The Scottish Government yesterday launched a new Future Me campaign as part of the Read Write Count early years initiative, encouraging families across Scotland to share their children’s dreams for the future. To mark the launch, children and parents took part in a Future Me session and reading from award-winning children’s author, Simon Puttock at Riverside Museum in Glasgow.
Future Me aims to support families to start a conversation with their children about their hopes and aspirations, which will ultimately help to improve their lives in the future. It asks families to share those dreams, either as a picture, letter or film on the Future Me wall at www.futureme.scot.
Future Me is part of Read, Write, Count, a Scottish Government campaign that aims to improve key numeracy and literacy skills among children in Primaries 1 to 3. Parents and carers can play a big part in helping children achieve their dreams.
Supporting the campaign is children’s author Simon Puttock, who dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of 7. Simon, who won the Scottish Children’s Book Award 2016 hosted an exclusive reading of his favourite children’s books at Riverside Museum. Families could also drop into the free session where children were encouraged to draw or write their dreams for the Future Me wall.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney said: “The Future Me campaign is about encouraging parents and carers to talk to their children about their dreams and ambitions for the future so they can start working to make these dreams a reality together.
“This will not only help to raise aspirations, increase attainment and deliver better outcomes it will also provide families with ideas they can do together to build essential lifelong skills which will benefit their children whatever they decide to do.
“I look forward to seeing the dreams of our young people throughout the country shared on the Future Me wall.”
Commenting on the campaign Simon Puttock said: “I love working with children as they have such vivid imaginations, It’s important we encourage children to think and dream about the future and to realise that anything is possible if they put their mind to it. I knew from an early age that I wanted to write and so with the encouragement of my parents to read, I developed a love for books, illustrations and the written word.”
To get involved in the campaign you can enter online at www.futureme.scot or families can head to their local library and post an entry form in the Future Me post box. Each family taking part will receive a certificate and a place on the digital wall for their child.
The Future Me website provides parents and carers with tips and advice about fun and interesting ways to encourage your child to realise their dreams. The campaign builds on existing Scottish Government efforts to tackle educational inequalities and raise attainment in early years and beyond.
Pictures: CookseyPix
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