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It seems that there are two types of parents. Those who have well-stocked art supply boxes and thrive on creating Pinterest-worthy creations with their crafty kids; and those who kick the art supplies as far under the bed as possible and see Mister Maker as public enemy #1 for encouraging such folly.
Thankfully, there’s now a middle ground. Experienced designer and art teacher Lisa Towse runs Artful Splodgers as a way to encourage kids aged up to five into art-based creative play.
It’s a simple but effective format: a series of stations, based around a changing theme that offers a supported sensory and artistic experience. On our visit, participants go “under the sea”, and the kids paint, play with water, go elbow-deep (or more) into a pool of shaving foam looking for animals, experiment with coloured rice, and plenty more.
The freeform format allows kids to work at their own pace, check out a few different things, but then gravitate back to the activity that interests them the most.
For artistic parents (and kids), the activities serve as starting points to then venture as far as time, materials and imagination will allow. There is no shortage of paint, pipe-cleaners, glue, glitter, googly eyes or the like, so you can craft to your heart’s content.
But the real benefit is likely for less arty types: Lisa provides the ideas and the materials on a proverbial plate, and all you’ve got to do is go along with the fun. And if you’re still a little nervous, Lisa is always about with some well-timed advice or guidance.
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Artful Splodgers, Tecoma
The kids get a run of about 50 minutes at the arty stations, before joining an all-in activity. On our visit, Lisa uses the book That’s Not My Monkey and a cool sensory board to discuss different textures. This is a clever part of the class structure, because it diverts the kids’ attention away from the messy activities and hopefully avoids the “BUT I’M NOT FINISHED PLAYING WITH THAT” tantrum when the hour’s up.
Most of the kids during our visit are in the 2-4 age range, but there’s no doubt younger children will be easily entertained (although a 1:1 child:adult ratio with the smaller kids is advisable).
None of the materials used are super-specialised, but even the most arty household is unlikely to have the full gamut lying around, so kids are exposed to a range of new experiences. And – possibly best of all – you don’t have to clean any of it up.
Click here for more messy play classes in Melbourne.
Click here for more places to take babies and toddlers.
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HOT Tips:
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Wear old clothes. The kids get smocks, but no smock is perfect, and chances are they’ll come running at you with some sort of sticky substance all over them;
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Sessions run Tuesday and Fridays during school term only;
- Classes must be booked 24 hours before the session;
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5 visit and 9 visit discounted passes available; and
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Babies under 10 months are FREE;
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48 hours notice for a full refund. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]