Family Fun
YOUNG AT ART How to Introduce Kids to the Arts
Research shows that students involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements. Whether your kid’s a drama queen, pint-sized Picasso, aspiring sculptor or young author, the Philadelphia area offers classes, workshops and events to nurture his or her passion.
Draw and Paint Like a Pro
The hands-on element of drawing and painting — controlling a brush, drawing lines, mixing colors — helps to improve hand-eye coordination. There are plenty of ways for kids to grow their talent and deepen their appreciation for the art forms. Visit local art museums. The Barnes Foundation in Philly and the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford offer free admission and art activities the first Sunday of each month. The Philadelphia Museum of Art also offers pay-what-you-wish admission on the first Sunday, as well as weekly on Wednesday nights. These events not only make art more accessible — they expose junior creators to professional artists and influential artworks. Join a class. Sign up for a class like Painting Fundamentals at the Philly Art Center, where students build skills during studio experience while they explore art history and imagination. Fleisher Art Memorial’s Saturday Young Artists Program, also in the city, offers a drawingand-painting course that covers the principles of color and design. And at the Main Line Art Center in Haverford, kids in the Sunday Scribbles class get inspired by famous artists and art periods and experiment with color, shape and texture.
The Play’s the Thing
Participating in performing arts boosts confidence and empathy and provides an outlet for self-expression. Here are a few ways to pique your child’s interest in theatre. Go to a show. What better way to acquaint little ones with the stage than seeing it for themselves? Head to Philly’s Walnut Street Theatre for family-friendly performances including Junie B. Jones: The Musical (March 27-April 11) and Nate the Great (May 29-June 6). Storybook Musical Theatre also offers regular kids’ shows at the Gratz College Theatre in Melrose Park, such as Rumpelstiltskin (March 17-29) and The Little Mermaid (May 5-17). The Players Club of Swarthmore, Steel River Playhouse in Pottstown and Wolf Performing Arts Center in Bryn Mawr also host frequent performances for young audiences.
Join a class. Arden Theatre Company in Philly offers multi-week classes in acting and musical theatre for PreK through 12th grade, as well as one-day workshops and summer camp. Rose Valley’s Hedgerow Theatre gets students involved in every aspect of what it takes to run a production, from writing to directing to singing or improvising. And at People’s Light in Malvern, spring classes serve ages 5-18 and are themed to tapping into your own courage to display bravery in a character.
Sculpting Skills
The tactile experience of manipulating clay is great for sensory and motor-skill development. The pride that comes from creating an original piece, whether by hand
MARCH 2020
or on the wheel, builds confidence, too. Get behind the wheel. The Clay Studio in Philly hosts wheel-throwing lessons just for families. During a workshop on March 7, for instance, you’ll get a primer on the practice, then sculpt a spring planter. And, at another oftenoffered workshop, participants make cups and bowls. Hand-building basics. The Family Day of Clay program at Wayne Art Center presents a different project each month. Next up, create a pinch-pot bird on March 7. For a deeper dive, eight-week courses at Philly’s Neighborhood Potters include projects featuring fun sculpture forms and creative pottery.
The Write Stuff
Communication, imagination, persistence — creative writing augments growth in these areas and others. Encourage your young wordsmith with opportunities to read, and create, something special. Poetry, prose and more. Sometimes the best way to improve at something is to, well, just do it. That’s particularly true when it comes to writing. Let the wordplay begin at the Philly-based Mighty Writers, whose free all-ages programs span the literary landscape; offerings include book clubs, afterschool classes and workshops in essay writing, journalism, and graphic novels. The teen-focused Philadelphia Youth Poetry Project gives kids a safe space to strengthen their voice via workshops, mentorship and open mic nights. Visit local bookstores. The desire to write often stems from a love for reading. Spark a child’s interest at area bookstores, many of which boast fantastic selections and busy calendars. Take the Doylestown Bookshop: This month, it plays host to storytimes, author and poetry readings, and book clubs. Over in Haverford, Children’s Book World is a must-stop for local and national kid-lit authors and illustrators. In Philly, visitors praise The Spiral Bookcase for its expansive children’s sections.
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