Week 4 (Day 7) 

I arrived at the centre at 8am and entered in sunshine room at 8:05 am while everyone was having their breakfast. After breakfast, ECT asked them to sit on the mat and began to role play as a crocodile (attached to the book) and asked them to say hello or even hug that prob crocodile. On the other hand, I focused on giving children a fun opportunity to express themselves, collaborate with others, and be creative. According to Miller and Almon (2009), play is essential to children's education and growth because it gives them the chance to "experiment, investigate, solve problems, and express themselves". To encourage creativity and self-directed play, I set up an imaginary play area with outfits so the children could put on costumes up as astronauts, fairies, and ninjas. 

We got together for our dress-up activity after lunch. The children picked out their costumes with great enthusiasm, making up stories and personalities based on their parts. As they walked, chatted, and discussed roles with one another, this exercise promoted social connection, language development, and motor abilities. In keeping with NQS Quality Area 1, which focuses on engaging programmes that support children’s curiosity and participation (ACECQA, 2021), the dress-up exercise gave children the chance to use imaginative play to expand their ideas and discover unique characters. Then I supervised the outdoor free play period, where many children continued their imaginative play by integrating their characters into new games on the playground. This sustained imaginative engagement supported EYLF Outcome 1, which promotes a sense of identity and belonging through play (AGDET, 2021).

The importance of play-based learning and the role of educators in promoting engaging play experiences were reaffirmed today. I saw how play can improve children' language, social, and cognitive abilities by supplying costumes and fostering imagination. To encourage young children's self-confidence, peer cooperation, and creative expression, I also intend to increase the opportunities for role-playing and stories.