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Peninsula Kids
Home»Education»Fostering self-expression, imagination and original ideas through creative arts
Education

Fostering self-expression, imagination and original ideas through creative arts

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By Pat Barbieri

The other morning, I sat with my Pre-Prep class and introduced the ‘languages of learning’ concept to my group of 4-year-olds. We discussed how people can express themselves with their words, with their body movements and with their actions. As a group, we start to explore the many different types of languages and, before long, we realise that not all languages are spoken. They can include painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, construction and even photography. What we discover, however, is that all languages help us express ourselves and learn further.

At 3 and 4 years of age, children are inquisitive, excitable and curious. They are forming connections – with each other and their environment – and learning how to express their thoughts, emotions and ideas. It is because of this that exposure to the creative arts at a young age is so significant. Not only in developing each child’s physical, emotional and cognitive capabilities, but also in cultivating their imagination and creating the foundation for them to thrive in their future.

Inspiration leads to expression.

Creative arts have always been considered to be an expressive pastime, and this holds true for 3 and 4-year-old children as well, as they use all that surrounds them as inspiration to explore their feelings and develop their own original ideas. Every week, I see children take inspiration from painters such as Monet, popular books such as

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, their local surroundings or indigenous culture and use creative arts as a way to reflect their world and express their ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Exploration and experimentation set the foundation for future learning.

Research tells us that children learn best when they are encouraged to actively explore and experiment. The beauty of creative arts is its open-endedness. Be it through exploring a range of art forms or by experimenting with colours, patterns and textures, this can spark the curiosity of our youngest learners and help them develop dispositions for future learning including curiosity, cooperation, confidence, enthusiasm and persistence.

The power of imagination and reflection.

Children need to be given the freedom to imagine, express themselves and work through problems. Through creative arts, children are encouraged to take risks, think outside the box and ponder new approaches as they create and solve problems. They work on their own or with their peers, often sharing their thoughts and excitement in the process. Importantly, creative arts also provides children with the opportunity to continuously absorb the beliefs and perspectives of others and reflect on their own beliefs and perspectives as they seek to make meaning of the world.


Pat Barbieri is the director of early learning at Toorak College.

Peninsula Kids – Summer 2020/21

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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Little Jellies Swimwear Assorted – Size 4 Bright. Bold. Bursting with personality. Little Jellies is the new Australian swimwear label on a mission to make water play safer and more joyful for little ones and a little less stressful for parents. The brand is redefining safety-focused swimwear for safe, active summers. Little Jellies caters to children aged 6 months to 6 years. The collection includes baby swimwear, rashies, sun tops, surf suits, mix-and-match separates, and bucket hats—each made with a snug-but-stretchy fit, UPF50+ sun protection, and quick-dry technology. https://www.littlejellies.com.au/ @little.jellies.swim We have a Long sleeve rash shirt in pink, briefs in purple, and yellow surfsuit all size 4 to give away valued at $139.85 **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE VIA LINK IN BIO
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? LEGO Brick Like This! The LEGO® Group and Asmodee, a leading entertainment company specialising in tabletop games, have announced their second jointly-crafted board game. LEGO® Brick Like This! is a fun family party game where teams race to finish their LEGO® models. One teammate describes a LEGO® model while the other teammate builds it. Communication and collaboration are key in this fun and fast-talking LEGO® building party game! Work together in pairs to build your LEGO® model first! Can you build with your eyes closed? With one hand? How about talking without being able to say numbers or colors? No two games will be the same. Designed for ages 8+ (and perfect for creative adults too) and available from EB Games: RRP: $40.00. **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE: https://peninsulakids.com.au/spring-2025-things-we-love-giveaway/
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Mambo Australia Family Pack The Ultimate Family Spring Giveaway with Mambo! From bold-printed suitcases and insulated lunch boxes to roomy backpacks, comfy sandals and playful sunnies, this capsule has everything the family needs for their next holiday. Designed for boys and girls, with the apparel ranging in sizes 7-16 and footwear available in sizes 13-6, perfect for packing light and dressing right from head to toe. The prize pack will include the following for the winning family: 2 x each – backpacks (kids), water bottles (kids), lunch boxes (kids), pencil cases (kids), overnight bags (adult), hats (adult), beanies (adult), stubby holders (adult) valued at over $300. Selected products available from Big W. @mamboaustralia **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER HERE: https://peninsulakids.com.au/spring-2025-things-we-love-giveaway/
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? Plonkit The Plonkit solves an age-old Aussie problem – where to safely and conveniently “plonk” down your belongings when you’re outside. Made from recyclable plexiglass materials, it easily and securely connects to a glass fence, providing a sturdy place to plonk down all the essentials – drinks, sunnies, phones, snacks, speaker, sunscreen – with no worries. Functional and stylish, Plonkit helps you make the most of your balcony. Plonkit Balcony Table for framed glass fence RRP $199.00, with free shipping Australia-wide. https://plonkit.com.au/ @plonk.it **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER VIA LINK IN PROFILE.
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Have you seen our spring Things We Love giveaways in the winter edition of Peninsula Kids mag? LeapFrog LeapMOVE This one-of-a-kind gaming system combines education and entertainment with movement like never before, blending learning with motion via full-body gameplay! https://www.leapfrog.com/en-au/home **PLEASE NOTE ALL prizes must be collected from Peninsula Kids HASTINGS office. Winners will be notified by email. Please only enter if you can collect and make sure details are entered correctly so you don’t miss out!** 👉ENTER VIA LINK IN PROFILE.
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