Aprende ho Halimar iha Uma -"Playful Learning: Building Foundations for the Early Years" Karen Jones is a passionate Early Childhood Teacher from Australia with over 30 years of experience teaching 3- and 4-year-old children. Holding a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood from Melbourne University, she has spent her career leading kindergarten programs, mentoring educators, and advocating for creative, child-led, play-based learning experiences. Karen has visited Timor-Leste regularly since 2013 as part of Wangaratta Friends of Lacluta (WFoL), mentoring local preschool educators and supporting early childhood education in rural Lacluta. In 2020, during COVID in collaboration with Rabela Punef (and supported by HANDS in Timor-Leste), she co-created Aprende ho Halimar iha Uma, a colourful play-based booklet for children, and to encourage families to embrace play as a vital tool for early learning. Her workshop will explore the importance of playful learning in the early years, emphasizing how simple, everyday materials and games can foster creativity, exploration, and foundational learning. She aims to inspire educators and families to embrace play as a powerful tool for child development,
tapping into their own creativity in the process.