Meet Julie Sweetnam:
Educator & Therapeutic
Arts Practitioner
Welcome! Supporting children in playful and positive ways is my passion. I have been working and playing with young children and families in many capacities on Salt Spring Island for over 30 years. In my role as an Early Childhood Educator, I have run forest preschool programs, provided early learning programs at the Little Red Schoolhouse for 20 years, supported children of multiple diversities and have facilitated workshops for children ages 3 to 11 since 1997 always with a focus on art, nature education, and creative fun. I currently work with little ones at the Little Blue Early Learning Centre in addition to my Little Loft offerings.
As a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner I have supported children ages 6 to 12 in one on one and group sessions. Expressive arts is another passion of mine and I incorporate this explorative approach to the art experiences I present to children within all of my program offerings.
When I am not engaged with children or planning our next art exploration, you might find me in my garden appreciating flowers and birds, taking another art workshop (can't stop!), hiking with my dog Weston, exploring through my own art therapy practice and spending time with my family.
Through my many years of working with children I have observed that open ended art activities and outdoor experiences had children truly engaged and enthusiastic. For some it was calming when they needed it and others motivating and energizing. I believe these two modalities offer a balancing effect for children while engaging all of their senses, the brain is firing and experiential learning and growth is active. Play based learning allows children to create their own learning opportunities, discover a deeper sense of themselves and their environment, which supports healthy growth in connection to all areas of their development. Even better if their play is guided by a caring adult who is available to them and in coordination with other children.
In 2020 I completed a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner certification to better understand how to effectively use expressive and experiential art activities to enhance my work with children. This inspired me to begin operating from my home property and to renovate a small space for these offerings, now known as the little loft. It really is little, but packed with areas of activity, spaces for retreat, and coming together.
My 3 acre property is a perfect extension to the program with a small garden area for nature art (and a visit with the chickens!), a large sand area for big muscle movement, excavation, water play and experiments, and a forested area with seasonal creek and pond for exploration and nature play with a playground aspect with a bridge, tree swings, and a net tunnel.
This led to my first summer camps offered in 2021, which then led to the creation of the Friday program for a group of families whose children wanted to continue all year. I'm excited to grow along with the children and families who join our little loft community.
You may meet my two furry helpers!
Dexter
Weston
Check out my current offerings…
I acknowledge that I live, work, and play upon the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish First Nations peoples. I honour all ancestral stewards of this place I call home and believe it is important for those of colonial ancestry to recognize the indigenous people of this land and the hereditary stewardship they continue to practice. I endeavor to instill an awareness and respect for our natural world within the children I share this land with today. I will continue to learn and grow my own awareness of the First Nations' experience as we move towards respectful relationships, reparation, and reconciliation.
CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
• Licensed Early Childhood Educator for 20 years
• Art Therapy Practitioners Certification from The Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy
• Associate member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association
• Early Childhood Educators of BC
• Salt Spring Arts Council
~ I also hold a valid first aid and food safe certificate ~