I couldn’t be more excited to share about ARTful PLAYhouse, a new process art and creative play studio that just opened in Leonardtown, Maryland this July. The studio offers classes, workshops and parties for children that spark imagination, celebrate play and promote art exploration. Last week I had the opportunity to take my boys to Artful Playhouse; where they had the time of their lives. Here’s a little sneak peek at what to look forward to.
The studio is located inside the Shepherd’s Old Field Market aka SOF Market located on Duke Street in beautiful downtown Leonardtown. This adorable indoor market has small shops to buy artwork, antiques, fashion, fresh produces and even has a coffee shop and beer garden. At the back of the market is where you will find this hidden gem.
As soon as we entered this fun and colorful studio, we got straight to play. My boys experimented with a variety of textures and materials as they explored different sensory stations and art table at their own pace. I was excited to step back and watch their creativity and imaginations guide their play. ARTful PLAYhouse encourages process art, which is all about enjoying the process over the product. Through the use of art supplies like: markers, paint, pom-poms, feather, beads, cardboard, popsicle sticks and more, young artists can make their own creations in a unique way instead of a cookie cutter design. This process is amazing for strengthening confidence and self-esteem, my kids were gleaming with excitement at sharing what they had made.
The different sensory stations were also a lot of fun. The stations are always changing depending on the theme or season. The sensory stations utilize shaving cream, water beads, kinetic sand, etc to promote learning through play and provide language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction.
I had the chance to interview the creator of ARTful PLAYhouse and learn about her inspiration and dreams for the studio. Lauren Signorelli is a former preschool teacher with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has over ten years experience in working with children. I was thrilled to learn that she is a strong advocate of learning through play and supports the power of play. She was inspired by her children, who she noticed needed and craved more opportunities to engage in play. Lauren felt like St. Mary’s County was missing a program that promotes process art and creative play, so she decided to create one. I think it is amazing when a woman takes her education and professional experiences and combines it with her experiences as a mother to provide a service in the community. Thank you Lauren for understanding what our community needs and for providing a perfect solution.
ARTful PLAYhouse’s is open for classes, workshops, birthday parties and community engagement for the tiniest artists and their families. You need to register or schedule a session before showing up. I highly recommend calling to make a reservation for your moms group, club or daycare. ARTful PLAYhouse also does a fabulous job at hosting parties! Please check out the website for more information and schedule.
There are a few classes, workshops and drop-ins coming up:
Early Explorers (Ages walking to 18 months)- Wednesdays 10:30-11:15
Tinker Tots (Ages 18 months – 3 years old)- Thursday 10:30-11:30
Mini Makers (3-6 years old)- Friday 10:30 – 11:30 *Class Full*
Open Studio (all ages welcome) Saturdays 10:30-12:30 – Space is limited, register now
Workshop- Make & Paint July 31, 2019 5:30 – 7:00 PM
ARTful PLAYhouse
22725 Duke St. Leonardtown, MD
GIVEAWAY RULES
One lucky fan will win a summer fun kit (Beach bucket filled with toys and a $10 ARTful PLAYhouse gift certificate.) To enter online comment on this article and/or enter on Facebook. To enter on Facebook LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE the post. Must be a @artfulplayhouse and @playfulparent follower to win. Giveaway closes July 19, 2019 9:00 AM.
***Thank you ARTful PLAYhouse for inviting The Playful Parent to your studio so that we could take pictures and share our experience with families. Content and photographs are intellectual property of The Playful Parent. The Playful Parent is not paid to promote businesses, all information provided is based on my own non-biased opinion.***
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