A co-listening podcast for preschoolers is called Little Yarns. Little Yarns is all about the various languages, tales, and countries of Indigenous Australia and is a great listening resource in early learning services.
Each episode will transport you to a different part of the Country where you may hear the noises of the locals, practise your language skills, and have a little fun.
Australia is full of diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Nations. From the Yawuru to the Bundjalung, the clans of the Torres Strait to the palawa people, every mob has its own language and unique culture.
On the saltwater country, we'll sing Gumbaynggirr songs while listening to the waves. In the red and rocky Adnyamathanha Country Mountains, we'll narrate tales. And play Yorta Yorta woka by the river. There are countless First languages available to hear and study.
Little Yarns Podcasts include:
- Mother and children in Kullilli - Toby loves to yarn stories with his children, walking in his favourite place… among the scar trees. Let’s join him and learn about his mother country.
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River in Kullilli - Let's head back to Kullilli Country to meet Toby in one of his favourite spots - catching yabbies by the river!
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Strong in Kullilli - We're going to meet Toby in Kullilli Country in southwest Queensland for a smoking ceremony and to yarn about what makes us strong.
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Father of the Waters in Yorta Yorta - Listen to the river as Ebony shares the hidden meanings of her favourite Yorta Yorta placenames.
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Sun in Yorta Yorta - Today, we're back in Yorta Yorta Country with Ebony to sit in the sunshine and spot our favourite colours.
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Water in Yorta Yorta - Today, we're sitting by the river in Yorta Yorta Country. Listen out for frogs, water birds and the Yorta Yorta word for water.
Little Yarns and Early Education
Little Yarns offers valuable opportunities to extend children’s understandings and further embed engagement in Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages throughout your program.
Engaging with Little Yarns and follow-up teaching and learning will link broadly to many aspects of ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia’ (EYLF), including;
Practice
- Holistic approaches
- Cultural competence
Principles
- Respect for diversity
- Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
Outcomes
- 1.3: Children develop knowledgeable and confident self-identities.
- 2.2: Children respond to diversity with respect.
- 5.5: Children use information and communication technologies to access information, investigate ideas and represent their thinking.
The capacity to learn language and culture from Australia’s first people is a very special legacy and one we can all share. We hope Little Yarns will lead to bigger yarns at your place!
There are a variety of podcasts available for Educators and Children to listen too!
To access and listen: Little Yarns
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