Project Type :
Family Literacy
Participants:
Parents and young children
Artists :
Ruth le Gear, Mary Branley
Partners:
Family Resource Centre Sligo.
Funders:
SOLAS Learning Works – Adult Literacy for Life,
Stories Together
Stories Together: Creative Family Literacy Through Art and Play is a family literacy project delivered by Kids’ Own in partnership with Family Resource Centre Sligo.
The project supports parents and young children to explore reading, storytelling, rhymes and creativity together through a series of welcoming, play-based workshops. Designed for families with young children, and particularly for parents who may feel less confident around literacy, the programme creates opportunities for shared learning through art, play and books.
By combining creative practice with family literacy approaches, Stories Together encourages reading and storytelling as enjoyable, everyday experiences that build confidence, strengthen relationships and support children’s early literacy development.
About the Project
Through a series of artist-led workshops, parents and children will take part in storytelling, art making, rhyme play and collaborative book-making activities. Sessions will be facilitated by Kids’ Own artists alongside literacy specialists, bringing together creative and literacy expertise in an inclusive and supportive environment.
The project will engage families from a range of backgrounds, including migrant families, parents of early years children, and families who may experience disadvantage or barriers to literacy participation.
Throughout the programme, families will receive literacy packs containing books, creative prompts and practical resources to support shared reading and creative activities at home, helping to extend learning beyond the workshop setting.
Books and Creative Resources
A selection of Kids’ Own publications will form part of the workshops, providing inspiration for shared reading, discussion and creative responses.
Using high-quality children’s literature alongside visual arts activities, the project encourages families to explore stories in creative and imaginative ways while developing confidence with books and language.
Creative Outcomes
A central element of Stories Together is the opportunity for families to create their own handmade books. Through drawing, writing, conversation and making, parents and children will develop original books that reflect their own stories, experiences and imaginations.
The project will conclude with a community celebration, where participating families will share and celebrate the handmade books created throughout the programme.
Project Aims
Stories Together aims to:
- support parents to feel more confident engaging in reading and storytelling with their children
- encourage positive family experiences around books, language and creativity
- develop children’s early literacy through play-based, creative learning
- strengthen family connections through shared creative experiences
- improve access to family literacy opportunities for families experiencing barriers to participation
Partners and Funding
Stories Together is delivered by Kids’ Own in partnership with Family Resource Centre Sligo.
The project is funded through SOLAS Learning Works – Adult Literacy for Life, supporting creative approaches that encourage lifelong learning and strengthen literacy within families and communities.