The Parakeet Studio

Hello and Welcome new followers. I am Amy and I’m the founder of @_parakeet_studio 🦜

I’ve worked with children and young people my whole career. I have an MA in Early Years (Education) from @crecuk I have set up an arts-based early years setting, run children’s arts festivals and put together lots of play-centred short and longer term projects in neighbourhoods and communities in Birmingham and Sandwell.

I am also an OPAL Mentor working with Kaleigh and Ruth @opalwestmids in the midlands to improve play for children in primary school. I really love seeing the impact of OPAL on the whole school, the energy of hundreds of happy children, really is life affirming!

I grew up in rural mid-wales, as a child, I played outdoors in the wild elements of rural Mid Wales until either it was going dark or my tummy was rumbling. My favourite type of play as a child was to make potions and concoctions and as part of our work I set up community mud kitchens in neighbourhoods that want to become more child-friendly. I think we need to create many more spaces for children to play in our communities outside of fixed equipment in parks and soft play centres!

I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the skills that I picked up through my childhood play and how they have served me growing up and in my career in the arts, education and social justice. I can definitely attribute a sense of resilience, being able to come back from knock-backs, a flexibility to change paths, creativity, curiosity and a sense playfulness, seeing the funny things in life. I’m married to @gavin.campbell the handy hands and vision for our mud kitchens and together we have three children Theo, 10 Remy 7 and Reuben 6. My mum @clarevioletmartin is also in on the action and hand-makes many of our art/play resources from felt and fabric.

Thanks for following along, I’d love to hear about you!