BrightPath Waterdown

with Emma Enright

I worked with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, rotating through all of the classrooms to gain a well-rounded understanding of each age group and their unique ways of learning. On my last day [of the first term,] we celebrated with a fun, hands-on activity by making our own Play-Doh using 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of conditioner. As the children mixed and explored the materials, they naturally began having their own individual conversations, sharing ideas, narrating their thinking, and engaging with one another while working. Some children chose to freely explore the texture of the Play-Doh, while others focused on creating something specific, expressing their ideas in different ways. This experience strongly reflected the Reggio Emilia approach, as the activity honoured each child’s voice, choice, and creativity. The open-ended nature of the materials supported sensory exploration, social interaction, and language development, while educators observed and listened. 

[In another session,] I worked with the toddler 2 group and prepared with six wooden dowels and arranged into a simple structure and secured together, alongside a variety of yarns in different textures, thicknesses, and colours. The materials were intentionally open-ended, inviting children to explore weaving, construction, and design in a collaborative way.

The children worked together to transform the wooden dowels into a functional tent by threading and wrapping yarn around the structure. They were deeply engaged in the sensory experience, enjoying the different textures of the yarn and experimenting with where and how to place it.

The process was both collaborative and exploratory—we did not know how the tent would turn out, which became part of the excitement. Children moved in and out of the tent, interacting with the space they created, while also contributing to the woven artwork. There was a strong sense of curiosity and creativity happening while working.

The children loved experimenting with the plastic materials and discovering the sounds they could create together.