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Classes - Preschooler - Family Arts & Crafts (18m-5 years)

Family Arts & Crafts (18m-5 years)

Focus: To make colourful memories in the Gymboree Art Studio, engaging children through painting and crafts.

Where they are:
Toddlers are highly curious and eager to engage in their environment. Sensory activities like finger painting, playing with clay and exploring different textures can help them learn about the world around them. As children grow, they become more interested in experimenting with a variety of art materials, mixing colours and creating abstract forms to explore their creativity freely. Older preschoolers might begin to create drawings, paintings or sculptures that tell a story or represent imaginary worlds.

At Gymboree Play and Music, our arts and crafts class provides a nurturing environment where children can explore various mediums, textures and ways to express themselves. We design activities that cater to your child’s developmental stage, encouraging your little one’s natural curiosity and creativity while supporting their physical, cognitive and emotional growth.

What to expect in class:
Our Gymboree Family Arts and Crafts classes offer a wonderful opportunity for parents or carers to share in their child’s creative journey and build a closer bond through the joy of art. In our classes, there is no right or wrong way to create art, making it a fun and healthy activity for the whole family to enjoy together. The tactile nature and the enjoyment of making art not only helps children develop essential skills but also creates lasting emotional connections.

Sculpt with a giant block of clay, design a family tree, paint a mural or make a creation of your own with our themed craft projects. Join us and watch your little one’s creativity flourish in a supportive environment that celebrates individual expression and collective joy.

Book your free trial class today!

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Benefits:
Physical:
Working with different textures allows your little one to explore various sensations through touch and sight. Whether it’s the squishiness of clay or the smoothness of paint, these experiences refine their sensory skills. Activities like sculpting, painting and crafting require precise hand movements and manipulation of small objects. This strengthens the muscles in their hands and fingers, improving dexterity and control.

Many of our activities involve hand-eye coordination, as your child coordinates their hand movements with what they see. Whether shaping clay or painting a picture, these tasks require precise coordination between the eyes and hands. Practising hand-eye coordination through art helps develop spatial awareness, depth perception and visual-motor integration skills. Through these activities, your child not only explores their creativity but also strengthens their physical abilities in a fun and engaging way.

Cognitive: Our classes encourage imaginative thinking by providing opportunities for your child to explore different art mediums and express themselves freely. Through storytelling, creating imaginary worlds and bringing their ideas to life through art, they expand their imagination and creativity.

Engaging with various art materials and projects also encourages problem-solving abilities. Whether figuring out how to construct a sculpture or deciding which colours to use in a painting, these activities challenge your little one to think creatively and find solutions.

Social: Creating art provides your child with an outlet to express themselves, even before they have the verbal capacity to do so. Through their artwork, they can communicate their feelings, thoughts and experiences, building confidence in their abilities to express themselves creatively.

Working with other children in a shared space helps your little one learn to collaborate and work as a team. Collaborative projects encourage them to share ideas, materials and experiences with their peers. Through these shared art experiences, your child learns to understand and appreciate different perspectives and ideas, promoting empathy and understanding.

Adults: Our arts and crafts classes provide a wonderful opportunity for you to spend uninterrupted time with your little one. Watching your child create and play in our classes is a joyous experience. You’ll have the opportunity to observe their imagination at work, see their unique artistic expressions and marvel at their creativity. As you engage in creative activities together, you can bond, share experiences and create lasting memories.

Participating in arts and crafts can be a relaxing and therapeutic experience for adults. It offers a break from the demands of everyday life, allowing you to unwind, de-stress and focus on the present moment as you connect with your child through creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The benefits of art are endless – not only does it help your little one develop skills like creativity and problem-solving, but it also gives them a chance to explore their imagination, build confidence and connect with others. Gymboree Family Arts and Crafts classes help toddlers to be creative, supporting them in expressing their ideas, trying new things and experimenting with materials in a fun and supportive setting.

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Our instructors create a supportive and nurturing environment where children can explore and express themselves at their own pace. Our family sessions are child-led and based on free-flow activities, so your little one is free to choose and engage in as much as they feel comfortable with. It’s normal for some children to feel a bit overwhelmed during their first visit and stick to one or two activities. Typically, after a couple of visits, they become familiar with the environment and routine, and will happily and confidently explore the wide range of creative activities. Children often learn by observing and imitating others, so they’ll likely join in more as they see other children engaging.

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Yes, we recommend bringing a spare set of clothes for your little one and dressing them in something you’re happy to get a bit painty or messy! Our arts and crafts activities can be wonderfully creative but also a bit messy, so having an extra set of clothes on hand can be helpful. All necessary art materials are provided, so there’s no need to bring anything else.

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Your little one can start Gymboree classes as early as 18 months. Art and crafts play is proven to improve physical, cognitive, social and emotional development in toddlers and preschoolers. Exposing your child to art from a young age helps develop their artistic sensibility and supports the growth of fine and gross motor skills, building confidence along the way. These lessons also aid in cognitive development and self-expression, fostering a sense of self-love and emotional awareness. At Gymboree, our arts and crafts classes are playful and relaxed. Our art studio is a joyful, fun and interactive space that supports child development while strengthening the bond between parent or caregiver and child.