We all want our little ones to get a strong start in life.
Early childhood teacher Jodie Cannon, from the kindergarten at Lockhart River State School, said kindy was a safe and supportive place for children to become confident learners.
‘Children make friends, develop a strong sense of identity and feel connected to their world,’ Jodie said.
‘At kindy, we build in children a love of learning, growing and sharing with their peers’
Jodie said it was important for families to be part of the journey and discover who their amazing child is, their abilities, personalities, dreams and aspirations.
‘Kindy is a partnership between families, children’s first teachers and us, their kindy teachers.'
‘This partnership helps us to give them the best head start in their education journey.'
‘We create inviting spaces filled with lots of talking narratives, storytelling, painting, drawing, singing, dancing and sand play.'
‘Fun and engaging activities for the body, soul and mind.'
‘It’s all about learning in a hands-on way, connecting with others and linking with the community.’
Jodie said the children’s learning extended beyond the kindergarten.
‘At kindy, we display pictures of familiar places and slowly include words from the children and their families about what these spaces and places mean to them,’ she said.
‘This provides a prompt to dig deep into memories of the young and old.'
‘This sort of learning is so important for our kids.'
‘It’s who they are and their culture.'
‘If we embed culture in their everyday learning, then it gives them a sense of identity at kindy and makes them feel like they belong.’
Jodie said kindy was a place of healing, not just healing in yourself, but healing as a nation.
‘Kindy is rich in culture and diversity which means that children get to connect with one another through drawings, playing and dancing,’ she said.
For more information, inspiration and good practice advice about embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in your kindy program, visit the
Foundations for Success website.
Kindy songline
The
kindy songline was created by Queensland communities to represent the positive kindergarten experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. Early childhood teachers and educators can engage with families using the songline.
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