6 November 2018. Written by T Liz.

Asalamo Alaikom Aya. Over the last few weeks I have seen how you love to play with other children. On the 17th
October you were so eager to climb onto the slide that Teacher Farah (Mummy) had brought inside that she
had to ask you to wait until she had dried it with a towel so it was safe for you. As soon as you could, you
started to try and climb up the slide. It was really slippery and you slid back down to the bottom. You tried
again and again until you made it to the top. You grinned as you stood on the platform and looked down at your
friend Mariam who was standing at the bottom. She tried to copy but couldn’t climb up the slide.

You looked like you had fun painting on the 31st October. You seemed really keen to have a try when you saw
some palette paints and a cup of water on the table. Teacher Farah sat down with you and Mariam and showed
you how to dip your brush in the water then spread it over the paper to create a pattern. You quickly had a
turn and pushed the brush into the water then swiped it across the dry paint palette and onto the paper. You
looked like you had fun dipping the brush in the water then wiping it across the paper to create an art work.
Mariam watched you painting and copied what you were doing.

Today I saw you looked excited when you saw Teacher Farah come into the Nursery carrying some pots of
paint. You waited while I put your art apron on and quickly sat down at the table, just like Mummy (Teacher
Farah) asked you to. Mariam watched you pull the paint pots over to you so you could see what was inside each
pot. You looked up when Mariam started to cry and Teacher Farah explained that “you needed to share the
paints with your friends at preschool”. You watched Teacher Farah slide the pots back to the middle of the
table and saw Mariam take a paint brush out of a pot. As soon as Mariam had a paint brush, Teacher Farah slid
the pots back to you and you carried on painting.

What Learning Occurred?

Aya’s learning pathway for this term is extending her friendship skills (which is one of our centre’s learning
priorities for children). She is developing listening skills as she listens to teachers explain what’s happening.
Aya is learning about rules, such as the need for safety in her play with others. Her understanding of the
concept of fairness, by sharing resources, is beginning to emerge as she is encouraged by teachers to share.
Aya’s knowledge of ways she can play with others is growing as she participates in group activities such as art.
Pai mārika (That’s great) Aya!

How can we Extend this Learning?

We can support Aya as she continues to extend her friendship skills by spending time with her and encouraging
her efforts to share and take turns with resources.