Scottish Charity No. SCO037292

More About Bookstart Rhymetimes

Fun First has been running language development sessions for babies and toddlers in Helensburgh since 2001. In November 2007 we were given the opportunity, by Argyll and Bute Council, to become involved in the launch of an new initiative which offers parents and their babies and toddlers access to free signing and rhyming sessions. The overall aim of the initiative, entitled 'Bookstart Rhymetimes', is to install music and books at the heart of parent and child relationships at home, while raising awareness of the links between signing and rhymes and literacy development.

The Scottish Arts Council's Youth Music Initiative commissioned Youth Music to develop the 'Bookstart Rhymetimes' Pilot Project with the Bookstart in Scotland Programme in 2005. A total funding package of £177,970 has been awarded by the Scottish Arts Council and Bookstart in Scotland to Youth Music to deliver the project on behalf of these organisations. The initiative has been developed as an extension of the existing Bookstart Rhymetimes programme, and is intended to roll Rhymetimes out on a national scale by providing in-depth training and Bookstart Rhymetime toolkits to local authorities throughout Scotland.

Lesley Pinder, Bookstart Rhymetime Project Manager, believes that these sessions, if attended regularly, have the potential to greatly increase children's literacy development and enjoyment of music.

Victoria Fletcher and Carolyn Williamson of Fun First both attended the recent training and feel that it has increased their expertise in this field. Victoria says, " We have had the opportunity of being trained and mentored by some of the country's leading music educationalists. We hope that what we have learnt will compliment the good practice that was already going on at Fun First. For our long serving parents, there is now a mixture of old favourites and some new, as well as an enhanced structure to the sessions. For our new parents, who perhaps join us from another region, there is the familiarity of what they are used to and as always a warm welcome and lots of FUN!"

The long running service that Fun First has provided was also recognised when Vicky and Carolyn were asked to make a presentation at one of the training days. "It was an honour to be asked to speak." says Carolyn . "Vicky and I first attended the sessions as parents and between us we have had 8 children who have benefitted from them. The ladies from Bookstart acknowledge the fact that we were parents ourselves and hold already successful sessions and asked us to speak about why we thought the sessions were so invaluable."

The aim of our Bookstart Rhymetimes is to advance the education and development of young children with an emphasis on using rhymes, songs and stories.

In doing so we seek :

• To promote enjoyment of rhymes, songs and stories within families.
• To improve parents' confidence in creative activities with their children.
• To use rhymes, songs and stories to develop communication and language techniques, cooperation and social skills.
• To encourage and develop children's ability to use their imagination.
• To promote the use of books and libraries with children.
• To promote Bookstart.