One thing that impressed me when I moved to North Little Rock was the abundance of opportunities to explore the arts here in town and the number of people committed to supporting the arts and ensuring future generations can build upon the foundation they've established.
Parents love the way art is incorporated into our town's environment and the opportunities to explore different types of art from performing to creating tangible artwork that speaks to the soul. The concept of patron of the arts is alive and well here in North Little Rock. And raising little patrons is easier than you think.
Little ones from infants to preschoolers can enjoy the abundant murals popping up all over town. The North Little Tourism Office has created an excellent mural scavenger hunt you can download and explore with your entire family!
Keeping the attention of younger children takes a bit of creativity and patience. When children are exposed to art and allowed to physically and emotionally engage with artwork, they can find joy in their creative process, and become lifelong patrons of the arts.
Here are some simple tips for children of all ages that you can use.
Infants and Preschoolers
- View the mural from afar and up close and describe what you see for little ones who may not understand what they see.
- Describe the colors and ask how they feel when they see certain colors. Describe emotions you feel when around different colors. Incorporate color and art into their playtime.
- Be sure to take a photo of the mural to commemorate your visit and use it as a reference when creating art at home. Engaging with art alongside your child helps them understand that art is something everyone does and enjoys.
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Elementary School-aged Children
- Students have the opportunity to create using a variety of mediums at school. Talk with them about what they make and reinforce the amazing transformation that takes place when a blank medium becomes an extension of the vision they have in their mind.
- Emotions can be difficult to process at any age, but transitioning from home to the school environment can be hard for some kids. And talking about them can be even harder. Art can serve as the bridge between strong emotions and understanding the world around them. Role-play a difficult situation they've experienced by letting them play different characters in their mini-play can give perspective and build empathy.
- Art is flexible and comes in many forms. If your child loses interest in one form try another. It is reminiscent of feeding baby their first foods. Peas may be in one day and out the other but one thing's for sure, like the weather in Arkansas, their preferences will change in a blink.
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Classes for Children in North Little Rock
- Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
- Matthews Studios
- Argenta Contemporary Theatre
- The Atelier
- Arkansas Circus Arts
- Bearden Production Center for the Arts
- North Little Rock School of Dance
- Dance Dynamics North
- A Different Stroke of Art
- Renown Music
Classes for Children in Maumelle
Classes for Children in Sherwood
