Sensory Play the Koorie Way: Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives with Ochre Dough

Sensory Play the Koorie Way: Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives with Ochre Dough

Mikaela Egan

Hi there! 🙋🏽‍♀️

At Ochre Dough, we're all about enriching children's learning experiences through play - with a cultural twist. Our goal is to naturally integrate Aboriginal perspectives into the early years by offering both fun and educational opportunities through our thoughtfully designed play products. Our products and resources serve to introduce children and families to Aboriginal peoples and cultures in meaningful ways, helping to develop and grow cultural respect and understanding.

We make is easy to embed Aboriginal perspectives into play, giving you the confidence to help your little ones connect to culture & Country.

This piece is written to offer advice and guidance for you at home but also for educators working in early years and primary school settings 🌟

The Importance of Cultural Education in Early Childhood 

Embracing cultural diversity early on is pivotal for nurturing key values such as empathy, respect and understanding during the formative years. While it's not our children's role to rectify the wrongs of the past, fostering cultural awareness and respect sets a foundation for a future Australia that is more united and inclusive. 

I often say that one day we won't need to consciously do this work, as our children, growing up informed and respectful will naturally embody these principles. While we don't need to burden our little ones with the full extent of historical injustices, its is our role, the adults, to have a deeper understanding and confidence to introduce Aboriginal culture in a way that is respectful and meaningful. 

Confidence comes from becoming familiar with the unknown, so the key here is that you become familiar in the knowledge of Aboriginal people, history & culture - which will then naturally flow on to your children.

Exposure to different cultures isn't just about learning the facts but about developing a respect for differences while recognising our shared human experiences that connect us. Introducing children to various cultural backgrounds enables them to appreciate and celebrate these differences, enhancing their social-emotional development. It sets the stage for children as they grow to become culturally competent, kind and compassionate individuals.

How to Embed Aboriginal Perspectives into Play

Do it organically. Don't overcomplicate it. 

Just for a bit of context - I taught a Cultural Awareness & Truth-Telling course that I developed and delivered to over 100 individuals. One of the most common things that I (and almost everyone working in this space) hear and know is that it's all too common for people to feel unsure or lack the confidence to do this 'work' with the fear that they might say or do the wrong thing. And like I mentioned earlier in the post, confidence comes from becoming familiar with the unknown. Many of us fear what we don't know but we also fear the repercussions of making a mistake. 

My biggest piece of advice when I hear these reservations in people is to be open to learning and be ok with making mistakes. If you do make a mistake and you are corrected, take it on board, reflect, and keep going. 

Ok back to how to embed Aboriginal perspectives into play.

The simplest way to put is as to not overcomplicate things, is to do what you're already doing (playing!) and add in Aboriginal perspectives and themes where relevant. This way you are being guided by your child's natural interests and adding to that experience. 

You can ask yourself - "Is there an Aboriginal perspective in what I'm sharing or teaching today?"

Here Are Some Practical Tips with Examples 👇🏽

  • Storytelling
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Music and Dance
  • Cultural Celebrations and Significant Dates 
  • Engage with Community

Storytelling 

Use storytelling, have a yarn! Aboriginal languages are oral languages. Storytelling is how information was passed on to each other and to the next generations. It's through storytelling, including Dreamtime stories, that we learn right from wrong, where to hunt and gather and our stories of creation and LORE. We learn lessons about Country, community and the spiritual world. 

And the best part is that there are more and more children's books being written by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander authors. Using these books in your home or classroom can be a great way to engage little curious minds. Choosing books written by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander authors will guarantee that you're getting genuine, culturally appropriate information. 

Check out these Aboriginal businesses that stock a large range of Aboriginal children's books:

We also include story time in some of our resources to help you and your little ones learn about different elements of Aboriginal culture while playing with your Ochre Dough resources.

Arts and Crafts

Who's kids LOVE to craft? This is a great one for naturally including Aboriginal perspectives because what you can create with arts and crafts is only limited by your imagination! Encourage them to explore traditional and modern Aboriginal art, learn about the history of Aboriginal art and different mediums like earth and ochre pigments. Learning about Aboriginal art symbols is another great way to incorporate storytelling.

You might be wondering what you can and can't do when it comes to incorporating Aboriginal art and symbols into learning and play - what's a respectful and genuine way to do this? An easy rule of thumb is to always look at the source of your information and resources and make sure its something that has been created by an Aboriginal person and that it's publicly available for learning purposes i.e. Aboriginal Art Symbols. It's always wise to do some research and make sure your purchasing from or using authentic Aboriginal resources.

