CREATIVE BEGINNINGS

Creative Beginnings© is an award-winning professional development program for preschool teachers and a series of workshops for preschool students. All workshops are conducted by Master Teaching Artists and are designed to introduce the arts as a teaching tool into the early childhood classroom.

Practical Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators

Creative Beginnings© is a practical early childhood Professional Development that focuses on children and teachers working together with professional artists who specialize in early childhood education. On-site workshops focus on movement, music, storytelling and visual art. Regardless of the art form selected, our artists teach by example, modeling best practices with students in the teacher’s own classroom.

Teachers observe how the arts affect students and the manner in which they learn. Artists provide concrete strategies for weaving the arts into their classroom on a daily basis. Teachers will reflect on what they are learning in a supportive environment; create their own lessons using the arts; and have opportunities to practice their lessons with artist feedback. Resource manuals will be provided.

Four Full Days: $2,500

Artists will also conduct up to four (30 minute) workshops with your students focusing on your choice of discipline. This engages students and their teachers in using the arts to stimulate and reinforce learning, and increase creative thinking and teamwork.

Single Day: $600

DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY
of the YAC Creative Beginnings Brochure (PDF-2 pages)

Family Arts & Creativity

Family Arts & Creativity© brings parents and children together to explore the arts as a learning tool that parents and children can enjoy together at home

Creative Arts Activities for Parent and Child

Family Arts and Creativity© brings pairs (one preschool parent and one preschool child) together for a creative arts learning experience. Families will explore art at different Art Stations; socialize with other families; listen to an interactive story; and create art together. Artists will model best practices in the arts and provide strategies to incorporate the arts into the home environment, reinforcing the concept that a parent is the child’s first and best teacher. A wonderful way to engage parents early in their child’s education!

One Session: $500
Four Sessions: $1,800

For more information
about Creative Beginnings and Family Arts & Creativity, contact Aleta Staton at Young Audiences, 203-230-8101 or astaton@yaconn.org.