Worry Doll Project
(2021-2022)
An intergenerational project funded by the Scottish Government's Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme, administered by Creative Scotland.
Abbey Craig worked in partnership with Angus nurseries and care homes to explore the subject of worrying. Abbey used drama and storytelling, visual art, craft-making, music and movement to help explore what people of all ages worry about. Together the children and adults discovered and shared ways to alleviate worrying.
The project re-connected young children and older people who had been kept apart during COVID-19 lockdowns and beyond.
After a series of online and separate sessions with Abbey, the paired care- home residents and children met out of doors to share time together. The children gave homemade worry dolls and the residents gave colourful worry- pom-poms and shared their advice about how to feel better about worries.
The nurseries and care homes were provided with project packs to accompany the co-creation with Abbey and to further support and nurture the connection between the two groups, beyond the project.
“As we are a resource nursery there are children with additional support needs. All the ASN children were keen to engage and participated in some of the experiences e.g. the songs, dances. The key to Abbey’s success is how well she held the children’s interest.”
Carolyn Grant, Senior Early Years Practitioner, Grange Nursery
The Worry Doll Project was part of Abbey’s research into children’s books that include illness and death.
Worry Doll and Polita Puffin is the first Worry Doll book to be completed through co-creation with individuals and groups by Abbey Craig and Rikki Craig.
Find out more about more about Worry Doll Stories here
