Learning Together as a Family
- Martina Gannon with family audience
Valerie O`Carroll the coordinator of the Drop-In Well Family Resource Centre gives us a flavour of a family learning project she organised with the Write-Minded team during the Hallow’een school holidays. The Drop-In Well is a resource for all families in Ballymun.
This four-day holiday programme is providing a mix of quality early education experiences for children and a practical way of supporting and valuing the role of parents in children’s learning and leisure.
There is a lot of stress and pressure for parents, particularly now with all the uncertainties that go with the recession. My plan, developed with Martina and Duana, was to provide an opportunity for parents to relax and enjoy their children and to take people away from worries and concerns for a short while. Children can begin to enjoy learning through fun activities and parents begin to see learning in a new way.
The four days of activity were open to parents with children between four years and six years. The four days was filled with arts and crafts, colouring, baking, storytelling and lots of fun. The week finished with a trip to the chocolate factory where we learned how chocolate is made. We were able to make some chocolate for ourselves and take some home!
The week was all about involving parents and child in learning and playing together and to encourage development in self confidence and inter-action with each other.
The Write-Minded team brought their expertise in activities appropriate for various different stages of child development that would be both enjoyable and would support confidence and learning.
The Drop In Well plans to build on the success of this first project as part of the Write-Minded Family and Community programme of work and we are looking forward to playing a key role in supporting family fun and learning.
If you are interested in finding out more please give me a call at the Drop in Well Family Resource Centre on 018424961 – it would be great to hear from you!
Valerie O’Carroll.
