Young At Art

September 22 2009

OVERVIEW | This program for children 0-12 months of age uses art media to improve family bonding. Fifteen unique activity kits including elements of visual art, dance, and music are rotated through childcare facilities or checked out by parents for free in-home use. Bright colors, pictures, music, soft sounds, and textures encourage sensory integration and motor skill development. Using the kits strengthens family bonds and increases the adult’s knowledge of parenting and child development. Serves: Children birth to one year old.

In partnership with Smart Start Payne County (SSPC) and the City of Stillwater's MultiArts Center, the Museum Without Walls program Young at Art has been created to introduce young children and their parents to the therapeutic as well as playful functions of art. This program supports SSPC's "Strengthening Families" strategy which works with child care facilities and families to build strong nurturing relationships. Research has shown that child abuse and neglect can be reduced or prevented through building protective factors around children and their grown-ups.

Designed for infants, birth-to-twelve months of age and their parents, Young at Art includes fifteen take-home kits filled with materials and activities focusing on hands-on elements of visual art, dance and music. Young at Art utilizes art media to help parents understand child development, improve family bonding, strengthen attachments, stimulate children's learning, and improve motor skills, all while supporting the infant's social and emotional development.

Children who are not socially and emotionally ready for school cannot form the brain connections that promote cognitive learning. Art helps children express themselves before they are verbal. Young at Art offers parents and child care centers a turn key approach toward that healthy outcome.

Young at Art began the first week of September 2008 as Stillwater Children's Museum (former name of Oklahoma WONDERtorium) and Smart Start Payne County staff conducted training with parents and teachers at each participating child care site. The initial program involved 34 infants and their parents who were eligible to utilize this program. Participating sites included Kids Under Construction (Virginia Street), Chapman Child Care, Kiddie Korner (Cushing), and Early Head Start.

Young at Art was funded with grants from Stillwater Arts and Humanities Council, ONEOK Foundation, and Smart Start Payne County.