NYC moms know that enrichment is an essential part of helping their children to grow into responsible, successful adults. Just raising a family can be hard enough as it is, though; finding ways to add enrichment to your child’s life can be even more difficult. Add to this the costs that often come along with supporting hobbies and extra-curricular activities, and it becomes rather clear just how much of a challenge this can all be.
All this said, art and culture can have a huge impact on a child’s life, especially when introduced at a young age. There are plenty of different types of art-forms to choose to introduce your child to, many of which can be taught so that they too can get involved in making art. While it’s never a sure bet as to what a child will latch onto, it’s always worth a shot to try to add a little culture to their lives.
Visual Art
One of the best places to start with children who are at a young age is visual art. When kept basic, visual art is easy for children to take to. Think about it – most children already love to color with crayons, so why not take it to the next level?
Acrylic paints and watercolors, for example, are both safe and easy to get involved with, especially if you take the time to teach your child how to prepare them. While it shouldn’t be expected of them to create a masterpiece overnight, letting your child play with these mediums can have a dramatic impact over time. New York City happens to be one of the world’s biggest culture hubs, making it the perfect city for exposing those who are interested in creating art to some of the most impressive pieces ever crafted.
Acting
Theater is the kind of thing that most parents expect their children to be interested in at a later point in life. However, as with other art-forms, acting is most effective when taught at an early age. NYC is home to many theater groups for children, some of which don’t require any previous acting skills. There’s no getting around the fact that some people are simply born actors, and getting them started early will ensure that they’re ahead of the game once it comes time for them to have competition in their field.
Music
Aside from visual art, music is probably the best entry-point for children who are interested in art and culture. According to the Suzuki method, children are most effective at learning how to sing or play an instrument during the first six years of life. It may seem crazy to some parents, but the benefits that come later in life from learning how to play an instrument during childhood are astounding.
You should strive to help your child reach his or her preferred goals rather than imposing a specific instrument on them. They may want to learn guitar instead of other classical instruments such as the violin or cello. If your child seems serious about music, you’ll get a lot of mileage out of hiring a teacher that specializes in teaching children, as it takes a certain personality to fill this role.
Art brings enjoyment to people of all ages and all walks of life. The earlier your child gets started, the more likely it is that he or she stick with a particular art-form.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
NYC has so much to offer when it comes to art of any kind…. here in my little hometown, we have nothing. I bet a lot of kids get discovered from the Big Apples theater groups
As a NYer myself I can attest to NY being a cultural hub. I took the kids to the museums every summer. We didn’t live to far from the Brooklyn Museum so we went there but the kids really love the Sony Wonder Science Museum and the Museum of Natural History. When my oldest daughter was younger I also signed her up for Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. It was a great experience. She got to meet other girls and ended up forming a rock band after it was all over. I can’t wait to get back to NY. 🙂
NYC has such a diverse and enriching art culture to expose children and adults to. Where we live there is very little going on. We do make the effort in the local school system with the music programs and so forth. But there are not nearly enough choices to be had.
I love the cultural experiences NYC had to offer when hubby and I visited back in 2009.
My two children love being creative and dancing – it’s so important to make them rounded individuals. And hopefully T (now he’s 4) can start learning a musical instrument!
There is a lot to do here, being a military town, and I think that the arts are wonderful for kids. Studies have proven that kids who take music score better on test in school.
NYC has so much to offer period, families should really take advantage of everything possible.
I gotta be agreed on music . Fo’ sure!
I love New York and everything it has to offer to both adults and children in the way of enriching our lives. Children growing up there should really take advantage of what it offers.
NYC has so much to do with kids. I really would like to take my kids to a Broadway production. I am hoping we can make it back to NYC soon. My daughter is visiting in December. I know she will be finding all sorts of cultural goodies to enjoy.
These are all important areas to develop in children. NYC would seem like an ideal place to do that, but I think anywhere you can come up with ways to introduce and surround your kids in the arts.
I hope one day to visit NYC. There are really so many things to do there. My son and I both love the arts in all forms. It is something that we both really enjoy .
These are some great ways to enrich your child with art and culture in the Big Apple. I try to expose my boys to as much as possible here in the city too.
I was born in NY, not the city but I went there often. So much to do, so much offered. I loved to stand there watching the world literally pass by. I can’t wait to go back to my home state and tag a long into the city!