My last day at placement was an eventful and joyful day. In the morning, they made clay puppets puppet: we set out tables of modelling clay (bright colours), wooden sticks as handles combined with a selection of craft supplies; goggly eyes, scraps of material, pipe cleaners etc...

The children enthusiastically started shaping their puppets of either animals (such cats, turtles, etc.) or of fanciful characters (Rainbow Man, Super Bunny, etc.). I demonstrated the procedure of fixing small details by firmed but not forceful pressing that encouraged fine motor skills (EYLF Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing). The sensory play with clay also helped to relax some of the children in line with the emphasis of wellness in NQS QA2: Children Health and Safety (ACECQA, 2020).

After we finished the puppets, we went to the music corner to have an improvised Puppet Dance Show. Songs were sung, and every child could take a turn to make his/her puppet move on front of the group. The activity combined dramatic play, movement, and music and aligned with EYLF Outcome 5: Children can communicate effectively and Outcome 4: Confident and involved learners (Department of Education, 2022).

 

I promoted story telling during the performance where every child had a name and a brief story to tell about how his puppet attained it. This developed story telling techniques and trust in addressing people. I was also observing how the quieter children would talk much more freely when talking through a puppet and this is also one of the benefits of dramatic play in that it can reduce anxieties and help the child to express themselves (Edwards, 2023).

 

Professional Reflection: Terminating my placement with such a cheerful and creative activity confirmed me in the idea that open-ended art and role-play are crucial in regard to a complete development of a child. Creative combination of fine motor work, storytelling, and movement, creativity, and fine motor work means that the development of many learning opportunities were present. This day also served as a reminder that during the early childhood care academic preparation goes hand in hand with encouraging joy and self-expression.