KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus’ Diploma of Early Childhood Education (DECE) students recently had the opportunity to assist the Sarawak State Library with their holiday activity, Tiny Tot Playtime, for children aged one to three years.
Held on 17 December 2023, Tiny Tot Playtime was a collaborative effort between Swinburne Sarawak and the Sarawak State Library. About 40 children and parents took part in the session.
Ten of Swinburne Sarawak’s DECE students volunteered to facilitate the activity, which was designed with the purpose of fostering early development and social skills in children aged one to three years through seven engaging playtime activities. In addition, the lively activity created cherished moments for the children and parents alike.
Upon the arrival of parents and their children, the playtime started with finger puppet storytelling by DECE student Lee Zin Hui, assisted by Chew Yee Joo.
Following this, the families participated in various activities at different stations, such as face-painting facilitated by Gracia Chang, headband-making facilitated by Nur Hijrah Shaniza binti Mohamad Zamri and Lourdes Lim, beading facilitated by Esther Jee and Racqle Liew and family foot-painting facilitated by Zin Hui.
The families line up for face-painting.
The session also saw parents and children enjoying a music and movement session facilitated by Yee Joo and Thien Sin Jun, where they danced along to London Bridge, Baby Shark and the Chicken Dance.
At the end of Tiny Tot Playtime, Sin Jun and Yee Joo performed a Christmas song for the crowd.
Racqle paints one of the children’s faces.
The DECE students had a great time engaging with the children and their families. The session marked the students’ initial experience interacting with a larger group of young children and their parents simultaneously.
The students had the opportunity to apply their skills and talents in a real-world setting, moving beyond theoretical concepts on paper to practical knowledge that is continuously adjusted to suit the children’s capabilities and needs. This required on-the-spot improvisation, quick thinking and the ability to respond to unforeseen situations. Impromptu activities were introduced to keep the energy high and entertaining.
The children and parents perform the Chicken Dance during the music and movement session.
“At the heart of it all, what really makes a difference is the closeness, the connections we build and the joy of coming together to just play freely and learn in an enjoyable way. It is priceless and just plain awesome!” said Ms Ting Mee Ling, Discipline Leader for Early Childhood Education at Swinburne Sarawak.
“I am really glad that my colleague, Mr Choo Chian Hou, and I took a leap of faith with our students and saw the incredible potentials they hold,” she added.
Mr Choo Chian Hou, Digital Learning Technologist at Swinburne Sarawak, said, “I am thrilled that our students had a blast, and it has been a delightful surprise to uncover so many hidden talents among them. The energy they brought was simply incredible!”
The team recently received feedback from Mdm Ong Soon Foong, Library Assistant from the Community Engagement Division of the Sarawak State Library, that the event was well-received by the participants and that the students’ hard work did not go unnoticed. She said many parents and their children were having so much fun that many had requested for more.
The DECE students who facilitated Tiny Tot Playtime, namely (clockwise from left) Gracia Chang, Nur Hijrah Shaniza binti Mohamad Zamri, Lourdes Lim, Racqle Liew, Airis Ixora binti Izhar, Marie Steffy anak Atta, Esther Jee, Thien Sin Jun and Lee Zin Hui. Not pictured is Chew Yee Joo.
More information on Swinburne Sarawak’s Diploma of Early Childhood Education at can be found at https://www.swinburne.edu.my/courses/diploma-of-early-childhood-education.php.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).