Many national and local art museums offer hands-on art programs for preschoolers. These organizations may also add an art viewing and discussion component to the class. For example, the ArtKids Preschool at Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is a 90-minute parent and child art class for children ages 3 through 5. Kids tour the museum with an art educator and create an age-appropriate project during a morning class.
Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-547-9000
thewalters.org
Community-based preschool art programs are typically offered by townships, cities or other municipalities. Local residents often receive a special discount for many of these programs. These art classes for kids under school age may take place at a community center, recreation center or public school and come in the form of parent-child programs, daytime activities or summer camps.
One such program is the Mt. Lebanon Art Factory in Pennsylvania. This class allows children to explore paint, clay and other art materials. The Art Factory is designed for preschool children ages 4 through 6, and is offered om one-hour morning or afternoon sessions.
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center
900 Cedar Blvd.
2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
412-343-3409
mtlebanon.org
Parents looking to save money on extracurricular activities may want to investigate a local drop-in art program. These art-making experiences for preschoolers are offered at a variety of sites that may include art museums, children's museums, schools, private organizations or even outdoor parks. A drop-in program typically is a one-time class in which the child can design and create a themed project or experiment with materials and art processes.
The Habitot Children's Museum in Berkeley, Calif., has a drop-in art studio where kids can play with clay, try paper mache, paint or make a seasonal project.
Habitot Children's Museum
2065 Kittredge St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-647-1111
habitot.org