Creative Atelier at Bambini House:
A Hub for Early Learning and Exploration
The Atelier is a vital contribution to Bambini House Preschool’s early learning program; a dedicated area for creative expression and a beautiful learning laboratory at our daycare in Chatswood.
Atelier is a French word, translated in English as a “working space.” Children in small groups of 3–4 explore, discover, and are involved in the Atelier, creating pedagogical projects inspired by their individual and collective interests. They converse, connect, and create using a variety of languages; visual arts, body movement, manipulation, mathematical compositions, music, and everyday chatter — all integral parts of our early learning experience.
Like the rest of the house, the Atelier is truly beautiful; a feast for the senses that encourages anyone, of any age, to sit down and create. Every piece of furniture in the room has been found, gathered, and placed with intention, making the space bespoke, unique, and personalized. If you didn’t know, you would think it was a gallery; such is the perfect curation of furniture, supplies, and light fittings.
In the Atelier, every little detail is wondrous and inspiring — dried blooms sit in glass jars and vases, ivy trails up the wall, palm fronds extend from the floor, and the table is set with charcoal, pastels, and rich, colorful pencils. On the easels, dried leek leaves are clipped, ready to be painted, and towards the back of the room, a plethora of baskets are filled with small, intricate findings; tiles, pods, sticks, and beads. Each child engages in the Atelier individually and collaboratively, learning, researching, and connecting with peers as part of our early learning curriculum.
The key role of the Atelier in our early learning and childcare program is to empower the child to feel comfortable and confident in sharing their encounters, learnings, and theories with classmates, teachers, and family; connecting their experiences with the wider world and fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
