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In this reading Wilson emphasises the importance and strong connection nature play and creative play has for children and the benefits nature play holds for children's development. Wilson states that nature play is a form of authentic play which is the best play for young children as it is open-ended and child-led and freely chosen as children are seen as capable and curious. Wilson highlights that natural environments for play allows children’s exploration, imaginative play and social-skills to flourish. There are so many benefits to nature play where it boosts children’s brain developments, fosters emotional well-being and strengthens social bonds (Wilson, 2018).

This reading made me realise how differently children and adults view nature play. For children, play is where they learn about themselves and develop their skills. Children use all their senses such as touch, sight, hearing, smell as their curious minds are fascinated by their environment and the natural world which is different to how adults view the world.

This reading made me reflect on my perspective and how I understand the definition of the word ‘Child’ and not to only see them as “a person between birth and puberty; an immature person.” which is the dictionary term. It made me reflect on how important it is for children to take their own lead to their play, curiosities and imaginations as they may never have this perspective to the world ever again as it is unique to childhood.

This reading relates to the temporal arts languages within nature as Wilson highlights how children use elements of their environments into their artistic expressions such as, movements of animals, sounds of nature into musical rhythms and many more. The interaction of nature and temporal arts allows children to explore their creativity while connecting with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

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This is my creative response to my on country visit.

My creative response consists a Speech-video with movements as I show my foot steps and paths along the nature walk. My dramatic explanation in character shows the space while poetically telling how as a child they are imagining the tree stump as a magical portal that allows you to imagine and step into your wildest dreams and imaginations.

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My On Country Visit- By Izi Izhan Zaidi s4674042

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My analytical response is divided into sections.

Each analytical response will be in the colour black on the padlet

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Sound, Movement and Drama in Unison and Combination &  My sensations of smell, see, hear, feel, taste, sense

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Sound, Movement and Drama in Unison and Combination &  My sensations of smell, see, hear, feel, taste, sense

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When I was on my on country visit it was early in the morning, I drove to the nature park from the busy roads of people hustling and bustling to work. Once I stepped out of the car it was so peaceful and quiet as I could hear each footstep of mine on the crisp cold grass as I went deeper and deeper into the big tall trees. I connect my on country visit with Dadirri, Dadirri is from Aboriginal culture as it means deep listening and reflection, it encouraged me  to be present with my environment and surroundings. My deep listening was strengthened as an individual as I was attuned and empathetic to one's experiences and emotions. Dadirri allowed me to deeply reflect and listen to the quietness and the connection with stillness, and the world. I was able to be mindful and feel the sense of community and foster the connection to culture and land (Ungunmerr, 1988). I could smell the wet fresh grass and leaves as the night before it was raining, I could hear the birds chirping into a melody as I joined in with the birds chirping mimicking their melodic tunes. As I imitated the birds chirping this really resonates with Victor Wooten’s theory as Wooten states that “music is learned through experience and exploration rather than by instructions and theory,”(TED, 2013) just like how we learn to talk by listening and copying sounds, imitating the birds helped me to express myself musically.

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What my Experience Made Me Feel & Memories from my Childhood

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What my Experience Made Me Feel & Memories from my Childhood

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This experience made me feel peaceful and taking a pause in my busy life to really allow myself to take in my surroundings and notice the simple things such as the green grass, the tall trees around me and the ducks waddling brings me peace and mindfulness. It made me question how I have never come to this beautiful peaceful place when I drive past it everyday for work. It made me reminisce and feel nostalgia from my childhood when my mum and dad would take me and my younger brother on walks along the river as a family and I would be so excited when my dad would give us bird seeds to feed the ducks, it made me wonder how I went from being so excited to now not even noticing a family of ducks around the park until I took the moment to deeply connect with Dadirri.

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The Magical Portal

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My Thoughts on How Children Experience these Languages Through Play in the Natural World

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My Thoughts on How Children Experience these Languages Through Play in the Natural World

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Children experience these languages of sound, movement and drama through play in the natural world as children “like to touch, taste, poke, dig, tear, shake, pull, push, and climb” (Wilson, 2018, p. 3) with all their senses. Children pick up on the sounds around them like the birds chirping or leaves rustling and often imitate those sounds as this helps them explore rhythm and create their own music from what they find in the natural world of nature. Movement and drama allows them to express themselves, acting out stories or feelings based on their experiences such as when they imitate a duck waddling with their feet and flapping their arms. Overall, being in nature gives children a chance to connect with these forms of expression and enhance their creativity and understanding of the natural world.

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The Birds Chirping creating melodies in my creative response video

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My Future Practice in Early Childhood Education Settings

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My Future Practice in Early Childhood Education Settings

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My overall reflection will inform my future practices in early childhood education settings as an educator,  by practicing Dadirri allows me to create a safe and welcoming environment where children can feel valued and understood to share their own stories and cultural background and tradition.

I will also implement my understanding of the importance as an educator in integrating music into learning as it supports children’s creativity and a safe environment for children to be able to learn by exploration and experiences. I will ensure I always view children as capable and competent learners and allow them to control and lead their own learning through play as this ensures I give children the full opportunity to be capable of exploring and active learners.

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TED. (2013, May 30). Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDxGabriolaIsland

[Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/2zvjW9arAZ0?si=mNWvIylIq8m59aTd

Ungunmerr, M.-R. (1988). Dadirri. Miriam Rose Foundation. https://www.miriamrosefoundation.org.au/dadirri/

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children : encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (3rd ed.). Routledge.