1. Music and Singing
i) Online music workshops for children aged 0 to 7 and their bigger people. Stomping In The Woods Video 1: EleMouse! By community musician, by Ruti Lachs: http://www.activemusic.ie/
ii) Uplifting sing-a-long every morning with Rebecca Deniff from Music Tots, Whitby – both live streamed and recorded for you to listen / sing-a-long to with your little ones afterwards: https://www.facebook.com/musictotswhitby/
iii) Made with Music – providing a virtual early years class every Thursday using story books, props, favourite songs and more, with musicians Kathryn and her family: https://bit.ly/39x7SAO
iv) Concerteenies with Music in the Round presenter, Polly Ives. This live music series for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups which usually takes place in various theatres in the Midlands is now freely available online: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsErPP9-JhLN8qJIjtK4AnQ
2. Art, Design, Materials and Mixed Media
i) Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, brings their stunning Galleries Day to the world’s living rooms, online for the first time, with 300+ artists available to view, many with 360 degree views within the gallery spaces: https://www.artsy.net/feature/alserkal-art-week.
ii) A myriad of amazing resources from experienced art teacher, Sarah Crowther, with great ideas on photography, drawing, mark making, painting and art lesson ideas for your home or school: https://theartyteacher.com/art-home-learning-inspiration-for-art-teachers/
iii) Creativity for Wellbeing by arts facilitator Richard Potter – many arts activities, either easy or more challenging, to help you explore (almost) every art or craft form under the sun – perfect for creative families: https://www.creativity4wellbeing.com/easy-activities.
iv) Teacher Tom, who spoke at an Earlyarts conference a few years back, writes a super daily blog on the many creative and educational activities his children taught him when he ran his preschool. Here’s a few ideas on the subject of art: https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/art.
3. Dance and Movement
i) Dance artist, Jo Cone, is facilitating superb weekly family dance sessions that can easily be done in the home with nothing more than a blanket and a pair of socks… or ten! Join in here: https://www.facebook.com/peekaboomoves/
ii) Sadlers Wells will be offering a programme of full-length dance performances and workshops online over the coming weeks, for you to enjoy at home: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2020/digital-stage/ or some fabulous family workshops for you to join in with together: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2020/take-part-family-dance-workshops/
iii) ‘We Belong’ by dance artist, Takeshi Matsumoto, is a contemporary dance film made with and for stateless children in Thailand, exploring their sense of belonging, identity and growth: https://www.sevencircles.one/we-belong
4. Museums
i) Creativity at Home – one beautiful activity to do EVERY week from the Glucksman contemporary art museum in Cork, Ireland, based on their collections: http://www.glucksman.org/events.
ii) A fabulous messy-drawing activity book from The National Portrait Gallery, featuring portraits of famous thinkers and doers of our time, for embellishing with your own creations: https://www.npg.org.uk/assets/files/pdf/learning/NPG_activity_book_playful_portraits.pdf
iii) Kids in Museums have put together some of the fun digital activities that you can enjoy from home: https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/2020/03/10-museum-activities-to-keep-children-entertained/
iv) How do you turn a series of dusty collections into the ‘most joyful museum in the world’? Find out how many top museums have redesigned their programmes, inspired by the things that most excite and engage young children: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jan/19/museum-science-lab-playground-children-fun-architects
5. Story
i) The Scottish book trust bring you the online experience of the Long Nose Puppet’s adaptation of Polly Dunbar’s beautiful book, Arthur’s Dream Boat: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/authors-live-on-demand/polly-dunbar. Plus you can get creative with LNP’s education pack, courtesy of Z-Arts here: https://www.z-arts.org/arthurs-dream-boat-sails-right-to-your-home/.
ii) Alive & Kicking’s education packs are now freely available for all to enjoy: https://www.aliveandkickingtheatrecompany.co.uk/teachers. Passwords:
The Museum Of Untold Stories: moustail – Years 1 to 6
Gawain: greenbelt – Years 5 to 6
Granny’s Underground Garden: worzlum – Years 3 to 4
The Princess Who Couldn’t Play: Leonora – Years Reception, 1 and 2
A Genie Comes To School: opensesame – Years 1 to 2
Crowheart: briganti – Years 3 to 4
iii) Traveling Light Theatre, in partnership with The Egg, bring you their beautiful early years performance of The Snow Mouse – a magical journey into the winter woods as a young boy and his mousey friend tumble, slide, laugh and explore the snowy wonderland together: https://vimeo.com/204511734.
iv) Treehouse Theatre specialise in interactive performances and workshops. With a love of history and great story-telling, why not enjoy their beautifully read bedtime stories, bringing famous tales alive in your imagination: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbGf_tfJZW4T3wnPCRV8NBg
v) And, for a bit of adult sanity… Enjoy four amazing live performances by outstanding actors at the National Theatre, including Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous Treasure Island, every Thursday in April. PLUS NT are also opening up their world class collection of educational performances for pupils at home: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home
Don’t forget you can download a free pack on Den making from Earlyarts’ Nurturing Young Children’s Learning series by signing up to the quarterly Earlyarts Ebulletin, along with our pack on Ten Techniques for Creative Teaching (also great for families!). This way you’ll get notified of each new list of creative ideas.
Please help other families and pass this on! Email or use the share button below.
In this strange old time, I am gathering some strange old resources - ones that are a) lovingly made by artists and cultural organisations, b) for early years and c) encourage creative processes. These will hopefully add a little spice, ingenuity and curiosity to yours and your children’s lives in the coming weeks.
I’ll try to publish on Sundays to give you time for planning the week ahead (those that can think that far!). Meanwhile, please do let me know if you come across excellent, non-commercial arts resources that need an airing this spring. We can get through this - together.
Ruth Churchill Dower - Director, Earlyarts.