Early Childhood Residencies
Joyful, play-based learning through evidence-based programs
Early Childhood Residencies
Explore a range of early childhood residencies designed for educators of early learners—from infants and toddlers to Kindergarten-aged children.
During our residencies, Wolf Trap-trained teaching artists embed themselves in your center or school, collaborating closely with one or more classroom teachers to seamlessly integrate their art form into the curriculum's objectives.
These residencies support children's and educators' growth through engaging, play-based learning experiences centered on music, dance, or drama strategies. Each residency is tailored to the educator’s curricular objectives.
Jump to a residency:
Early Childhood Residencies
Baby Artsplay!™ Residencies
Infants +Toddlers (ages birth-4)
Our Wolf Trap Baby Artsplay!™ residency model is an arts-integrated program for infants and toddlers ages birth-4 and their caregivers and educators.
Weekly Baby Artsplay!™ classes use research-based arts strategies to support the cognitive, physical, and social development of infants and toddlers and build the capacity of educators and caregivers to use these teaching methods on their own. These developmentally appropriate activities include storytelling, creative movement, singing, and music-making with simple rhythm instruments.
During the program, teaching artists work directly with children, educators, and caregivers, coaching the adults as they lead performing arts-based activities for the early learners. This collaborative, hands-on approach ensures that educators and caregivers receive effective training for using the arts in daily activities to improve learning.
Choose the best option for you:
Family and Caregiver Residency
During a Baby Artsplay!™ Caregiver residency, teaching artists partner with caregivers and their children to develop strategies for incorporating singing, dancing, drama, and other multi-sensory activities into their child’s daily routine. This collaborative, hands-on approach helps caregivers tap into their child's innate sense of curiosity and desire to connect to the world around them.
Setting: Baby Artsplay!™ Caregiver residencies often take place in Judy Centers, libraries, and other community-based centers.
Classroom Residency
During a Baby Artsplay™ Classroom residency, teaching artists work with educators and their children in an embedded professional development model, supporting educators in integrating singing, dancing, drama, and other multi-sensory activities into their classroom routines. This collaborative, hands-on approach ensures educators receive effective training to use the arts to improve learning.
Setting: Baby Artsplay!™ Classroom residencies typically take place in child care, Early Head Start settings, and Family Support (Patty) Centers.
Pre-K and K Literacy + STEM Residencies
Ages 4-6
Pre-K and K Theme-based Residencies
Ages 4-6
A theme-based residency is a series of five student-centered workshops that focuses on creating engaging, interactive arts or arts integration experiences for children in Pre-K or Kindergarten.
In our theme-based residencies, the teaching artist uses common early childhood themes (all of which connect to one of the main early childhood domains identified by the Maryland State Department of Education) to create an immersive and developmentally appropriate experience for children. Some examples of these themes include positional words, weather, cooperation, and the five senses.
Each theme-based residency begins with a "kickoff" assembly, an early childhood interactive workshop, or a professional development workshop.
Choose the best option for you:
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