreasing tendency to put everything in the mouth opens the window to the world of creative materials, such as crayons, finger paints, markers, and more. At this stage, his experimentation is not based on planning or on an attempt to arrive at an end product, but on the pleasure gained from whatever does happen – the colorful splotches or the thick or thin line he draws.
The Importance of Positive Feedback
Creativity is influenced by curiosity and the enjoyment of discovery and exploration, as well as by positive reinforcement. So, encourage your child and give him positive reinforcement when he is playing and show interest in what he is doing, even if his current exploration and discovery is making a royal mess! 🙂
- First signs of imagination appear.
- Plays imitation games: imitates the voices, movements or actions of others.
- Easily grasps small objects with forefinger and thumb (pincer grasp).
- Tendency to put toys and objects in her mouth declines.
- Understands object permanency: when she sees you hiding a toy, she knows immediately how to find it.
- Enjoys placing objects in containers and taking them out.
- Encourage creative problem solving. When your child encounters a problem, this is the chance to help her find new ways to solve them.
- Encourage her to look for new solutions and guide her if she becomes frustrated.
- Your toddler is only able to concentrate and focus on one stimulant at a time. So it is important to allow her to explore in her own way and not overwhelm her with too much stimulation that can distract her from her exploration and play.
