Creative Expression...

I try to promote creative expression in my preschoolers. I don't ask them to paint something specific, I just let them paint. The same goes for drawing, building with blocks, singing, writing, ect. I will ask them what they are painting, drawing, building, or writing but I don't limit them by saying "you have to paint, write, build _____." That said, I do have my limits for what I consider to be appropriate creative expression-and it doesn't always match what some parents think is appropriate creative expression, as I found out today.

We have this boy in our preschool class. He's 4, very intelligent, cute as a button, and has a very impressive imagination. Today he came in with his mom, got his stuff off, and washed his hands. Then he came out of the bathroom and started yelling/screaming, in various pitches, random vowels and consonants. No real words at all, just completely random. At the time I was talking to his mom. After a minute or 2 of these random vocalizations I turned around a said, "K***, please stop, you are hurting our ears. You can do that when we are outside." Then I turned back to his mom, intending on continuing the coversation. She says to me, "Oh, that's his way of 'creatively expressing himself', he does it all the time at home."

Okay, now I understand that kids need creative outlets, and that they can be loud. But honestly, I don't want to listen to a high pitched squeal of random letters at 7:30 in the morning. I don't want to listen to it period, but there is a time and a place for it-(like outside)-if that's what he needs to do to 'creatively express' himself, regardless of how I feel out it.

So, for those parents and teachers out there, what do your kids do to creatively express themselves?