Fun, color, noise, mess and more mess!

Preschoolers love tactile play. Experimenting with and exploring new materials is how they make sense of the world around them, and helps to develop their motor skills.
Our aim is to make these workshops stimulating and fun for preschoolers, while making sure that parents have a relaxing experience. The children make Art, and you don't have to deal with the clean up!

Workshops include a wind-down story time, so that you don't have to drive home with an over-excited child in your car.
We can work closely with you to design workshops that are tailor made for your preschooler and his/her friends.

Contact us for an informal chat at 703-738-5649 or chitra@noctiluna.net

Tips for making Art with your preschooler fun:

• Keep it short and simple. The moment your child begins to look bored or distracted, stop the activity.
• Focus more on the process than the end result. Preschoolers are still developing fine motor skills. Simple activities such as folding and pasting can be challenging for them. Give them plenty of positive feedback, and don't stress too much about the outcome.
• Join in the fun. Kids love to do what you do. If you sit down and experiment as well, it will be more fun for your child.
• Do not 'color within the lines'. It is not developmentally appropriate for a preschooler to be focusing on keeping within the lines, and working neatly. This can kill creativity. Get rid of the rules, and watch your child's skills develop.
• Mix it up. Tots love tactile play. It helps them learn about the world around them and develop their motor skills. Mix up the materials you use. Experiment with paint one day, clay another day, and feathers and beads later - it will keep them on their toes.
• Organize before you start. Think beforehand of what may stress you out. If you worry about getting paint on your table, cover it with scrap paper or plastic, and put an overall on your child. Always clear a safe place to store wet work before the mayhem starts!
• Clean up together. Get your child into a clean-up routine. Show him/her how to wash brushes etc and over time cleaning up will get easier.
• Do not make Comparisons. All children develop at different rates. Please do not worry too much about your child being less adept at something than another child. Your child can, and will, pick up on this feeling and it will make him/her self-conscious.
• Have fun! Making Art together should not stress you or your child out. The aim is to enjoy yourself and make your child want to do this again. Explore and experiment without setting too many expectations on your child or yourself. If things don't turn out the way you expected, it's ok!

Pre-designed Preschooler Workshops

Small groups of up to six preschoolers are ideal for these classes. Get your friends together and have a relaxing playdate!

Yummy-Art
Decorate clay cupcakes with sprinkles and frosting made out of craft materials. Make yummy pizzas and spaghetti out of wool and felt. Let your preschoolers get creative in the kitchen without burning their little fingers!

Jewelry workshop
A great opportunity for preschoolers to make necklaces, pins and keepsakes for their loved ones, while learning beading and craft techniques

Noise Makers
Recycle everyday objects into colorful musical instruments that you can shake, rattle, and bang. Then learn about rhythm and sound patterns while playing them in a musical jamboree together.

Puppets
Learn about story telling and character play through making puppets and putting on your own puppet show.

Creepy Crawlies
Learn about different types of bugs, and create your own 2D and 3D colorful creepy crawlies using paint, clay and recyclable household materials.

All of these 1 hour workshops will consist of two art activities, snack time and a wind-down story time, so that you don’t have to drive home with an over-excited child in your car!

Cost: $20 per child