Whole New Worlds
"Playfulness has made this project a success"
Lisa Parrott, Creative Education Manager
Whole New Worlds is a celebration of baby and parent interaction. The project is a very simple idea yet has such a fundamental effect on both babies and parents. One of the most rewarding parts of the project was working with mums and their babies in prison. It was an opportunity for them to dedicate a full hour of playing with their babies alongside other mums and babies over a five week period. Usually in the prison they would be at work all day while the nursery looks afer their babies.
Photographs and filming have been an invaluable part of the project but no more so than in the prison. The parents have been able to keep photographs (a rare luxury in prison) and see an instant example of how they encourage their baby to develop and the important role they play in doing so.
The filming and the photographs have enabled parents to see the real benefits of playing with their babies. This we feel has spurred them on to actively play and talk more with their babies and see that their input does make a difference.
Whole New Worlds - W.Yorkshire Playhouse
"The project encourages parents to feel confident in playing creatively with their babies and toddlers. Not only do these episodes show young children that they too can be creative, but they offer a means of parents and children exploring together a range of ways of communicating, interacting and expressing emotions. For each family a future which includes time to play is likely to be healthier, happier and a more fulfilled family."
Angela Anning
Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Leeds
"I feel that from the first session to the last there was a noticeable change in my son's development and interaction. I feel he really enjoyed and benefited from the sessions and it was great to be able to do it together."
Participant Mum
The Arts Development team at the West Yorkshire Playhouse pride themselves on initiating creative projects that can be shared with anyone interested in creative work with babies and children. They have worked with hard-to-reach groups, such as mothers and babies in prison, traveller groups and women and babies in a refuge.