Glasgow City Chambers hosted a special event on Thursday, 18 June to celebrate a project shining a light on the ‘voice’ of babies. Teams working on The Art of Listening to Babies Project came together to acknowledge and reflect on the work done so far.
Designed with babies as the focus, the initiative explores how arts-based practice can put their voices at the heart of their nursery environment and help them to have meaningful and responsive experiences.
The project recognises the importance of a baby’s brain development, particularly in their first 1001 days of life, and therefore the significance of every social interaction and relationship they form at that stage, as well as other ways they communicate without speaking.
Esteemed guests including nursery practitioners were welcomed and invited to share their experiences of working on the project, including carrying out research in 26 nursery baby rooms across the city.
Cllr Christina Cannon, convener for Education and Early Years, said: “Glasgow is delighted to be one of the early trailblazers of this project and learn more about what matters to the families of our youngest citizens.
“I would like to thank the dedicated nursery practitioners for the fantastic work they have done so far.
“Babies may not use words, but there is power in the way they express their feelings through movement, facial expression, gesture and sound.
“The smallest interaction can help secure attachments and support emotional wellbeing, making it vital for us to provide high-quality early years provision to support a baby’s development. It is not just about improving services, but making life changes.
“Capturing their ‘voice’ means recognising that every baby has a perspective, a right to be heard, and a right to be understood.”
Jennifer Phillips, Starcatchers’ co-CEO, said: “This project reminds us that listening starts long before words.
“Thanks to the creativity of Starcatchers’ artists, the expertise of researchers at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Queen Margaret University, inspirational Early Years practitioners, and the support of Glasgow City Council, we have gained remarkable insights into babies’ experiences of early learning and childcare.
“Most importantly, we have shown that even our youngest children can help shape policy when we take the time to understand how they communicate. The illustrated book, A Voice As Big As Any Other, being presented to participating babies is a wonderful way of recognising their contribution and demonstrating that their experiences have helped influence the future of early years services in Glasgow.”
Siobhian Brown, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, said: “It was wonderful to join the celebration and hear directly from those who have brought this project to life across Glasgow’s nurseries.
“The Art of Listening to Babies project reminds us that every baby has a voice — expressed through movement, gesture and expression — that should be truly heard and understood and that responding to that voice with care and attentiveness is one of the most important things we can do.
“I am proud that the Scottish Government is funding this innovative work through our Early Adopter Community Project, and I look forward to seeing how the insights will deepen our understanding and help shape both local and national policy across Scotland.”
The project is delivered alongside Starcatchers and funded by the Scottish Government through the All Aged Childcare, Early Adopter Project.
