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Scottish Government Viewpoint
THE Scottish Government is launching a new campaign encouraging families in the Highlands to share their children's dreams for the future.
Future Me – part of Read, Write, Count, a government campaign that is working to improve numeracy and literacy skills among children in P1 to P3 – aims to support families to start a conversation with their children about their hopes and aspirations.
It asks families to share those dreams, either as a picture, letter or film on the Future Me wall at www.futureme.scot.
Supporting the campaign is world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont, who has achieved his dream of cycling around the world and setting a number of world firsts.
He told us what motivates him, how his parents helped support him to make them come true and how he now support his own children's dreams. "I grew up on a farm and I spent a lot of time outdoors, so my dreams were always connected to adventure and the great outdoors," he explained. "My parents always supported my dreams. I inherited my big sisters' bikes in my early years. I remember freewheeling down the long, bumpy track on stabilisers. I can't actually remember the first time I went on my own, but I certainly spent a lot of time riding my bike from the age of 3.
"When I was 12-years-old I cycled across Scotland with the support of my parents. By 15, I was riding solo from John O'Groats to Land's End. Without their support, there is no way that these first journeys would have developed into a career in expeditions and broadcasting."
He continued: "As a parent myself, I realise what a crucial role I can play in helping my daughters think for themselves and make their dreams happen. In this era of constant on screen information and instant gratification it's critical that we have time together to talk, to story tell, to make plans and to build memories together."
Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who is cabinet secretary for education and skills, added: "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."
The Future Me website provides parents and carers 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. To get involved in the campaign, 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.
* For ideas on how you can help your child improve key numeracy and literacy skills, take a look at the Read, Write, Count website – www.readwritecount.scot. With increasing time pressures on families, Read, Write, Count highlights easy activities built around everyday things families are already doing like going to the shops, travelling to school or at mealtimes.
