A national roadshow set out this week to encourage parents across Scotland to play, talk and read more with their young children.
The roadshow, which will visit all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, forms part of the Scottish Government’s Play, Talk, Read campaign, which was introduced two years ago to encourage parents to engage with their children from birth through low-cost, fun activities (News, 1 October 2009).
In partnership with the Scottish Book Trust, the Play@Home scheme- a physical activity programme for children from birth to five - and other voluntary organisations, the roadshow’s first stop will be ‘key’ shopping centres in Scotland, where parents and children can take part in free play and Bookbug sessions and song and rhyme time. The Play, Talk, Read Bus will then take to the streets visiting towns and cities across the country.
The next phase of the national drive will also include TV and radio adverts and a ‘one-stop’ website for parents of young children, all designed to build upon the success of the campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the roadshow, Angela Constance, minister for children and young people, said, ‘The early years are a priority for this government, committed as we are to supporting children through a policy of early intervention. Investment in young Scots today is an investment in a better future for us all, with every £1 spent on young people now, saving the taxpayer £9 in the future.
‘Playing, talking and reading with our children is key to their physical, cognitive and social development and it's essential we promote the benefits of this approach through the continuing the work of the Play, Talk, Read campaign across Scotland this year.’
Next week, charity Glasgow Life is launching a new city-wide play strategy setting out what is important about play and priorities for play for the next three years.
The play strategy, ‘Playing for Real’, will underpin every child’s right to play and how the city will protect and promote that right through an improved understanding of play and its benefits.
In partnership with the Scottish Book Trust, the Play@Home scheme- a physical activity programme for children from birth to five - and other voluntary organisations, the roadshow’s first stop will be ‘key’ shopping centres in Scotland, where parents and children can take part in free play and Bookbug sessions and song and rhyme time. The Play, Talk, Read Bus will then take to the streets visiting towns and cities across the country.
The next phase of the national drive will also include TV and radio adverts and a ‘one-stop’ website for parents of young children, all designed to build upon the success of the campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the roadshow, Angela Constance, minister for children and young people, said, ‘The early years are a priority for this government, committed as we are to supporting children through a policy of early intervention. Investment in young Scots today is an investment in a better future for us all, with every £1 spent on young people now, saving the taxpayer £9 in the future.
‘Playing, talking and reading with our children is key to their physical, cognitive and social development and it's essential we promote the benefits of this approach through the continuing the work of the Play, Talk, Read campaign across Scotland this year.’
Next week, charity Glasgow Life is launching a new city-wide play strategy setting out what is important about play and priorities for play for the next three years.
The play strategy, ‘Playing for Real’, will underpin every child’s right to play and how the city will protect and promote that right through an improved understanding of play and its benefits.
