Welcoming Our Little Ones: Sharing stories from 1 to 3 years old

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Why ages 1 to 3 matter

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children learn to communicate with family members, Community and other children in their early years, and it’s during this stage that their brains develop faster than at any other time in their lives (Healing Foundation, n.d.).¹

What ways might work for me?

Connection to a larger system

Children have a special place in families and communities, culture and the future.

Parents can teach their child about who they are in relation to everything else: their family, kin, Community, environment and Ancestors.

These relationships create a child’s identity and connection to everything in life. We can teach our children how we are all part of Country and the Spirits that live within it: earth, rock, wood, water and all things that make up our environment have a living spirit. We can be mindful with our children and sit in nature and connect with Country. Whether it be a park, bushland, in a sandpit or bare dirt or near some water.

Our toddlers need to be free to roam around and explore while we are there to listen to them and talk about Country. What sounds can we hear? What does the ground feel like under our feet? What can we smell or see? Being present on Country, wherever it may be, can be calming for both us and our children.

Older children learning to support little ones

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children learn to care for younger ones from an early age. They help each other and work together. This is the way it has always been in our culture.

By learning their responsibilities young, they set a good example for others. This gives them feelings of trust, support and confidence.

It’s always good to involve older children to play and help with our little ones. We can encourage them to teach their younger siblings or cousins things that they may be good at, like playing with a ball, reading to them or doing some craft. Look for older children’s talents and suggest they try and share that with the little ones.

Song and dance

Song and dance are important parts of culture. Dreaming stories of Ancestors are shared through song, dance and story. These are often part of our sacred ceremonies. Song and dance can help our toddlers connect to people, their spirituality and parts of Country including animals, special places and the Elders or people who may have shared this information.

Children learn about their connections and identity by joining in song and dance. Dancing also helps them with listening, movement and balance. It’s good to try and learn some traditional songs and dances together, even if it’s something shared through YouTube, a website or social media.

Kinship

If grandparents are around and we feel they are safe, we might want our toddlers to spend time with them. They might know some songs and dances, or have stories about growing up and Country. They are often good for a yarn about the old days.

Our grandparents, aunties and uncles can help nurture, soothe, laugh, play, sing, tell stories and just be there for their grandkids, nieces and nephews. They can support our parenting and also give us a break if we are feeling tired and stressed. They can gently teach our kids the rules of life, who they are and where they belong, while keeping an eye on the children for safety.

Women often connect with other mothers and let the children play and explore together. Dads can do the same. Sometimes it’s good if both parents can get together with other like-minded parents to support each other and let the kids play together.

Learning through experience

One of the great strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of raising children is giving them the freedom to explore the world. Parents encourage children to play together, so they learn skills early, build resilience and understand responsibilities.

Parents see themselves as guides for their children’s social and emotional growth. They help the child’s spirit to emerge as they grow and experience life. While we cannot protect our children from everything, we can be there to show them what is right and wrong, and to understand the importance of family, kin and Country.

Early years is a time for spirit

The early years are a wonderful time when culture becomes a part of a child’s spirit. As we have explored, the whole family can get involved. Children experience culture by learning, seeing, feeling and doing cultural practices. What things can we do to encourage this learning?

If we haven’t grown up with culture it can be hard to understand about spirit. Having respect for our Ancestors, Elders and Spirits, and talking to Aboriginal Community members might help us get started.

For the dads

Pride in culture

Dads can encourage children at this age to be proud of their identity and culture. If you can support them to embrace their identity now, there will be no stopping them!

Things like reading them an Aboriginal children’s book, sharing your knowledge about Country and culture and attending Community events with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Even painting up for special events like NAIDOC start to build a sense of identity. And if you know any traditional language, you can teach it to your kids.

Connecting to Country

Dads can take their toddler to lots of places to connect to Country. You can take them on outings to special places, or just stop, watch and listen to nature wherever you may be.

Kids love to connect to their senses – giving them time and space to be in nature helps them start to connect to Country and may even calm them if feeling tired or cranky. Some ideas for connecting you could do with your toddler include:

• Water: Sitting on the riverbank, creek or beach and listening to the waves or watch the water flow by
• Earth: Feeling the dirt, sand or grass between your toes
• Fire: Safely watching a campfire or having a smoking ceremony or cleansing
• Plants: Touching the trunk of a tree, running your hands through soft grass or picking berries, fruit or cones
• Animals: Watching how birds, insects or bigger animals move, and dancing or moving like these animals

Learning about their culture and connecting to Country is good for children. It also helps make sure Country will be cared for in the future. This is part of traditional custodianship. So is holding care, knowledge and connection for our children.

More information for parents

In the following video, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers talk about singing, playing games, reading books and drawing with their children (ages 0–8 years).

The Living Story: 1–3 years

You might be interested in the following video (2 minutes, 3 seconds), which shows families and children 1–3 years old. What do you notice?

Deciding what to do

It is OK if you don’t know where to start. Other families have shared some ideas they found helpful.