Expert-Led Early Years Events for Babies and Toddlers in Newcastle and Gateshead
Want to introduce your baby to the wonders of an art gallery or inspire your toddler at a museum?
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ venues offer a variety of free and low cost expert-led sessions for under fives where parents and guardians can meet new friends too. They all have baby changing facilities, are accessible for buggies, have spaces for packed lunches or child-friendly options in the cafés, and they are all breastfeeding friendly too. Here are some of their regular and one-off events you need to look out for.
Tiny Sparks
For ages three to five years
Wednesdays 11th, 18th, 25th January; 1st, 8th & 15th February
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
Spark your child’s imagination with stories about science and curious objects. This is an opportunity for tiny engineering, inventing, discovering, designing and investigating.
discoverymuseum.org.uk
Little Artists
Ages one to five years
Monday 16th, 23th & 30th January; 6th, 13th & 27th February; 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th March
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
Discover the Laing with your little ones and support their early development in a fun and relaxed way, exploring a different theme each week. Each session involves a warm up with movement and motion, gallery exploration with fun interactive activities, a practical art activity with various materials and a short story time.
laingartgallery.org.uk
Crafty Kids
For ages two to five years but younger welcome too
Tuesday 24th & 31 January; 7th, 14th & 28th February; 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th March; 18th & 25th April
Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Crafty Kids is a fun-filled session led by friendly early years specialists. Each session is based around a theme found in the artworks, such as colour, texture, line and animals.
shipleyartgallery.org.uk
Museum Mice
Under five years
Fridays 3rd, 10th & 17th February
Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle
Museum Mice is a play and exploration session for under fives and their adults. It is the perfect place for little ones to socialise and make new friends whilst discovering the wonders of the museum.
greatnorthmuseum.org.uk
Nurture Nest
For pre-crawling babies
Friday 3rd February
Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle
A chance for young babies to engage in tummy time as a group, learn songs, make new friends, and explore the senses, whilst discovering some of the curious museum objects and exploring their sensory environment.
greatnorthmuseum.org.uk
Curious Crawlers
For babies who are crawling, or pre-walkers who are moving
Friday 10th February
Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle
An opportunity for early movers to be curious, with den spaces and a selection of toys provided for babies to explore and move between at their own pace.
greatnorthmuseum.org.uk
Discover a Story: The Cat, the Mouse and the Runaway Train
For ages three to five years
Wednesday 22nd February
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
Join early years specialist Amy for stories and crafts. Small children of preschool age can listen to a story and then get crafty, as they design and decorate wonderful creations, inspired by the story!
discoverymuseum.org.uk
Hartbeeps Disco
For little ones walking confidently. Younger siblings can attend for free
Friday 24th February
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
Bring your babies for a boogie in the spacious Great Hall on the fourth floor. Brought to the museum by Hartbeeps, award-winning storytellers and creators of multi-sensory play for babies and young children. Expect puppets, bubbles and lights all around.
discoverymuseum.org.uk
twmuseums.org.uk
