Artistic Activities in Crèche and the Quality of Interactions

Research Findings: In this study, we examine specific features of arts-related activities in crèche and its associations with the quality of group and child level interactions. Participants were 31 toddler classrooms and 50 children (Mage = 30.56; 52% girls). The quality of group level interactions was observed with the CLASS Toddler and the quality of child level interactions with the inCLASS Toddler. Results revealed that the vast majority of activities were Arts & crafts, conducted in small group, and were open-ended, although substantial variation was found. Findings further showed positive associations between active facilitation and the quality of interactions at both levels. Other activity features, such as the use of hands-on materials, social grouping and open-ended, were also associated with interaction quality. Practice or Policy: Results from the current study can inform crèche educators on how to better plan and conduct artistic activities. Arts & crafts activities can become especially fruitful moments for quality interactions, from the group and child perspectives, when the educator acts as a facilitator and co-player, providing materials that children can freely manipulate and giving children the freedom to create products from their imagination. Such suggestions are important to consider in arts-oriented curriculum guidelines for toddlers.