Ungunmerr, M.R. (1988). Dadirri: Inner Deep Listening and Quiet Still Awareness. https://vucollaborate.vu.edu.au/content/enforced/1816406-ECE2008-1-2023-HWB-151670/Dadirri_Handout%20(1)%20(1).pdf?ou=2253526

Wallin, M.L. (2019). Let’s Play Outside: The Importance of Pretend Play in Natural Settings. https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-importance-of-pretend-play-in-natural-settings#:~:text=When%20children%20are%20given%20the%20time%20and%20space%20to%20play,to%20cognitive%20and%20linguistic%20growth.

Wilson, R. (2018). Nature and Young Children: Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315148533/nature-young-children-ruth-wilson

In my game, I am portraying the ‘young Xiao’ where I used to be naughty child when I was little. The drama/game in it is a storytelling way where we are playful and naughty children. I will film it from my angle, brings in ‘Donald’ and ‘Purple’, the imaginary friends to have a dialogue style of game/story. As Wilson (2018) says, “natural materials invites not only hands on manipulation, but engaging of the mind and imagination”. In the game, I will use natural resources, for instance leaves and branches to let people have more space of being creative. For instance, the leaves can ‘portray’ as a pancake or bacon depends on people see it.

In my game, ‘Donald’, ‘Purple’ (two imaginary friends) and myself use sound, movement and drama to create ‘The Naughty Play’. The video will record the sound of myself, ‘Donald’ and ‘Purple’ (me portraying their sounds), where we tried to use a rush, ‘children’ language and impatient tone then through quick and messy movement to show that we are very active because we want to go out and play. For example, shake the head to say no, hit the table to say no. Through each language, it combines how the three friends use their ‘body’ to express their feelings and the eagerness to go out and play.

During the country visit, it is freezing but I like cold weather, so it doesn’t stop me from going outside. The weather and the sounds around me are rich. It let me feel like I am in a forest, cold but also quiet and surrounded by the nature sounds, for example blowing winds, birds chirping and the trees’ waving sounds. It links to Ungunmerr’s idea (1988), where she claims that “there is no need to reflect too much and to do lots of thinking…”. This is an opportunity for me to explore more than I just think. I see people using the build in facilities to exercise, some of the people bringing their pets out for a walk and they started to play on the grass area. I also hear children from the other park (not far away from my country visit) playing in the playground and courts where they are laughing and balls bouncing. I enjoy every sense I feel, and I don’t rush myself.  

In my game, I feel shy at the very first because I don’t usually film myself. But, as I got used to it I started to enjoy the play and fully get into the character that I am portraying.

After I played my game, it reminds me of my childhood where I used to be a very naughty grandchild and like to ‘steal’ or ‘broke’ neighbors’ things for my play. Sometimes, I also realised that children don’t have play on the human-made or fixed facilities like playground. But, the natural world can provide a ‘game’ or ‘play’ for them too. As Wilson mentions (2018), “nature play makes kids smarter by boosting brain development”. Using my experience in playing in my voice recording as an example, my cousins and I use our creativity and imagination to pretend that the branches is a pen and then we write or draw on sand, we use leaves to have a drama play on ‘customer and seller’ game. Therefore, nature play gives children more freedom and build their development.

Left teddy bear- Purple

Right teddy bear- Donald

Hand in the video- Young Xiao