GCU offers free creative games for families over festive holidays

Parents looking for creative ways to entertain their children at home over the festive holidays need look no further.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is looking for parents to play creative games with their children as part of a new international research study into the effect the activities have on their child’s wellbeing.

Nicolas Verger, PhD student in Psychology of Creativity and Resilience, has designed four online games especially for this study, aimed at four to six-year-old children.

He is asking parents to sign up to the study, play a selection of four games which include drawing, building with lego, painting and play dough – at their own pace with their children, and then fill out a questionnaire.

Nicolas explained: “Taking part in this study will be a fun way for parents to spend time at home with their children playing new creative games together over the festive period. It will also help me understand the effects this has on parent-child relationships and children’s wellbeing.

“The early years of life can be a very stressful time. When under intense stress young children, aged four to five, can experience lifelong debilitating effects on their health and wellbeing.

“Their ability to cope with those stresses can be helped by the relationship the children have with their parents. Previous research has looked at how parents teach their children several skills during these creative activities, such as independence and confidence in their own abilities.

“What is less documented is the extent to which this shared engagement in creative activities contributes to positive parent-child relationships, an important factor in early childhood resilience, and how it effects their wellbeing.

“The study aims to understand parent-child interactions during creative activities, and the link between creativity and emotions in young children. The ultimate goal is to inform better interventions in psychology.”

The research, funded by GCU’s School of Health and Life Sciences’ Department of Psychology, runs until 1 July, 2023. Information given by parents during the study is confidential and the study has Research Ethics Committee approval.

Find out more about the study and how to sign up - https://www.creativity-at-home.com/