Ilminster Avenue Nursery 5: creating model homes

Written by artist Cat Boot

In this session parent's (grandparents) were invited back to the nursery to work with the children on creating large scale models of 'home'.

Using a spare classroom, the group spread out and and collaboratively constructed their homely creations.

Each child/parent team created a unique representation of their own home, with many fascinating conversations shared over the ribbon and cellotape! The group then started to make the community infrastructure connecting their homes.

Each child then shared their 'home' with the peers who came to visit. There was visible pride and sense of ownership.

Further questions and thoughts:

• What would the children’s reactions have been if other children were then invited into this space?
• How would this have gone if the adults weren’t present and the children were entirely responsible for construction?
• What would happen if other people built houses in the village without the first group knowing?
• Is there a way to make their structures more secure so they could be properly used/played in/with (without disrupting the design)?
• What was the longer term impact of this activity and how could we capture it? Parents/adults as information gatherers.
• Would the children liked to have return to these house, and what would they have done if they did? How would the children use them now they’re created? Would they live in them? Would they destroy them? Would they keep evolving the creation of them? Or something else?
• Does this activity strengthen their bonds with the other children involved?