# data[].attributes.body
My hometown has a unique language form that sounds like Mandarin in a special way of expression. Local dialect is the key to regional cultural inheritance and helps preserve and pass on unique traditions and values. For me, speaking in dialect is essential in social interactions, fostering closer interpersonal and group bonds. Moreover, it helps build a stronger cultural identity. When I learn the First Nation language chapter, I can relate to its importance.

# data[].attributes.body
I had my first interaction with clay in nature during the class. However, I found the clay from the river to be more yellowish in tone, more dense in texture, and less suitable for later decoration. So this time, I chose to use air-dry clay from Kmart, which is whiter in colour. I split it into two pieces to create different forms of art. During the making process, I noticed that the clay was prone to crack if I applied less water, so I constantly added water to ensure that the texture of the clay was both moist and malleable, allowing it to achieve the desired shape of the artwork. This process is artistic creation, an in-depth dialogue with materials, and an exploration of the delicate balance between nature and artificial.

# data[].attributes.body
I encountered fascinating non-verbal communication methods during my visit to the State Library. I could tell the opportune moment to cross the street by listening to the traffic lights' distinctive sounds. The video's rapid and forceful knocking sound signals pedestrians to pass within a specific timeframe. In the library's children's reading area, attention-grabbing signs, devoid of direct words, convey information through images—indicating restrooms (for males and females), family spaces, and baby changing stations. Notably, this image-based representation is more inclusive, catering to a broader audience, including pre-literate children. The library's bookcases for children are intentionally lower, providing a comfortable space for them to sit on the floor and enjoy reading.

# data[].attributes.body
As you can see, I painted on two clay vases to display my artistic mindset. Throughout the painting process, I played around with colours and created a lovely pink shade by mixing a generous amount of white paint with a touch of red. I painted one vase using the pink tone, and for the other, I opted for a more playful approach, adding dotted doodles primarily in pink and green. In the following images, I've captured miniature landscapes created with plants I gathered from the outdoors. What surprised me was how the two vases I crafted fit together seamlessly, blending with the plants to form a captivating, complete picture. This project has become my most satisfying work thus far.

# data[].attributes.body
Being social beings, communication is essential to humans, the fundamental means through which we engage socially, share, and acquire information. The writings of Fellowes and Oakley (2020) highlight that communication extends beyond spoken and written language to encompass body language, facial expressions, visual cues, and sounds, which individuals use to convey meaning. People frequently utilize supplementary information (signs or non-written tools )to articulate their thoughts more effectively and enhance their understanding of others.

# data[].attributes.body
Encounters with Materials in Early Childhood Education (2016) implies the close relationship between clay and ecology, that clay is a gift from nature. As soil requires fostering and nourishment, so does clay from different sources, which demands other emotional, intellectual, and material skills. Each lump of clay carries a unique story. Clay collected from the forest has experienced the care of trees, while clay from the riverside has been bathed in the water flow. Clay is like a picture book with childlike interest in kindergarten, recording children's endless imagination and creativity.

# data[].attributes.body
Language and Culture in Aboriginal Australia (Walsh & Yallop, 2007) delves into the widespread use of Aboriginal languages in northern and central Australia. Despite the gradual disappearance of some indigenous languages, bilingual education proves pivotal for language preservation. Initially, indigenous children attend classes in their local language, but as the years progress, English gradually becomes the primary language post-fourth grade. The success of bilingual education helps children get more skills, and most importantly, they are still familiar with the indigenous language, which becomes part of their identity.

# data[].attributes.body
The interaction with charcoal did not yield any particularly artistic results. Instead, our engagement resembled an exploration of the process, where I felt the sound it produced when scratched on paper and observed the varying thickness of lines under different pressures. In the video, I demonstrated breaking the charcoal apart. While the charcoal stick doesn't demand much force, the required strength is noteworthy compared to the burned wood in nature. Another interaction involved drawing charcoal across the paper, creating deep black lines. In this instance, I used my fingers to smooth and blend these lines. Surprisingly, the black lines softened, losing a considerable amount of depth.

