Introduction

PLAY

WYP Touring

Storymakers

Creative Education Week

Sound Play

SPARK

Work Experience

First Floor

Whole New Worlds

Whole New Worlds explores the reality that all babies and children need the opportunity to explore, make decisions, be imaginative, creative, curious and learn through their play experiences.

The Creative Education team at the Playhouse built relationships with parents and babies in a variety of settings including traveller groups, parent and baby groups, women’s refuges and a women’s prison. Using a range of sensory objects in boxes they observed and encouraged parents and babies to play creatively.

Parents and children were videoed or photographed as they explored and played together. Parents were encouraged to look at the video footage and photographs and watch their interactions with their children. This provided parents with a unique opportunity to understand how babies learn, and supported their attachment, self-esteem and confidence.

In November 2004 we held a conference called New Worlds, which offered a unique opportunity to share good practice in creative work with babies and very young children within a national and international arena

Now everyone can benefit from this exciting project as a pack of activity cards is available, allowing individual parents and early years practitioners to explore some of the simple play ideas with their babies. Packs cost £7.50 each plus £1.50 p + p. To order A Whole New Worlds Activity Pack please send a cheque for £9 (payable to West Yorkshire Playhouse) to Lisa Parrott, Creative Education Manager.

For more information about this project please contact Lisa on 0113 213 7290 or lisa.parrott@wyp.org.uk.

Feedback

From staff and parents at Woodhouse Health Centre

‘So much fun to see the babies exploring and recognising boxes of interesting objects.'

‘The babies have loved it.'

‘I'm going to get some material for my baby, I could use some net curtain I've got at home.'

If you would like more information about Whole New World contact Lisa Parrott, Creative Education Manager on 0113 213 7290 or lisa.parrott@wyp.org.uk