Jamesville Bennetto

with Graeme Gerussi

This term reinforced for me that meaningful early childhood arts education is not about perfect outcomes or rigid plans, but about creating responsive environments where children feel safe to explore, contribute ideas, and connect with others. Many of the most meaningful moments emerged unexpectedly through improvisation, humour, sensory discovery, storytelling, and collaborative play.

Music consistently opened doors to joy, curiosity, connection, and belonging across developmental stages.

Across all age groups, children demonstrated growing recognition of songs, increased confidence, and strong engagement through movement, voice, and instrumental exploration. One particularly meaningful moment occurred when a child who typically remained on the
periphery of group activities unexpectedly began singing along during a familiar closing song. This reinforced that engagement can be subtle and internal, and that learning is not always immediately visible. Puppetry and storytelling became especially effective tools for engagement. Children connected deeply with recurring puppet characters including turtles, sharks, frogs, dragons, and whales, often incorporating them into collaborative storytelling and imaginative play. One meaningful moment occurred when a child experiencing separation anxiety immediately calmed after hearing and playing the resonant sound of the Tamböa drum.

Older children became role models for younger peers, demonstrating patience, care, and collaboration during the activity.