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Play School's Growing Strong

Welcome, welcome, the Play School show is about to begin!  

Join Miah, Teo and Leah and their friends Rhys, Tessa and Isaac to prepare and perform The Growing Strong Show! With lots to do, everyone works together to help out, with Rhys and Teo making delicious pizza for everyone, Miah and Tessa creating paper flowers for the set, and Leah and Isaac setting up the stage. And you can’t forget about music with Isobel on bass guitar, Luka on the ukelele and Yoshi playing the saxophone!  

The Growing Strong Show explores the things that help us to grow strong and feel safe and happy in our own bodies as we grow up. So, please take your seats, The Growing Strong Show is about to begin, and this is a Play School event you will not want to miss! 

WATCH NOW ON ABC IVIEW.

Notes for Parents and Educators: Supporting Playful Learning

This episode provides a range of playful learning opportunities centred around the idea that growing up is about more than just physical growth – it’s also about growing on the inside.

We grow by:

  • Celebrating all the things our bodies can do.
  • Discovering what we like.
  • Working together with others – sharing experiences and trying out new things. 

The following experiences encourage children to explore and develop both physically and emotionally; helping them understand that growing up is a holistic process that involves their bodies and minds.

Make Together

Surprise Flowers
Miah

Tessa and Miah love making things together, like surprise flowers. You can make them too! Watch the episode segment from 12:46 minutes for a demonstration.

What You’ll Need:
  • Cardboard paper tubes (e.g. from inside paper towel or baking paper)
  • Pompoms that fit into the paper tubes
  • Tissue paper (Tessa and Miah used rectangles cut on one long side to resemble petals)
  • Chopsticks or straws
  • Sticky tape
Steps:
  1. 1.Stick a pompom to one end of a chopstick (or straw) with tape.
  2. 2.Wrap the pompom with tissue paper. If your tissue paper has petals, make sure they point upwards. Use tape to secure it at the bottom.
  3. 3.Gently place the chopstick into the cardboard tube, hiding the flower inside.
  4. 4.Push the chopstick up to reveal the flower – Surprise!
Take it Further – Flower Finders:
  • Visit a garden or park to see lots of real flowers.
  • Count all the different petal shapes you can find: pointy, frilly, round, or striped.
  • Work together to spot flowers in every colour of the rainbow! Can you find red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and blue? Remember, don’t pick them – let them stay to grow big and strong!
  • Celebrate your findings by making a rainbow. Can you take a picture too?

Educator Links: EYLF Outcomes 2, 4

Play Together

Pick and Choose Pizza!
Teo & Rhys pizza making

Teo and Rhys are making pizza and talking about which toppings they like. Teo loves pineapple, but Rhys prefers cheese. What do you like on your pizza?

Sing Along with Rhys and Teo “Would You Like A Piece Of Pizza”

Now, add some of your favourite things! Some are foods, and some are activities that help you grow big and strong – e.g.

Would you like cheese and tomato?

Would you like pineapple pizza?

Would you like to draw a picture?

Would you like to read a story?

Would you like to play a game?

Sing together and celebrate everyone’s choices. Let each person add something they like! This could become a helpful new tune for transition times in early education settings or at home. 

When you’re feeling in the groove, add big movements to your song. For example, you can bow to someone when offering what they like or mime the activity they enjoy, like drawing, reading, or playing games. 

Take it Further – Tiny Thank You:

Sometimes it can be confronting for children to confidently express what they need to feel happy, included and safe. Like most things, it takes practise! Encouraging children to play around with self-expression through games and role play can build confidence when they’re faced with real life situations. For example; 

  • Practise offering what you like or what you want, but sing it!
  • Sing it in the tiniest way possible with tiny gestures and a squeaky voice.
  • Then, sing it again in the biggest way possible, with great big gestures and a deep, slow voice.

Educator Links: EYLF Outcomes 1, 2

Read Together

Reading picture books together helps children talk about everyone’s different experiences of growing strong – inside and out, helping each other, and making choices.

  1. 1.Argh! There's a Skeleton Inside You!
    By Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost (2019)
    A fun book about growing up strong and helping each other.
  2. 2.Boss of Your Own Body
    By Byll and Beth Stephen, illustrated by Simon Howe
    A great read with an important message about child protection and body safety, supporting a culture of consent in a fun way for young children.
  3. 3.I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
    By Lauren Child (2000)
    A story about trying new things and discovering new favourites, focusing on the theme of taste and personal preferences.
  4. 4.Pablo
    By Rascal (2021)
    A story about overcoming shyness and stepping out of your comfort zone while still staying true to yourself.
  5. 5.When I Was Little, Like You
    By Mary Mulbunka (2005)
    A story about starting small and growing big and strong in central Australia.

Relating to the Early Years Learning Framework V.2

Growing Strong tree

This episode aligns with EYLF Outcomes including:

  • Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
  • Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Themes and Key Messages:

  1. 1.Understanding Preferences and Differences:
    The episode helps children understand that others have different likes and dislikes, promoting empathy and respect for individual differences.
  2. 2.Secrets vs. Surprises (Child Protection Message):
    The episode highlights the difference between a secret and a surprise, reinforcing the message that "surprises are more fun because they are always shared," which emphasises that sharing and talking about things that happen to us is important. This supports children’s understanding of personal safety.
  3. 3.Collaboration and Consent:
    Children collaborate on a shared project, learning to ask for and offer help. The episode teaches children to respect boundaries, especially when someone says "no thank you." Consent is emphasised through asking permission before starting activities, before starting activities and performing the show, and reinforcing respect for others autonomy. 
  4. 4.Building Emotional Confidence:
    Maurice’s role encourages children to express big feelings such as anxiety and embarrassment, supporting emotional development and building confidence in expressing emotions.
  5. 5.Kindness and Support:
    The episode teaches children to show kindness and offer reassurance to those in need, reinforcing empathy and the importance of supporting others.
  6. 6.Perseverance, Cooperation, and Learning from Others:
    Through creating a performance together, the children learn the value of perseverance, the importance of each person’s ideas, and the power of cooperation. The episode highlights how we can learn from others as we grow, play, and learn.

Additional ABC Kids links:

Dive Deeper – References for Educators:

Authored by editor and curriculum writer, Bev Laing for ABC Kids Early Education in collaboration with Laura Stone, ABC Kids Early Education Producer. 

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