Aboriginal Kinship Peg Doll Set by Simone Hills
Created by Aboriginal artist Simone Hills of Karda Artwork, this beautifully designed peg doll family celebrates the importance of Aboriginal kinship, extended family and shared caregiving. Featuring traditional ochre body paint designs and traditional tools, the set invites children to explore what family means and the many ways families are connected.
Inspired by Simone’s own family experiences, the dolls provide an opportunity to learn about the roles of Nans, Pops, Aunties, Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins and extended kinship family. Through small-world play, children can create stories about family life, caring for one another, sharing responsibilities and the traditions that bring families together.
This meaningful resource encourages educators to create opportunities for children to have a yarn about their own families, cultures and connections, while fostering respect for the diversity of family structures and experiences. It also provides a starting point for thoughtful, age-appropriate conversations about Aboriginal histories and the impacts of forced child removal.
Simone Hills – Karda Artwork is an Artist Member of the Indigenous Art Code, supporting fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. Designed by Simone Hills – Karda Artwork.
Cultural Note: This resource is created by an Aboriginal artist and offers an opportunity to respectfully explore Aboriginal kinship and family relationships. Educators are encouraged to use Aboriginal-authored resources and guidance when extending cultural learning. Largest measures 12 x 4cm. Smallest measures 6 x 3cm. Ages 3yrs+
Educational Benefits
- Cultural Awareness & Respect: Introduces children to Aboriginal kinship systems, cultural traditions and the significance of extended family.
- Identity & Belonging: Encourages children to share their own family stories, experiences and connections.
- Language & Storytelling: Supports conversations, yarning and imaginative storytelling about family roles and relationships.
- Social & Emotional Development: Encourages empathy, care, understanding and respect for others.
- Inclusive Play: Promotes recognition and appreciation of diverse family structures and cultural backgrounds.
- Imaginative Role-Play: Provides opportunities to recreate familiar family experiences and explore shared caregiving responsibilities.
- Community Connections: Encourages children to develop an understanding of relationships, responsibilities and belonging within families and communities.
EYLF Connections
- Outcome 1 – Children have a strong sense of identity
- 1.1 Children feel safe, secure and supported.
- 1.2 Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency.
- 1.4 Children learn to interact in relation to others with care, empathy and respect.
- Outcome 2 – Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- 2.1 Children develop a sense of connectedness to groups and communities and an understanding of their reciprocal rights and responsibilities as active and informed citizens.
- 2.2 Children respond to diversity with respect.
- 2.3 Children become aware of fairness.
- Outcome 4 – Children are confident and involved learners
- 4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity and imagination.
- 4.4 Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies, natural and processed materials.
- Outcome 5 – Children are effective communicators
- 5.1 Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes.
- 5.2 Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts.
Cultural Note: This resource is created by an Aboriginal artist and offers an opportunity to respectfully explore Aboriginal kinship and family relationships. Educators are encouraged to use Aboriginal-authored resources and guidance when extending cultural learning.