Babies Can be Artists, Too!
If you’ve ever thought your infant or toddler was too young to be interested in art… think again! By the time they’re able to move those tiny fingers and get a good grip on your fingers, they’re curious about all types of sensory stimulation. They’re curious about the way things feel, on the palms of their hands to the tips of their fingers. They’re curious about the noises things make. They’re curious about the world around them.
Babies are also capable. They’re capable of mixing blobs of paint and spreading color across a sheet of paper; of holding a brush or a glue stick and meeting new cold, wet, sticky sensations. They’re capable of surprising you with the artist inside them.
If you want to introduce your baby to the world of art and you aren’t sure where to start, Philly Art Center welcomes you!
Playgroup and Open Studio invites parents, grandparents, and caregivers to explore, learn and play in our bright and happy studios! Each week involves a fun new theme with a range of different activities, so you’ll never tire of dropping in. During this two hour session, you’re able to move through studios full of various age-appropriate activities for babies and toddlers ages 0-3. Mid-way through, we’ll break for story time, read aloud by one of our caring art educators. Then it’s back to developing those fine motor skills for another hour. It’s back to art!
We also offer a variety of Parent + Child art classes for the little ones. These classes range from 5-week to 9-week sessions and run all year long!
Now, we know that introducing babies to art might seem like a messy undertaking—they teethe, they throw, they splash and they spill—but rest assured, all of the materials they use are water-based and washable! After they’ve dabbed or smeared paint on every reachable inch of paper, they’ll want to continue to color the tables, the walls, the floors, and maybe even you. Relax! We think getting messy in art is a good thing! Just bring the little one over to our giant sinks for another exciting sensory experience: hand washing! We’ll take care of the rest.
Before you know it, your baby will grow to LOVE the creative expression that goes along with art, and you’ll be ready to sign up for one of our 6-9 week-long art classes for toddlers!
Here are some examples of what goes on at Open Studio and Playgroup:
Caregivers are welcome to join their little ones in making art, or simply stand by and offer support!
A world of possibilities opens up when you give a baby some paint!
Some little ones like to investigate every square foot of the studios (while caregivers try keeping up with them), and some like to stick close by a comfortable side. Both are perfectly a-okay!
Check out our drop-in page to see when a Playgroup and Open Studio are happening near you!
