What Our Youngest Artists are Teaching Us

Oct 14, 2026 · @Janice

Watch a two-year-old meet a tray of paint and you'll see creativity in its purest form. There's no hesitation and no worry about getting it "right." Small hands go straight for color. Fingers trace the bumps of a sponge, press into soft clay, and drag through paint to see what happens.

Our youngest artists are drawn to color and texture. They explore surfaces with their whole bodies, and they do it without fear. Every week in the studio, they remind us of something we hope every child can hold onto: making art is about discovering, not performing.

Paint & Play: A Sensory-Rich Morning, Together

Our Paint & Play sessions, led by Melissa Gluskin, give families an easy way to slow down and create side by side. Each session begins with a short story to spark curiosity. Then children are free to explore materials on the floor and at small tables, moving at their own pace.

Melissa designs every session as a mini process-based art experience. Families enjoy it together, not as spectators. Parents and caregivers get down on the floor, squish paint between their fingers, and follow their child's discoveries. It's high quality, it's fun, and it leaves everyone a little more connected than when they walked in.

Play Is Part of Every Class

A play-based approach to art making isn't saved for the littlest artists. It shapes every class we offer.

In Monthly Muse and Kids Art Studio, our artists love their art journals. They use them to unwind after a long school day, explore color, doodle, and dream up stories and ideas. A journal page doesn't have to be finished or perfect. It just has to be theirs.

This month, the kids decided to explore ceramics through handbuilding. They’re also experimenting with textured painting using palette knives, sponges, and other tools besides a paintbrush. Watching them scrape, layer, and sculpt, we see the same fearless curiosity our youngest artists bring to the floor in Paint & Play.

When kids have the space, the tools, and materials set up for exploration, in a warm and supportive environment, they create freely. That freedom matters. Creativity helps children learn to trust their own thinking, manage big emotions, and make sense of their world.

Following Their Lead: Tips You Can Use at Home

In The Way of Play, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson and Georgie Wisen-Vincent describe their PlayStrong approach. Its core idea is that small, playful moments help children grow stronger, more confident, and more resilient. It echoes what we see in the studio every day. Growth happens when adults follow a child's lead and offer just enough support to help them stretch.

Here's how we scaffold learning in our classes, and how you can try it at home:

1.     Follow their lead. Notice what draws your child in, whether it's a color, a texture, or a story, and build from there. Their curiosity is the lesson plan.

2.     Offer a gentle stretch. Once a child is comfortable, add one new tool or idea. Try a sponge instead of a brush, or clay instead of paint. Small stretches build confidence without overwhelming.

3.     Keep it short and sweet. You don't need hours or fancy supplies. A few minutes of focused, joyful attention matters more.

4.     Describe, don't judge. Instead of "That's beautiful," try "You used so many swirly lines!" It keeps the focus on their process and their choices.

5.     Use a playful pivot. When frustration rises, a little humor or imagination can reset the moment better than a correction.

6.     Enjoy it together. Bryson and Wisen-Vincent call it "mutual delight": the shared joy that builds secure connection. Some of our favorite studio moments are a parent and child laughing over a paint-covered hand.

Come Create With Us

We want every family to feel supported by what happens in our studio. That's why we've built a vibrant space with experienced teaching artists, caring volunteers, and programs designed so every child can join in fully, whatever their age or ability.

Whether your child is two or thirteen, there's a place for them at the table, or on the floor, here. Join us for Paint & Play, Story Time + Art, Kids Art Studio, or Monthly Muse, and see what your young artist discovers.

Everyone is an Artist. Everyone Belongs.

— Janice Weinstein, PsyD, Founder & CEO, I Just Am Studio