Children’s Museum of the Arts has amazing weekday classes!

When I first walked into the Children’s Museum of the Arts, I thought I had died and gone to craft heaven. Maud, Philomena, and I went on a Wednesday morning for the early childhood arts and music class (Weds-Fri, 10:45-noon, $20 per child). Just past the entrance, a low round table was stocked with plasticene, and Lloyd, one of the staff, was helping some children make footballs and towers from it. Over to the right were tables with paint markers and paper. Further back, there was a chalk wall, Velcro, building blocks, a light table, flubber, and painting tables with great quantities of paint.

Children were free to roam throughout the stations, and the helpful – and plentiful – staff was always there to guide and instruct when necessary. A ten foot sculpture made of Chock Full o’ Nuts cans and wine corks slinked its way around the balustrade overlooking the basement. Coffee and wine, I thought, clearly an artist’s diet. This place is legit. At 11:30, Tom, who runs the music program, and Lloyd, led the children down to the basement where they played guitar and tambourine, and sang songs with the children. Then came story time. The morning ended with everyone taking a turn in the Ball Room, a padded room filled with huge exercise balls on which the children could roll and play. This station was my favorite of all, and filled me with an almost overwhelming desire to replicate it at home. (Claude has vetoed.) Our little group left the Children’s Museum of the arts feeling inspired and fulfilled, and looking forward to a return visit. Especially me. And Maud. 

By Winsome