Glen Education Bentleigh East

The importance of fostering the children’s voice.

By Kate, Early Childhood Teacher  

During this term, the children have enjoyed taking the music speaker outside and listening to music as they play and learn. As the days have gone by, we have noticed that children are taking turns in selecting the songs they like to hear. 

This is actually a perfect example of supporting “the child’s voice,” as children select songs that are meaningful to themselves, and each can have a turn to select and listen to each other’s songs. It’s a great example of reciprocal respect and a community effort in being able to express needs and share time for others to also express needs. We have enjoyed watching the children assist each other and taking turns in song selections. 

There was one particular moment that stood out.  I watched one of the children, when it was her turn, tell the others that she would like the song called “My Fight Song”.  The other children helped her to find it on our play list, one of the girls really knew this song well and could see it by sight of the picture. ‘THAT ONE!” she pointed excitedly.  

To assist with imagining this moment, from our adult’s perspective, I will explain, that it’s a song that some time ago was in the top 40 pop charts by Rachel Platten. 

As the song started, one of the children asked us if he could quickly make some microphones. So, he ran inside at the speed of light, found some bamboo and foil and we quickly made microphones from these materials. They were handed out with much excitement as the song started. To further set the scene, our outdoor space at Glen Bentleigh East Kindergarten includes a decking in the middle, which looks a little like a stage. As the song was set into play, there was a sudden rush to the stage decking.  Over the next few seconds, our backyard was turned into “The Broadway of Glen East Bentleigh!”  The blue sky and our greenery as the backdrop, the decking, the stage and children gathered around in excitement, dancing and singing at the tops of their voices, everyone joined in, and it was spectacular.   As we watched and laughed and became carried away in this wonderful moment of fame, I want to note that there is one very important point to this story. It’s the actual words of the song that was so significant to the children’s feeling of empowerment and voice, the chorus says:

“I will scream them loud tonight,  

Can you hear my voice?” 

The children were singing these words, the chorus to this song, with all their energy, you could hear it inside and all the way to GESAC! 

No one was left out; everyone was able to enjoy this moment in their own way and it was just so wonderful. 

We were so excited by the fact that they were advocating that “their voice” needed to be heard!  Because this is exactly what we at Glen Education believe in, and these children were celebrating their voice in our space. 

The happiest moments are sometimes very unplanned, and I will never forget this moment. It’s these times, that bring together examples of the value we place on children and how they need to feel that their voices are heard respected, nurtured and valued. 

You may have noticed as you walk into our spaces there are many examples of documentation of what children have discussed and we often “scribe “their words. We encourage children to engage in active conversion about their learning and our kindergarten environment. We put blank sheets on the wall at the children’s level and they are able to express and document their thoughts and their voice. We encourage children to celebrate learning as they play, so there is always paper, textas, and pens available to inspire children. 

Children’s voices aren’t only words, children who are gaining language also document through mark makings and drawings. This is also “their voice. “ 

We want our children to be able to speak up and feel that they have a voice. 

We support children to be resilient when opinions differ and know that each one of us has the right to feel important, in a way that doesn’t disrespect the needs, safety and value of others.

Supporting children to feel a strong inner confidence and a knowing about their right to be safe, happy and respected means that they in turn, will also value this for others and the cycle sets off in a circular motion.  It encourages open communication about personal safety boundaries and equips children with knowledge that extends beyond the kindergarten environment. These values have an essential part to play for the safety of our children as set out in ‘The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

We often have discussions with the children about how they use words to express their feelings and how this may impact others. We use the “Boundary Song” written by Hopscotch, to assist their understanding.  It’s also very important to be able to help children understand that they have power to be strong in their mind if someone else does use words that make them feel uncomfortable.  We encourage children to be able to tell others how they feel and remain strong in their own internal confidence. 

We also use problem solving charts especially designed for children to be able to refer to. The charts are placed at children’s eye level so that can find solutions themselves. We also have visuals around the room to assist children to know what is safe and unsafe. These all provide children with the tools to be able to understand how they can use their voice for positive values to promote equality, fairness, and non-discrimination.  It’s also important to be able to support children to understand that equity doesn’t mean we need to be the same, equity means each of us having the freedom to be our authentic selves, to be individuals, and to be accepted as individuals without harm to others or taking away others’ rights to also be themselves. 

Children also learn that “with their voice” comes the element of responsibility. Acting with respect helps people to live together in harmonious communities.

By engaging children in deep conversations about what they are doing; by asking open-ended questions to encourage their thinking; and by supporting them to reflect on and evaluate the success or otherwise of their efforts, we can help children to begin to think in more sophisticated and abstract ways.

We know that children learn best when they are interested and engaged. Using children’s interests as the basis for our curriculum decisions helps to ensure that learning is not only interesting but also meaningful and relevant to children

Nurturing “the children’s voice “is everything that Glen Education’s philosophy cultivates. 

“Children develop confidence, resilience, and positive self-esteem through a supportive and secure environment. We empower children, drawing on their thoughts and ideas.” 

It is our hope, as dedicated educators of young children that, as they grow, children can find their voice and always have an inner confidence and knowing that they are heard and loved and important. 

It is these values that will form part of their emotional toolbox to be able to assist them to navigate through life and all the wonders that they will encounter as they grow.