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University of Southern Queensland’s Under Eights Day 2005 – what an amazing day!
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With a magical venue, and the most gorgeous weather we could hope for, the experiences and environment created by a dedicated early childhood team provided more than 400 children and families with the opportunity to interact, play and celebrate the joy of childhood and the early years. The day kicked-off with a short play entitled Who stole the rainbow? It had children and parents enthralled by the magical characters and catchy tunes. Shortly after, the USQ quadrangle turned into a magical hub of exploration and activities, teeming with children. Little faces took on the colours of the rainbow at the face painting stalls, while bubbles floated past and brightly coloured ribbon twirlers sliced up figures in the air. The once plain calico fence evolved into a multicoloured mural, and even the pavement did not escape the creativity of the youngest attendees – armed with a chalk and a big smile, babies and toddlers scribbled their way around.
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An amazing soundscape produced endless banging, striking and shaking of percussion pieces while busy bodies weaved their way through tunnels, trees and mobiles. The science display provided children with opportunities to view hermit crabs at centre stage, spinning copters, fingerprint animals and the ever popular slime and goop never failed to stimulate the senses of young and old alike.
A wonderful diversity and disability display provided a wide range of resources which allowed children and parents the opportunity to experience how others feel and view the world; and when a quiet time was called for, the cozy literacy area was the place to be. On its menu was an excellent selection of storytelling favourites as well as three jam-packed live shows of a delightful shadow puppet story called Goanna and the Old Red Sun, complete with fantastic sound effects. Needless to say, little hands were busy all day: moulding clay dinosaurs and a variety of original creations; threading an assortment of objects that turned a bare tree into a gorgeous mobile display; weaving glittery bits and pieces onto a hessian pyramid; cutting and pasting to make shadow puppets; and with so much energy still left to expend, a wonderful obstacle course challenged active littlies and supported their endless energy to move.
Under Eights Day 2005 served as an avenue to strengthen links with children, families, community organisations and early childhood staff and students. At the end of the day, when all was packed away and tidied, the only remnant left was the colourfully painted calico fence – a simple reminder of the day that was. A symbol of the wonderful way children can leave a mark on all of us.
Alice Brown
Early Childhood Coordinator
University of Southern Queensland
Email: browna@usq.edu.au
Bella Santacruz is an undergraduate at University of Southern Queensland
Queensland celebrates Under Eights Week
20–27 May 2005
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Under Eights Week is an annual event organised through Early Childhood Australia’s Queensland Branch, by the Under Eights Week State Planning Committee. Each year a theme is chosen to help focus on a particular aspect of early childhood. This year’s theme, ‘Leap into life – children’s health and wellbeing’, was celebrated by local preschools, child care centres, kindergartens, libraries and many other organisations around Queensland.
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Under Eights Week promotes the importance of the early childhood years and highlights the needs of young children. The week also strives to increase public awareness of the issues concerning young children and the range of early childhood services available within the community. Next year’s Under Eights Week will be celebrated from 19–26 May 2006. The theme has not yet been decided, however it will be a huge event as we will be celebrating 50 years.
For further details and to keep up to date, visit: the Under Eights Week webpage or email Karen Dungey at: ecaqld@earlychildhood.org.au.
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