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Young children experience sensory and skills play at museum

The program works on school-readiness skills.
Macie May
Macie May
unnamed (24)
(ID: Picture shows from left to right: a blue paper "space shuttle craft" with orange tissue paper flames; a green pink and orange swirled painted circle representing a planet's atmosphere; curly multicolor ribbon attached to a foil ball "comet" and a black paper straw handle; a pink paper headband with purple spots and gold glitter using chenille stems as eye stalks for googly eyes; on a blue countertop in front of a white wall.)Courtesy of Longmont Museum

This fall, families will once again be able to learn, create, play and explore during the Longmont Museum's Discovery Days. 

Discovery Days are designed for children ages 2-6 and their caregivers. The early childhood program provides hands-on art activities to strengthen skills necessary to ready children for school. Some of the skills focused on include language development, attention, concentration, fine-motor skills, emotional regulation, play and social abilities, according the city of Longmont website. 

Additionally, the program offers activities for children up to age 11 on late start or non school days in accordance with the St. Vrain Valley School District calendar. 

The program runs each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from Sept. 1 to December 10 at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and each session is slotted for an hour and 15 minutes. 

This week's theme for Discovery Day is outer space. The classes will work on a variety of skills including, painting using brushes and fingers, scissor skills, hand strength and other fine motor skills. 

Upcoming themes include construction, trains and railroads, make believe kingdom, life in a desert and many more. A calendar can be found here. 

There is a fee to join Discovery Days at $4 per child member and $4.50 per nonmember. However, due to support from the Dodge Family Fund and the Stewart Family Foundation, scholarships are available. Each scholarship provides a child with a free 10-pass punchcard to be used for classes. The punchcards can be issued digitally and renewed, according to a Longmont Museum newsletter. Inquiries about the scholarship can be directed to Leigh Putman, program leader at the museum. 

In considering the health and safety of all participants, the museum is creating space between activity centers and cleaning surfaces regularly. Participants 2-years-old and older are required to wear a mask during the program, regardless of vaccination status. 

The program also is in need of recyclable donations for projects. Suggested donations include toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes and plastic grocery bags.