Children (aged 6-12) & Parent/ Guardian Poetry Workshops

MINI PIES builds on our successful Making PIES programme, which has run over 10 times in the south of Glasgow. This adaptation introduces an intergenerational format aimed at nurturing creativity, improving confidence, and deepening communication between parents and children in a playful, welcoming environment.

Participants in the MINI PIES programme—both children and their parents/guardians—will gain a range of valuable creative, emotional, and social skills that will benefit them long after the six workshops are complete.

During the final week of the project, participating families will work together to create handmade poetry books. Each book will showcase the young people’s original poems, alongside their hand-drawn illustrations, magazine cutouts, and other creative materials that inspired them throughout the sessions. These personalised books are not only a celebration of what they’ve created, but also a meaningful takeaway for families to keep.

Specific Workshop Content

For Children (Aged 6–12):

• Children will learn how to shape their ideas into short poems and imaginative narratives, giving them tools to express feelings and experiences. This strengthens literacy, vocabulary, and confidence in communication—skills essential for school and life.

• Through drawing, collage, and mixed-media design, children will enhance their ability to communicate visually. These skills promote creative thinking and interpretation—important in all areas of learning.

• Producing their own handmade poetry book and seeing their work published in a real annual review fosters pride, motivation, and a sense of personal achievement.

• Working alongside adults and peers in group exercises helps children learn to share ideas, listen to others, and collaborate—building social confidence and empathy.

For Parents/Guardians:

• Many adults feel disconnected from the arts or unsure about their own creativity. MINI PIES helps them re-engage through simple, accessible activities that encourage play and reflection.

• Parents will gain new ways to connect with their children through storytelling and dialogue, helping strengthen relationships beyond the workshop space.

• Making time for creative expression can reduce stress and increase emotional wellbeing. Participants may continue using these techniques at home as a form of self-care and family bonding.

Shared Skills Across Generations:

• Completing the course and creating a collaborative book gives families a collective success story—something they made together. This builds resilience and family identity.

• By experiencing learning as joyful and collaborative, both children and adults are encouraged to keep exploring creative pursuits, building cultural capital for the future.

In short, MINI PIES equips families not only with artistic skills, but with confidence, connection, and a toolkit for continued creative learning together—skills that can ripple into school, work, and community life.

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