Early Learning Centre

Building our Sense of Belonging: Learning Kind Words with 'Lovey Dove'

In our Class Three Yellow community, one of our foundational and ongoing areas of learning is centred around building social and emotional development, to support children’s sense of belonging and being within our cohort of learners. Within our early learning setting, fostering children’s sense of belonging, being and becoming is an essential foundation for encouraging a positive sense of self and comfort in our learning environment, allowing our children to reach their full potential with the unique set of abilities God has given them. 

An ongoing embedded practice in our classroom to strengthen children’s sense of belonging is through our Kimochis curriculum. Kimochis, which means ‘Feelings’ in Japanese, is a tangible learning approach for our children to enhance their social and emotional awareness through the development of positive communication skills within intentional teaching moments and play scenarios. 

This curriculum is supported by five friendly-faced Kimochi characters that encapsulate fundamental areas of social and emotional development:

Lovey Dove is sweet and nurturing, and supports children in being friendly, proud and kind. Lovey Dove teaches compassion and kind words, encouraging friendly behaviour towards all peers. 

Cloud is a mood-regulating character that helps children use a Talking Face, Voice, and Body to support positivity in communication amidst upset feelings. 

Huggtopus is affectionate, strong and sometimes gets a bit carried away by her big, friendly personality. Huggtopus teaches children to appreciate and celebrate uniqueness whilst paying attention to people’s feelings and peers' personal spaces. 

Bug supports children to learn to be inclusive in play and encourages bravery, trying new things and making the right choices in social situations. 

Cat supports children to develop patience, helpfulness, forgiveness, and safe and kind decision-making skills. Cat encourages children to manage their big feelings and learn to be a leader in play without being bossy. Kimochis (2014)

The Kimochis curriculum for this term has complemented our Christian Studies focus around the nine ‘Fruits of the Spirit’: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control, where the children are growing in their understanding that the Holy Spirit lives inside their hearts and guides them to lovingly live out God’s character in their world. 

We had a busy week exploring Lovey Dove’s principles around kindness and demonstrating this with our words. The children engaged in a meaningful role-play teaching experience that embedded opportunities for practising the use of kind words within social play scenarios. Each of the children demonstrated their ability to use kind words towards their peers when articulating their feelings and positively responded to each other’s requests to share and have a turn with the play resources. Following our teaching, the children put on their creative hats and designed their own ‘Lovey Dove’ Kimochis, strengthening the learning experience as they shared their ideas on how they use kind words in the classroom. 

Through our Kimochis curriculum and Christian Studies focus, we are intentionally fostering children’s growth in their understanding of kindness and positive relationships with peers, and encouraging a strong sense of belonging within the classroom community. 

As we continue to explore the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’, we are reminded that God calls us to live with love, kindness and compassion towards others. As a Class Three Yellow community, we thank you for partnering with us as we continue to nurture each child to feel known, valued and deeply connected, as we grow together in faith, love and belonging in God’s family. 

Blessings,

Hannah Rimmer, Rita Ling, Geordie Flynn, Maddy Bell and Lydia Wong

Class Three Yellow Team

Links to Learning:

• Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity- Children feel safe, secure and supported- Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and agency- Children develop knowledgeable, confident self-identities and a positive sense of self-worth- Children learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy and respect
• Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing - Children become strong in their social, emotional and mental wellbeing- Children become strong in their physical learning and wellbeing- Children are aware of and develop strategies to support their own mental and physical health and personal safety
• Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators - Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes- Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts- Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media- Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work- Children use digital technologies and media to access information, investigate ideas and represent their thinking. 

Emmaus Early Explorers Upcoming Sessions!

• Wed 3 June
• Wed 17 June

• Wed 1 Ju

   

If you have a child aged three or younger, we warmly invite you to join us for play and connection at Emmaus Early Explorers. 

It’s a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, share experiences and learn together while your little ones have a great time in safe surroundings. 

Emmaus Early Explorers is facilitated by our ELC Director, Mrs Lauren Hughes, and our College Chaplain, Mr Joel Overweel.

Please feel free to share this invitation with your family and friends.

For more information, please contact Kim Sabine at ksabine@emmauscc.sa.edu.au.

ELC Upcoming Events