toddler art adventure
DESCRIPTION
Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center in Easton Ma is a fun and exciting place for preschool to 9th grade kids. Their mission is to create a warm, welcoming, creative environment year ‘round that makes everyone feel like family. With caring counselors and specialists, children are guided as they take on new challenges in every step of the way. For further information visit: http://www.maplewoodyearround.com/TRANSCRIPT
TODDLER
There’s no doubt about it. Toddlers love messing around with art materials whipping up wild and wonderful creations to be hung on the refrigerator with great pride.
From handprint collages to whimsical valentine cards and fragrant playdough masterpieces, tots dive into art projects with great enthusiasm.
But art is more than just fun; it’s also great for your preschooler’s fine motor skills, language development, imagination and inventiveness.
Following are a few ideas for expanding your little one’s
artistic horizons.
Make your kitchen a little art classroom. Tots don’t have a lot of material demands in the art department, but variety is key to their creative endeavors.
Cover the table in a protective cloth and bring out the play dough, paints (washable!), crayons, colored paper and paste and let the good times roll.
Collages are always fun and the materials may be right
in your house already.
Try:
Glitter
Macaroni
Feathers
Cut-up old greeting cards
Magazines
Playing cards
Seeds
Sequins
Wrapping paper
The list is limited only by your imagination. And keep in
mind that it’s the process of creating that’s important
not coloring within the lines.
So, be encouraging of your toddler’s art. Let them talk
about their masterpiece.
It’s a great way to boost language skill
development as well as getting a bit of
insight into the thought processes of
your young child.
Local libraries often run a super slate of kids’ activities,
with toddler story times combining books and an
associated craft activity.
It’s a great place to let the little ones whip up some colorful
masterpieces while at the same time experiencing the joy of books
and having a chance to meet other tots.
Library story times are free, fun and a super way to
encourage both a love of art and a love of books.
Tots who spend a morning at
summer day camp get plenty
of chances to let their creative
flags fly in daily arts-and-crafts
classes, one part of a schedule
jam-packed with indoor and
outdoor fun.
Your little one will bring home
all sorts of projects and
decorations from nature-
themed collages to funky
jewelry, scratch art and
colorful airplanes.
Art classes are always a camper
favorite, since it’s so much fun
to dive into paints, clay and
crayons surrounded by camp
pals and fun-loving counselors.
Community centers, YMCAs and
year-round day camps usually
offer a nice selection of toddler
art classes.
Depending on your child’s age, classes may involve a parent and
adult, which gives both you and your tot a chance to spend some
time together …
… while meeting new friends and channeling your inner artist in
a delightfully messy toddler way.
For a cool combination of art and science, wildlife or history, check
out the toddler program schedule at a local zoo or museum.
Lots of these institutions run programs for youngsters that mix up
a little education along with some artsy endeavors and of course
some lively socializing.
Children’s museums usually run a
wonderful variety of programs for all ages
of kids, incorporating art into everything
from music to science and literature.
Art museums often run family programs that use drawing,
picture books and music to help bring works of art to life.
For a really wild hour, try toddler time at the local petting zoo
which is always a big hit when it combines a story, an art activity
and a real “wildlife” encounter with critters more their size.
Let your kids experience the art and crafts experience
at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.
Experienced staff will keep your child both safe and busy with
arts and crafts, games, water sports, gymnastics and more.
Visit the site at http://www.maplewoodyearround.com to see
the fun your child will have at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.
Maplewood Country Day Camp and
Enrichment Center
150 Foundry St. (Route 106)
PO Box 88 (Mailing)
South Easton, MA 02375
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (508) 238-2387
FAX: (508) 238-1154