Pedagogical Documentation
Making visible the learning and creativity of children and youth
YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford
Colouring
Documentation by Victoria Herschberger
YMCA Kinder – Edith Monture
Edith Monture YMCA Child Care Centre 33 Dowden Ave, Brantford N3T 0A3
This location was my first location of each week so I got a sense of how each week would go based on the experiences here. The ECEs were always excited for Artasia and eager to help out with anything I needed, from refocusing the children’s attention to bringing out materials. They brought out instruments of their own on week 4 to make the children’s experience more site specific. We always had full participation here thanks to the ECEs, even seeing them participate themselves. The children were not limited to the space of one classroom either, we also did our activities in the gym as well as outside, which contributed to our theme and enhanced the children’s overall experience.
By the time it came to week 5 the children were shooting their hands up to name the 5 senses. Once they learned we were going to do imagination for our final week they got so excited. One girl let her imagination run free during the discussion part of the program. She started going on and on about all the things she could add, she wanted a big treehouse with decorations, and food, with people cooking food, and she wanted to add herself in and so on. But when it came time to create the art I noticed her just colouring in the black and white photo, so I asked her “what happened to the treehouse idea?”. She kept colouring and just said “ I’m just going to draw normal stuff.” I tried encouraging her to put what once was just her words into visual art but she stuck with that she knew, colouring. I got distracted by other children at this point but when I came back to her sure enough she ended up adding herself in!
Loading process gallery.
Why We Document
Pedagogical Documentation breathes life into Artasia, turning fleeting moments into lasting stories of creativity, resilience, and connection. It’s more than a record—it’s a celebration of the sparks of imagination that light up each child’s eyes, the bravery of parents stepping into new experiences, and the beauty of communities coming together through art. By capturing these moments, we not only honour the voices, dreams, and discoveries of our participants but also weave a narrative that inspires others. Documentation allows us to reflect on the magic we’ve created together, fuels our passion for what’s possible, and ensures that every joyful collaboration, every burst of color, and every heartfelt expression is remembered and cherished. It keeps the spirit of Artasia alive, inspiring us to dream bigger, reach further, and continue making art together.