Pedagogical Documentation
Making visible the learning and creativity of children and youth
YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford
Surprises
Documentation by Victoria Herschberger
YMCA Kinder – Central Public
Central YMCA Child Care Centre 135 George St, Brantford N3T 6B4
The ECEs always tried their best to prepare the children for programming, getting their zoomies out with a dance party or letting them go a little wild outside. During my site visit I introduced Artasia and the theme for this year. The children had just come back from their Canada day parade so they insisted that Canada was their city, we narrowed it down to Ontario and finally Brantford.
Week 3 really stood out to me for this particular site. The children really enjoyed that week’s program, they were pretending to take pictures with their view finders using it like a camera. We started off by saying what we notice when looking at something, different shapes, different colours. What surprises us? “The sky can surprise me! With sunshine, with clouds and rain.” The children noticed some interesting things around the gym, outlets that they never cared to notice before, a poster that was once on the door but got peeled off leaving only a bit of tape behind, piles of toys, their water bottles all lined up, and a few colourful dodge balls trapped behind a hockey net.
The children noticed the absence of something, not just the presence of items around them. The children were curious and observant, noticing what interests them in the mundane and curating beauty from it
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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.