# data[].attributes.body
In "The Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings," Pelo (2016) highlights that children tend to connect with sensory materials using their bodies and minds. This interaction aids in making their understanding concrete, integrating it into their intellectual awareness. Therefore, exploring materials through art creation, like observing texture, density, and viscosity, not only helps children link to their previous sensory experiences but also encourages them to enjoy messy play, fostering their sense of agency. It's vital that sensory experiences play a role in cognitive development, guiding children to transform material concepts into deeper intellectual understanding.

# data[].attributes.body
In Pelo's (2016) "The Language of Art," the author underscores the power of painting, which becomes a medium for representing lives, feelings, desires, and innovations, offering interpretations and insights into the occurrences surrounding us. When I combine my artwork, it feels like I'm blending my personal experiences, observations, and emotions into the piece. In its storytelling, the artwork communicates distinct perspectives, establishing a unique and personal dialogue through the expressive language of paint.

# data[].attributes.body
Children can participate in a meaningful activity by singing action songs in the Yuwibara language. Through singing together, they can learn to express body parts using the indigenous language and show respect for the owner of the land. Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) highlights the importance of educators acknowledging and adapting to children's language and cultural traditions. Cabezas and Rouse (2014) emphasize the need for educators to respect children's home language use and support them in transitioning to an English-speaking environment more seamlessly.

# data[].attributes.body
Children are natural listeners(Edwards et al., 2011). I want to record the sonic imprints I hear in nature. The rustle of wind through leaves, the gentle flow of lake water, and the hum of urban industrial activities are distinctive sounds that draw my attention to the natural world. I was curious about the sound of birdsong and took the initiative to study it, wanting to know what kind of bird it was. This scenario-based learning approach seems to overturn the traditional education system I grew up with.

# data[].attributes.body
This could translate to clay and leaves activity in the early childhood setting, in which I will be more prone to inspire children to explore the outdoors and discover their own clay. This hands-on experience helps them identify different types of soil and connects them to the varied natural habitats where clay can be found. It's a step towards linking clay and the ecology surrounding it. Moreover, this activity allows them to feel the textures and nuances of the clay's native environment. Meanwhile, children can incorporate other natural elements like leaves, tree sticks, and flowers into their art projects. Following the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), this approach empowers children to make choices (Agency). By connecting with the natural world, they genuinely respect the environment.

# data[].attributes.body
An experience that children could engage with is the Painting table while using a book called "What Makes a Rainbow?" The game aligns perfectly with Melbourne's spring season. I will start with circle time - storytelling. The book lets children get familiar with the content that aligns with our theme. In order to introduce natural colour more deeply. I encourage the children to join me in the garden, gather vibrant flowers, and set off on a collective adventure of exploring natural colours on a painting table. Educators must be mindful of encouraging kids to share their creations throughout this process. A more open-ended approach would be to ask, "Would you like to tell everyone about your paintings?" instead of directly probing into the meanings behind their artwork. The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) underscores the idea that children become confident and engaged learners through play, enabling them to investigate, dismantle, assemble, and construct with the available resources.

# data[].attributes.headline
Me, holding the book and imaging to read for children 

# data[].attributes.subject
Me, holding the book and imaging to read for children 

# data[].attributes.body
The emotion wheel offers kids a fun experience. Educators can use emotion cards to help children recognize various emotional expressions. For toddlers, it's encouraging them to share feelings and explore how everyone expresses emotions differently. For instance, some might get excited seeing a ladybug, while others might feel scared. Afterwards, kids can engage in a creative game, crafting facial expressions on cardboard. With different face cards on the table, they can mix and match to create various expressions, representing feelings like excitement, sadness, or shyness. These games seamlessly tie into the communication theme, allowing kids to express emotions through non-verbal observation and art. This helps them understand different emotions and nurtures their communication skills.

# data[].attributes.body
This could translate to loose parts play in the early childhood setting. Educators can gather naturally burned wood and provide charcoal sticks, setting up a space with drawing paper for children to engage in play. In this scenario, allow children to observe and interact with charcoal. They can explore how charcoal leaves marks on the paper, experiment with smudging using their fingers, and even try finger painting. Charcoal play encourages children to explore the contrast between light and dark in black, facilitating sensory experiences and movement in diverse encounters and fostering a messy yet enriching exploration.

