By Abigail Penders //
On the first Wednesday morning of every month, an unlikely group of visitors gets to experience Mia’s collection up close. Some of these visitors can’t talk, walk, or even see very well, but they enjoy the art as much as anyone. And they will recall these mornings in various important ways, even if they will not remember being here.
These infants, toddlers, and young children under the age of 5 are the first cohort of Mini Mia, a free program begun this year to fill a gap in museum activities for our youngest visitors. Many families with children of various ages attend other programs like Family Day and remain unsure how to engage their youngest at an art museum. Mini Mia makes space for those families to be together at Mia in a fun, comfortable, and welcoming environment.
Taking an infant or a toddler to an art museum can be intimidating. Mini Mia aims to change that perspective. Each morning includes a gallery visit, a family dance, and a relaxing story time, equipping caregivers with the knowledge and tools for a successful experience with all members of their family.
The parachute is a regular part of Mini Mia, engaging the senses while demonstrating art techniques.
At one of our first sessions of Mini Mia, an infant about 4 months old was being carried by her mother. We went to the third-floor galleries and looked at Landscape with Cottage, an 1871 painting by Charles-François Daubigny, an early Impressionist who painted with muted browns and greens and loose brushstrokes. The infant had no interest in this painting, looking up at mom, the lights on the ceiling—anything but the art. We then looked at Portrait of a Girl, a 1971 painting by Joan Brown with bright, vivid colors and high contrast. The infant’s eyes immediately set on this painting. She began moving her arms and legs, made noises, and we couldn’t get her to look elsewhere. No surprise: We know that infants have limited vision in their first year, so colors like red, black, and white are especially engaging for their senses.
These interactions with art—even by infants who can’t verbalize their experiences—are important not only for early learning and brain development but also for helping children feel more confident. In an article about the importance of welcoming the youngest visitors to museums, the American Alliance of Museums states, “valuing every contribution communicates that we believe children are capable and builds children’s confidence that they belong in the museum environment.” Indeed, we’re seeing caregivers come away from this program with increased confidence not only in their experience of the museum but also in the interactions they have here with their children.
Ultimately, the core value of Mini Mia is play—for both adults and children. The goal is an engaging and fun interaction between caregiver and child, and that does not depend on having a vast knowledge of art history. During our gallery visit, adults and children are given prompts to share their experiences, not their knowledge. During the family dance, led by the Young Dance studio based in St. Paul, participants move in ways that correspond with the art they saw in the galleries. It’s never a bad idea to start your day at an art museum by mimicking loose brush movements, especially when it involves a giant parachute, and now you can.
Abigail Penders is the Youth and Family Programs Specialist at Mia.
Learn more about Mini Mia and sign up for future sessions.