Kettle’s Yard Learning & Community team has been working in partnership with researchers from the University’s of Cambridge and Birmingham to explore how creativity can support children and their families in getting ready to start school. This work has resulted in a new resource for parents and nursery teachers full of creative ideas and activities to spark conversations, inspired by art collections.
Artist Rachel McGivern led a series of creative workshops with families from the Red Hen Project in North Cambridge and also those attending a special Studio Sunday. The starting point for each activity was an object from the Kettle’s Yard collection which initiated a conversation about:
- Planning a new journey
- Gathering and sorting objects
- Making friends
These conversations were reinforced by a fun and creative activity such as drawing a map, planning a make-believe tea party and gathering and displaying natural objects. These workshops have informed a new set of resources and suggested activities for parents, carers and nursery teachers to support their children’s resilience for starting school.
Resources
Ready or Not
A resource for museums, galleries and nurseries working with families whose children are about to start school.
Ready or Not: Drawing a Journey
Creative activities to help families get ready together for starting school.
Ready or Not: Sorting Objects
Creative activities to help families get ready together for starting school.
Ready or Not: Time for Tea
Creative activities to help families get ready together for starting school.