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| Working with children …remember to play! |
The work that Creative Writes has been doing with children has increased a great deal in the last year. We are now offering regular term time workshops at Pickled Pepper Books in Crouch End for two different age groups (7-9’s & 9-11’s) and also private one to one classes & very small groups in Muswell Hill.
I trained as a teacher many years ago, tutored children privately and worked in a special needs school – so I have a background in working with children and have always enjoyed it very much.
It does however feel different coming back to working with children while wearing the Creative Writes hat. While I was always keen to focus on the creative element and story writing was often a part of the work – there was more emphasis on academic achievement. There were holes that could be filled with imagination but it didn’t seem to form the foundation of the work. These days, I explain to parents that their children may not leave each session with pages of beautifully written literature but they will however leave having been engaged, excited and surprised. Surprised at the ideas that they themselves formulate and the fun that comes from being given permission & time to explore these ideas. They are reminded that pretty much anything goes and this enables them to sometimes travel to an unknown land.
We create Word Banks together that we share as a group through brainstorming and the children take ownership of these words – using them however they wish. We engage our senses. We learn to listen to each other and we enjoy each others ideas. It is too easy for the children to get caught up with the need to spell perfectly etc and keeping up with those around them. As the facilitator, it can be quite challenging when working with mixed age groups. What I say to the children is if you have an idea – start to write it down if you can and I am here to help you if you would like. Just give it a go – or if your ideas are too fast for your pen, let’s just carry on talking about it. Let’s draw it – explore it and laugh about it. Let’s keep asking questions. And the following week – guess what? The children remember our discussions and their ideas. They can’t wait to continue…because they have been allowed to play.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about our work with children. Blotted Ink Workshops at Pickled Pepper Books in Crouch End can be directly booked via the shop: www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk. Or you can turn up on a Tuesday afternoon in term time (4-4.45pm for 7-9’s & 5-5.45pm for 9-11’s).
We will also be working with Delights by Cynthia during March & April – offering ‘Eat Your Words’ workshops for children. More info to come soon!
We are booking for our Blogs Etc adults workshops at the Clissold Arms in East Finchley from 19th February for three Tuesday mornings 10am-12pm, Sutton House Saturdays from 23rd February and our themed workshops in March. Please see the booking page for info:
https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings.html