Our friends at Starcatchers have launched a new campaign: ARTS from the START.
All of Starcatchers' work is focused on and around children's wellbeing and development using expressive arts. ARTS from the START is a campaign to highlight the importance that both the arts and creativity can and does have on early childhood.
Starcatchers are campaigning to put ARTS at the HEART of the Early Years experience for ALL CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND.
“For young children, creativity is MORE important than literacy and numeracy. Before they can speak or read or count, they can be given the chance to express themselves, develop problem solving skills, gain self-esteem and important social skills. The arts can spark a curiosity about the world and a love of learning that will last a lifetime.”
Heather Armstrong - Creative Skills Programme Manager
The inspiration for this campaign has grown from the success of the Creative Skills Training Programme, which was rolled out to 11 local authority areas across Scotland, working with Early Years practitioners and HNC Childcare students to develop their creative practice, which in turn has an impact on the children and families they work with. The positive reactions from the practitioners and students taking part, and the knock on effect to the children that they work with has been overwhelming.
Become ARTS from the START champions!
You can participate in a number of different ways:
1. Add an ARTS from the START twibbon to your Facebook or Twitter profile to show your solidarity. CLICK HERE
2. Share with us on social media (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) why you "believe in ARTS from the START" using the hashtag #AFTS - it could be a personal memory from your childhood and the arts, or an effect or benefit you are seeing with your children. Use our ARTS from the START selfie sign LINK or the I believe in ARTS from the START LINK
3. Think about what the ideal childcare setting would be like to be part of our #Dreamstart campaign. A visual artist will be collecting these inspirational ideas to create a visual arts space that reflects the perfect place for our young ones to start their Early Years experience.