Play, Creativity and the Arts
Play, creativity and the arts help children and young people express themselves, build relationships and make sense of their experiences.
The Thrive Approach uses play, creativity and the arts to support children’s social and emotional development, helping them feel safer, more connected and more ready to engage with life and learning.
What do we mean by play, creativity and the arts?
Play, creativity and the arts are ways children and young people explore, imagine, communicate and connect with the world around them. This can include imaginative play, movement, music, storytelling, drawing, painting, drama, games, sensory activities or creative conversations.
Because these experiences don't rely on words alone, they offer safe, natural ways to express feelings, ideas and experiences that may be hard to explain directly.
Why play and creativity matter
Play and creativity are important because they help children and young people learn about themselves, other people and the world around them.
They can support:
- Social and emotional development
- Communication and language
- Confidence, imagination and a positive sense of self
- Listening, sharing, turn-taking, empathy and problem-solving
- Emotional regulation and resilience
- Safe, trusting relationships with adults and peers
- Readiness to learn
How Thrive uses play, creativity and the arts
The Thrive Approach uses play, creativity and the arts to help adults build safe, supportive relationships with children and young people.
Creative activities give children and young people ways to express feelings, ideas and experiences without relying only on words. They can also help adults notice what a child may be communicating through their choices, actions, body language and relationships.
This shared creative work helps build trust and connection, giving adults a way to respond that supports emotional regulation, wellbeing and readiness to learn.
Together with child development theory, attachment theory and neuroscience, play, creativity and the arts help adults understand what children and young people need and choose developmentally appropriate ways to support them.
Play helps children and young people develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically. It supports imagination, communication, confidence and problem-solving.
Creative activities can help children and young people express thoughts, feelings and experiences that may be hard to put into words.
Play and creativity can help adults build safe, supportive relationships with children and young people, creating trust and connection over time.
Creative and playful experiences can help children and young people feel calmer, more connected and more able to manage emotions and relationships.
The Thrive Approach uses play, creativity and the arts to help adults build relationships, understand children’s needs and support social and emotional development through practical strategies and activities.
Bring Thrive into your school
Become a Thrive School and help staff support children’s social and emotional development with confidence.
Build a shared approach to behaviour, relationships and learning, so children and young people feel safe, connected and ready to learn.
Frequently asked questions
Play is one of the ways children and young people learn about themselves, other people and the world around them. It supports social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development, while helping children build confidence, imagination, problem-solving skills and relationships.
Play and creativity give children and young people safe ways to explore feelings, try out relationships and express themselves. They can help build communication, empathy, confidence, emotional regulation and connection with others.
Creative activities can help children and young people show feelings, thoughts and experiences that may be hard to put into words. Drawing, movement, music, drama, storytelling, games and sensory play can all give children natural ways to communicate.
Yes. Play and creativity continue to matter throughout childhood and adolescence, although they may look different as children grow. Creative expression, movement, music, drama, games and the arts can support wellbeing, identity, relationships and emotional development.
Play and creativity can help children and young people feel safer, calmer and more connected. When children feel supported socially and emotionally, they are often better able to manage feelings, build relationships and engage with learning.
Thrive uses play, creativity and the arts to help adults build safe relationships and support children and young people’s social and emotional development. Creative activities can help adults understand what a child may be communicating and choose practical strategies that support wellbeing, connection, emotional regulation and readiness to learn.