Kettle’s Yard + Ready or Not
Our research associate Dr Mikeda Jess has been busy working in partnership with the brilliant team at the modern art gallery, Kettle’s Yard, to explore how creativity can support families with children who are getting ready to start school. Workshops by artist Rachel McGivern helped create resources for parents and teachers that included a range of creative ideas and activities to stimulate conversation among families. The activities, which were based on objects from Kettle's Yard’s collection, focused on topics such as planning a new journey, gathering and sorting objects, and making friends. To reinforce the conversations, participants engaged in fun and creative games such as drawing maps, planning make-believe tea parties, and displaying natural objects. The outcomes of these workshops have been used to create a set of resources and suggested activities that can support children's resilience as they prepare to start school.