First Timers!!



Hi Everyone!

Welcome to Wonder Studio! The Parent-teacher relationship is one of great importance. Our hope through this class is for you to see the teacher as a resource and a partner in your child’s education. In order for that to happen, we depend on you to COMMUNICATE with us. We don’t know how to help or make your experience at Wonder Studio a positive one unless you let us know when you have questions or concerns.
We are really looking forward to your first Wonder Studio class! **Please read through the following information to make your child's transition to The Wonder Studio go more smoothly!!**

Please talk to your child about your routine at The Wonder Studio Before class. This helps to prepare them for what will happen.

On your child’s scheduled Wonder Studio day, you and your child may come into the classroom at your scheduled time. If you are early, please wait in the grassy area or the picnic tables. 
  We need every minute we can get to make sure the room is set up appropriately for these guys. We will open the door when we are ready for the little (and big) ones.

We do NOT start class with a circle time. The entry routine goes as follows:

1. Come in, wash hands (helps to prevent the spread of colds and germs) and Remember to bring your child over to the teacher for a greeting. Making sure your child receives a greeting from the teacher helps to encourage a relationship between us. We do not expect a greeting in return but do want your child to feel acknowledged and noticed by us. Of course, we like to greet the grown-ups as well!! ;)

2. Then you can get started exploring with your children. Some folks find it helpful to walk or carry your child around and look at all the experiences first before deciding where to go first. Some children seem to know right where they want to go from the beginning. Different strokes for different folks ;)

**We ask that the experiences set out stay contained to each table or floor area. For example, the clay stays in the clay area. The Oil pastels stay on the oil pastel table, the worms stay on the worm table, etc...


When possible, please encourage your child to rinse hands in between the experiences to keep things looking appealing. This way dirt from the worms does not get on the Flubber creating a one-time use of the material. I find that young children are sensitive to the visual appeal of experiences.

This is how we teach the children to take care of the materials. Gentle reminders that when they are done with one table...to try and make it look as it was previously… for the next person. After a few classes the children begin to understand this part of the routine. It reinforces that these art/science materials are special and that we must take care of them.

At first, young children need to explore the different properties of these materials before more intentional use can begin to develop. This is why I recommend NOT drawing pictures for your child. If your child is hesitant to use the materials, please do use them yourself but in a way that your child might use. Representational drawing is not appropriate for this age group, so drawing and/or sculpting smiling faces and animals, etc.. sets an unattainable goal for your child and can strongly make them less interested in attempting to try new materials. This Arts class is focused on developing your child’s alphabet of Artistic Media, NOT ABC’s and 123’s. Centering Art around writing your child’s name is not appropriate for The Wonder Studio. The goal is not to teach handwriting but to inspire and awaken your child’s unique ideas and artistic expressions. It’s not possible to learn what is interesting to your child when you interject your own ideas.

What should my child and I wear during class?

Class is messy! I repeat class is Very Very messy (this is somewhat dependent on your child’s willingness and/or interest in sensory experiences, but be aware that another child will often give you a hug or a pat on the back with his/her paint covered hands!)! We do not provide smocks and frankly don’t believe in them! Worrying about getting their clothes dirty greatly inhibits the creative process in children. Generally speaking, smocks are uncomfortable and restrict children’s arm movements.

Please, have your child (and yourself) wear something comfortable and that can be STAINED. Bring extra clothes (for you both) to change into as well as a towel to help with clean up.

Tie-Dye Shirts are sort of the Unofficial “Official” uniform at Wonder Studio.

Your stained paint covered shirts/pants can be your Wonder Studio uniform!!  And Please go to the grocery store right after class, it’s a great marketing tool for us!! ;)

Finally, young children learn best by repetition. So we will have many of the same experiences available week to week with a few additions. This is meant to give your child time to go beyond surface exploration and become more intentional in their play.


**NO SNACK during Wonder Studio class. This is a decision we made with very careful consideration and with an abundance of parent feedback.


As always, I look forward to any comments/questions/concerns that you may have.

email: tot.wonder.arts@gmail.com

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