As I stood there, I listened carefully to the sounds around me. There were a lot of different sounds, starting with the bird chirping, warning sounds, meaning the train will be coming soon, the train passing by followed by strong honking, and other vehicles such as buses and cars. It reminded me of how fast movement around me, people going to work, going back home, or people traveling. I felt that everyone had a destination to reach. I could smell dusty from the road and smokey from vehicles, and the trees had their unique scent, and it was sunny that time and I felt warm all through my body. 

Then there was the wind, it moved through the street, trees, and it felt soft but sometimes strong. I also noticed some people walking around me. Some were walking quickly, while others moved slowly. Seeing them reminded me that every person had their journey and purpose for being in that place at that moment. 

Being in this place made me feel connected as it was exciting to see people explore their world and so many things happen at one time. Also, it made me feel overwhelmed as it was noisy and how fast every single person moved. It made me think about how sound and movement shape my emotions and feelings. Do I need a more silent environment to make me feel calm, or does the noise around me make me more active and energized?

Sound: I sang my ‘Bus Driver’ song, I introduced myself as a driver and announced that we were ready to start our journey. When I sang, I acted driving a bus, seeing the view, interacting with my passengers, which aligned with my actions. I ended my song with goodbye and see you in another journey, showing that we arrived at our destination. 

Movement : I pretended to be a bus driver, moving my hand like a driver with my imaginary steering wheel. I strolled around, changed my direction, and waited for some passengers before continuing my journey. 

Drama : I acted out as a bus driver, I welcomed the passenger and started to drive. On the way to the destination, I looked around, pretending to admire the view and pointed at the things I “saw”. When we arrived, I turned to my passengers and with my gesture, I encouraged them to get off the bus.  

My creative response helped me engage with my surroundings in different ways. I interacted with the environment and I realized how everyday environments can become imaginative play and sensory exploration, which is important for children to learn.

Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7CFgwl2pHfQ

Moreover, Wilson (2018) highlights that imaginative play helps children to gain more skills such as problem solving, negotiation, and sensory awareness. As I did with my response, I used my sense and connected it with my scenario. I relied on my senses, such as listening to the sounds around me, observing my environment, and using my imagination. When children engage in pretend play, they become more aware about what they experience and make a connection into their thoughts.

Gandini, L. (2012). The atelier: A conversation with Vea Vecchi. C. Edwards, L. Gandini, & G. Forman (Eds.), The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia experience in transformation (3rd ed., pp. 303–316). ABC-CLIO, LLC. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vu/reader.action?docID=820317&ppg=330

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/vu.edu.au?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taylorfrancis.com%2Fbooks%2Fmono%2F10.4324%2F9781315148533%2Fnature-young-children-ruth-wilson