At Dayboro Kindy, we’ve been on an incredible journey exploring identity and celebrating individuality with our children. It all started in March when we introduced the song “I Am Me” by Aunty Sharron mirii Bell, a First Nations singer-songwriter. The children instantly connected with the empowering message of the song, which celebrates each child’s unique identity. This song quickly became a favourite, with the children eagerly singing along and watching the accompanying video that features children from various cultural backgrounds.
Seeing the children’s enthusiasm, we knew we had found a powerful cornerstone for our year-long program. We reached out to Aunty Sharron to seek permission to use her song’s lyrics in a special book we planned to create, highlighting each child’s identity and family culture.
Respect is a key value at our kindy, reflected in our three fundamental rules: Respect Ourselves, Respect Each Other, and Respect the Environment. This focus on respect seamlessly tied into our discussions around identity, particularly when we read “Respect” by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson. The book and ensuing discussions helped the children understand the importance of self-respect and respecting others, laying the groundwork for meaningful participation in events like Clean Up Australia Day and a special visit from Jason Morris.
Throughout terms 2 and 3, our art program, led by our passionate educator Jodie, gave the children a creative outlet to express their individuality. Inspired by artists like John Lennon and Vincent van Gogh, the children created self-portraits that became the foundation for their personalised “I Am Me” badges—symbols of their unique identities. The art sessions were an opportunity for the children to delve into emotions, explore their individual features, and express their inner selves through various artistic techniques.
As our art lessons progressed, we also began working on our “I Am Me” book. We asked the children to share what made them special, and parents contributed details about their family traditions and celebrations. The result was a beautiful book filled with images and stories that celebrate each child’s identity. This book is now proudly displayed in our kindy, where families can read and share in the joy of their children’s growth and our children get such a buzz from seeing themselves represented in the book.
We’ve received incredible feedback from our community, and we were so excited to have had Aunty Sharron visit kindy this term. During her visit, we had the special opportunity to sing “I Am Me” together, creating lasting memories for our children and families. This journey of celebrating identity reached a new height with our Birralii Cultural Workshop, led by Aunty Sharron herself.
Through her engaging and interactive presentation, the children and educators deepened their knowledge of Aboriginal culture, fostering a sense of understanding and awareness. The workshop highlighted the importance of respecting each other, the animals, and the land we live on. The children delighted in learning about Australian animals through song and dance, particularly the emu and kangaroo.
One of the most touching moments was when we shared a video of the children playing their instruments to Aunty Sharron’s song “I Am Me.” As the author of this beautiful piece, it was incredibly special for her to witness how the song has become a visual and auditory celebration of individuality and respect at our kindy.
This experience has truly been a celebration of identity, and we’re thrilled to continue building on this foundation with future generations at Dayboro Kindy.
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You can stay connected and keep up to date with all the exciting activities at our kindy by following our Facebook page. We also still have spots available for 2025, so be sure to contact our office to place your child’s name on the list!
