Observation: On the tools
The three year 1 girls were using the new Hi Vis vests, hard hats and pretend tool belts at the playground. Child A approached me and asked me what needed fixing? So I began to give them various items that needed fixing around the playground. She was role playing as a tradie, putting on a voice and a funny face – all children joined in and were all really taking on the characters. They ran wherever needed fixing and all huddled around the spot, hammering away and seemed really invested in the play.
Where to next? More toys / games that are giving the kids a new way to explore play and roles etc.
What resources are required to extend on this observation? Different tools to play with from different careers / hobbies / cultures – anything new and different.
Optional: What I learnt from this? I learnt that new toys and forms of play can be so exciting for kids – for everyone actually. The girls were not getting bored and were using their hands and their heads to all work together to fix the imaginary problems. I also think it’s nice that we brought in some more toys that can show different play types to kids who otherwise might not think to play that way. Ie. the girls playing may not ever think to play builders etc but when presented with the tools they loved it!
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Observation: Connecting through Art
I love doing arm painting as you get to have one on one interaction and it is a great time for the kids to slow down and just have a nice conversation about what they have been up to. If there is anything they are excited about, they always share it. Arm paint is always a space where they get to express the things they like as I get them to search up the photo of the design they want painted. Child A was one I had a lovely interaction with. During her painting, she was telling me all about her upcoming performances where she gets to perform a comedy monologue/musical performance. She is also the understudy for another big part of the show. I was asking a lot of questions about it because she was really passionate eg. “are you excited”, “have you memorised everything”, ” what’s it about”. She was loving talking about it so much that she stuck around after her arm was finished. I extended the conversation to ask her what her favourite musicals were: Beetlejuice and Hamilton. I knew one of the songs from Beetlejuice so started saying the lyrics and she began singing it and then we were doing it together. I also told her how much I love Hamilton and she got really excited asking me my favourite songs. I then put on one of the Hamilton songs (Satisfied) and we sung it together while she helped me paint my last people for the day.
Where to next? Using one on one time like arm painting to talk to the kids about what’s interesting to them at the moment and then we can program activities around that interest. For Child A, we could play songs from musicals, consider musical-themed art/craft, and provide scripts/performing opportunities here.
What I learnt from this? I can utilise the arm painting time to make deeper connections, and that when you’re interested and ask questions, kids love to share the things they love.