Personal and Social Well-being is an important study area for young learners because they are still learning how to look after themselves and keep themselves healthy. This study area includes social health, emotional health, and relationships with other people and our environment, including values and attitudes.

Creative Arts exposes learners to four art forms: dance, drama, music and the visual arts. The primary purpose of Creative Arts is to develop learners as creative, imaginative individuals with an appreciation of the arts. It also provides essential knowledge and skills to be able to participate in creative activities. Foundation Phase learners are inherently creative, and play is their natural way of learning in the arts.

The development of the learner’s gross and fine motor skills and perceptual development is fundamental in the Foundation Phase. Physical and motor development is integral to the holistic development of learners. It makes a significant contribution to learners’ social, personal and emotional development. Play, movement, games and sport contribute to developing positive attitudes and values. This area focuses on perceptual and locomotor development, rhythm, balance and laterality.

Routine activities include: 

• arrival and departure greetings; 
• toilet routine; 
• birthday chart; 
• date chart; 
• health chart; 
• preparation for creative art and physical education activities, e.g. putting on aprons, taking off shoes; 
• tidying up time after creative arts and free play. 

Structured activities are short teaching and learning activities, often guided by the teacher. They can be done with individual learners, in small groups or as a whole class, depending on the nature of the lesson. 

The development of perceptual skills in young learners is significant in laying a foundation for future growth and learning. Perception means using the senses to acquire information about the surroundings, environment or situation.