Pedagogical Documentation
Making visible the learning and creativity of children and youth
YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford
Cooking Memories
Documentation by Victoria Herschberger
YMCA Kinder – Bellview YMCA
Bellview YMCA Child Care Centre 97 Tenth Ave, Brantford N3S 1G5
This was the final site of my rotation each week, so I’m usually pretty familiar with the activity of the week at this point, everything goes smoothly and the children have a lot of fun!
All the children were super curious to hear about every week’s program. “We are doing art with our five senses!” they remembered. So I asked the children what they like to observe with their eyes during week 3. “I like watching my mom cook in the kitchen.” That created the snowball effect of all the children bringing up cooking memories. “I help my mom make pizza all the time, I watch her then I do it”. I asked the question again. “I like checking on the flowers in the garden every day. They grow and grow and bloom.” After finishing the main project many of the children wanted to keep colouring, and since it was my last location I gave out my extra sheets of white paper, they loved the paint markers.
For the last week, imagining, the children were thinking up things they’d like to see at camp, what they like to draw and what their favourite thing in their room is. A lot of the children ended up drawing their families into the pictures, it was very cute they were all holding hands.
“I like drawing flowers, and they smell nice.” She filled the inside of the gym with big, colourful flowers. Another child coloured in the whole picture, made the school pink and added a whole bunch of birds flying in the sky.
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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.