STORYTIME is even more fun for Deighton children, thanks to a new project.
Role-playing, puppet making and creative arts are helping families and children work together at Christ Church Woodhouse Junior, Infant and Early Years School.
The Families in Action Project is part of the Lawrence Batley Theatre’s education and outreach work, funded by the Deighton Brackenhall Initiative.
About a dozen families and children so far have taken part in the 10-week project which started with drama sessions and role-playing and has now progressed to puppetmaking and storytelling workshops.
School family literacy worker Ginny Heyes-North has been working with parents and children alongside Naomi Sumner, Aileen Shaw and Kate Woodfield from the LBT.
Ginny said: “This is a fantastic project.
“It is great for families to be working together towards something so positive and I hope we can work together on other projects in future.”
Mum Joyce Hutchinson has been attending the weekly sessions from 3.30 to 4.30pm each Tuesday with her seven-year-old son Jermaine Creighton.
Joyce said: “The whole group co-operated well together even though we didn’t really know one another to start with. We gained lots of new ideas and skills which we use at home with the children.”
Roisin Rules, who has three sons Corey, seven, Dylan, five and Rhys, four said the sessions had helped her work with the boys together and help them on core skills such as co-operation and teamwork.
Joyce Emmerson, attended the sessions with her six-year-old granddaughter Kayla-Jo Emmerson-Curry and her son nine-year-old Cameron Emmerson.
She said: “We’ve learned to tell stories in a completely different way, more exciting and expressive to really capture the children’s imagination.”
Dad Steven Neil and his five-year-old daughter Jasmine have also been attending. Jasmine said she had really enjoyed sewing the puppets.
Ginny added that the handmade felt puppets, which had been sewn by parents and children would be used for drama sessions later.
She said those taking part had shared and developed ideas, used role playing and drama games to develop their self confidence and made new friends and formed closer relationships with other parents.
Jenny Goodman from the LBT said: “The aim of the education and outreach department is to provide opportunities for people from all walks of life to engage with the theatre and performing arts.”