# data[].attributes.body
In "The Hundred Languages of Children", the pedagogy promoted by Reggio conveys a specific attitude towards life; the core is active listening. This attitude is formed based on deep involvement and sustained curiosity about surroundings. The book also quotes the views of French philosophers, emphasizing that listening should be an act of trust and identification, an attitude that can accept infinite possible responses (Edwards et al., 2011). Thus, We should pay more attention to listening to help expand the breadth of our knowledge.

# data[].attributes.body
I arranged a "whole body listening" activity for the children, aligning with the current theme. In this engaging game, children can put together Mr. Potato's body while learning words related to different body parts. This activity enhances their vocabulary and fosters a sense of teamwork among the children. During our group time, we'll have discussions about each body part. Children are encouraged to listen attentively to their peers and bravely express their thoughts. For instance, we emphasize looking attentively with our eyes, listening carefully with our ears, speaking with our mouths open, and keeping our brains active by thinking. Through this interaction, we aim to instil the valuable habit of active listening in children, adding excitement to the learning experience.

# data[].attributes.body
By recording this digital diary, I deeply realized the uniqueness of different materials and figured out how to use them in early childhood settings. The flexibility of clay, the texture impact of charcoal, and the artistic vibe and emotional expression created by paint and assembly gave me a surreal understanding. It is worth emphasizing that all these materials are media of communication. I noticed that non-verbal signs and vocal reminders were ways of communicating that inspired a deeper understanding. Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand. Therefore, I chose to use First Nations languages, which will become integral in early childhood education. Children can better communicate with the land and build a positive identity by being familiar with First Nations languages.

# data[].attributes.body
Human relationships are quietly built through various forms of communication, like verbal gestures, facial expressions, etc. This relationship-building process is like finding a spiritual bridge through play. While learning through the language of children, I was surprised that not only does human-to-human interaction count in communication, but human-to-non-humans contribute, too. As Kocher, Pacini-Ketchabaw, and Kind (2016) stated, good communication is the exchange of spoken words, a visual language, and an artistic exploration of materials to express ideas and projects. Every material owns a unique language way of telling who I am. For example, clay can be obtained from nature or purchased in indoor stores. And I choose to combine the two and shape clay into a vase. This is the use of materials and the communication process with them. The following inquiries will explore my interaction with different materials. Every intimate encounter, whether painting, charcoal or others, is a magical journey. This is a creative practice and an extension of my early childhood education. Through these interactions, I introduce these materials into the field of early childhood education and open the door to a beautiful world for children. On a fantastic journey, every material is part of our story, and every interaction is how we talk to the world.

# data[].attributes.body
The Possibilities of Finger Paint

# data[].attributes.body
1. Finger painting fosters creativity and unique artistic expression, with children exploring colour mixing to create masterpieces that speak their art language.

2. Enhances teamwork and effective communication, as children share ideas and philosophies behind their creations or communicate for turn-taking of materials sharing.

3. The sensory experience of exploring textures adds depth to the language of art, making finger painting a multi-sensory adventure that enriches both creativity and social/language development.

# data[].attributes.body
Resources :

1. finger paints: use non-toxic and washable paints in a variety of colour

2. paper and canvases: different types and sizes of paper or cardboard ( used as canvases for individual or team artwork

3. loose parts: natural wood sticks and fallen leaves or dried flowers for decoration

Set-up for materials:

1. Paints display: arrange the finger paints in an appealing presentation, making children visually notice.

2. Informative sign: educators make cardboard fingers to point out the intention of the work and let children explore without reminding

The environment set-up:

1. Location: Choose an easily accessible area, like an art corner, which intentionally invites children to play with paints.

2. Table and seating: arrange child-sized tables and chairs for four toddlers, creating a comfortable workspace.

# data[].attributes.body
The overall setting conveys an open invitation to children's creativity, with vibrant colours and various materials, giving children agency and the right to express their characters, which underlined "The language of art" (Pelo, 2016). An organised and visually appealing environment encourages their artistic exploration. Collaborative spaces promote teamwork and communication, encouraging children to enhance the social aspect of their activities, Kocher, Pacini-Ketchabaw, and Kind (2016) stated. We put the natural materials on the table, enabling them to use and incorporate them into their works of art to further improve fine motor skills. Most importantly, We didn't showcase the sample finger-painted artwork or provide pictures to children because the fundamental theory is to encourage them to explore and develop creativity.