A great resource to learn more about using Aboriginal Art is by joining a live webinar with the Koori Curriculum called 'Aboriginal Art in Early Childhood'. You can check it out here. Jess runs live webinars regularly and also has pre-recorded webinars available for purchase.

Music and Dance 

Music, song and dance are central to Aboriginal ceremony and ways of being. It is part of celebration, life and death cycles and it is an incredibly healing practice to engage in daily. You can learn about Aboriginal instruments like the didgeridoo/yidaki, clapsticks and even explore objects that produce sound for practical purposes like the emu caller or bull roarer.

If your boorais love to dance you could learn about traditional Aboriginal dances and different moves and what they represent in the storytelling process. And bonus if your babes love animals as alot of dance 'moves' are mimicking animals and the natural world around us. Country. 

Cultural Celebrations and Significant Dates 

There's lots of opportunities to participate in Aboriginal celebrations and important dates like National Reconciliation Week or NAIDOC week providing you and your little ones with engaging ways to learn about and celebrate Aboriginal culture. While we recommend to embed Aboriginal perspectives all year round, these weeks offer a focused week of opportunities to participate in cultural activities and include them at home or in the curriculum. 

Find out what events or activities are happening in your local area that are open to everyone and go along and get involved 😊

For a compiled list of key dates and celebrations, Koori Curriculum have a free download you can check out here.

Engage with Community

If you're ever feeling unsure about what to do, even after reading this post or information from any other source, my best piece of advice is to engage with your local Aboriginal community. If you're at home learn about the local community, learn the stories of your area, get involved in local events and celebrations. If you're in a service or school, invite local Aboriginal elders or community members in to share their knowledge and experiences. These real life interactions can create long lasting meaningful experiences for you and for your children. 

Play Ideas 💡 

For the playdough loving little ones  👇🏽

Your boorais love playing with playdough! A great way to naturally include Aboriginal perspectives into playdough play is by using native ingredients to add colour and scents to make for the perfect sensory play experience. You could also choose playdough that represents different plants, bush tucker or other culturally significant items such as the Aboriginal flag. Using Aboriginal designed playdough mats are another great way to learn through play.

Check out our range of DIY playdough mixes and ready made playdough packs here. 

Our Instagram reels for inspiration✨

For the Arts & Crafts Lovers 👇🏽

Explore a variety of different crafts with your little ones, such as weaving, making bracelets and necklaces, and paper crafts using natural elements like quandong seeds, emu feathers and gum nuts. Join a local or online weaving circle to learn techniques directly from an experienced Aboriginal weaver. Experiment with painting using ochre and earth colours, incorporating Aboriginal art symbols. Use coloured sand to draw symbols and tell stories in the sand. Create unique ornaments using air dry clay or homemade salt dough.

Check out our craft kits here and our range of accessories that can you be used in crafting as well 😊

Our Instagram reels for inspiration✨

Small World Play 👇🏽

Incorporate Aboriginal dolls into small world play settings. Craft mini coolamons and emu callers to use in your set ups. Bring the set up to life using natural elements from nature like gum leaves, gum nuts, quandong seeds. Use Aboriginal design sensory trays and stamps - get creative! 

Our Instagram reels for inspiration✨

I love sharing different ideas for all kinds of sensory play, arts & crafts so be sure to follow us over on Instagram to stay updated & inspired!

Finally, here are some quick tips to help you confidently incorporate Aboriginal perspectives into play: 

  • Take the time to learn about the history and cultural context of the land in which you live, work and play as well as Aboriginal Australia as a whole
  • Embrace a range of perspectives, such as urban, rural and remote settings - while we share a similar history, each Country or each state will have different experiences 
  • Tailor play based learning to your children's interests and ask yourself is there an Aboriginal perspective I can incorporate here?
  • While cultural displays are valuable and a great introduction, continuously find ways to incorporate Aboriginal perspective into your play activities throughout the year.

Embracing the history and diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities enriches us all, paving the way for a future where cultural appreciation is deeply embedded in our national identity. By integrating Aboriginal perspectives into play and learning, we encourage a respect and understanding that will continue to grow with each generation. 

We hope the ideas and resources shared here inspire you to confidently integrate these meaningful perspectives throughout the year. Stay connected with us on Instagram and through our email community for ongoing inspiration and to see our latest activities and products.

Let's Walk Together, Learn Together, and Play Together! 🤎

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