Wee People Big Feelings officially launched at Scots Corner Early Learning Centre

Starcatchers officially launch ground-breaking new project Wee People, Big Feelings with a special celebratory play session for families supported by Midlothian South MSP Christine Graeme. 

Throughout 2021-22, Starcatchers worked with with families from Scots Corner Early Learning and Childcare Centre in Midlothian to explore how a creative play approach could benefit children aged 2-5 years old in helping them develop their emotional literacy, encouraging children to express their feelings in particular reference to the Emotional Cycle of Deployment.

Many of the children attending Scots Corner have a parent or close relative in the armed forces. Whilst many resources exist to support older forces children, resources for younger children are harder to come by. Wee People Big Feelings sought to address this gap.

During the project, Starcatchers artist Skye Reynolds became artist-in-residence at Scots Corner, developing play sessions and activities investigating the intersections between creative play and emotional regulation. Via observations and practitioner studies conducted by Skye and the Scots Corner staff, supported by the team at Strathclyde University’s Early Childhood Education Hub, important learning was identified around the value of creative play, particularly safe and engaging rough and tumble play, in helping young forces children develop emotional literacy.

Starcatchers and Scots Corner worked together throughout the residency to create both physical and digital resources to support the legacy and impact of the project, allowing families beyond the Scots Corner setting to benefit from Wee People Big Feelings’ learning.

All resources from the project are now available via the Wee People Big Feelings project webpages. They include videos both for families and early years practitioners, downloadable ideas cards, and take-home play kits suggesting simple and accessible play pathways around themes such as movement, imaginative play and music. You can also download the full report of findings.

Visit the Wee People Big Feelings project page to find out more.