Toddler to Do class gives young children a chance to learn, interact with others and, most importantly, have fun

HARTSVILLE, S.C. _ When you mix eight cups of flour and one cup of baby oil, what do you get? A mess, right? Wrong.

What you get is a whole lot of fun, at least that’s the way it turned out for the parents and their young children who took part in the Toddler to Do program at Black Creek Arts Center Monday.

As first, the toddlers sat on the floor surrounded by large pans filled with a mixture of flour and baby oil. Many stared curiously at the white, powdery substance, pondering what to do. With prompting from the adults, they began to sift it through their fingers, take handfuls in the palms of their small hands and rub them together to watch it turn into the consistency of play dough. Others, with more vivid imaginations, held it in their hands high above their heads and let it fall like snow to the floor, on their heads and in the laps of whoever was seated next to them.

The toddlers giggled, danced in circles and squealed with laughter.

Moms, dads and even a grandparent or two marveled at the fun the children were having with such a simple concoction.

The Toddler to Do class is designed for children ages 12 months to 3 years. Amelia Byrd and Bethany Perry are the instructors. The cost for each session, including materials, is $10.

Children’s activities include painting, mosaics, sensory projects and a take-home packet for further exploration.

Tasha Camak said she has been coming to the class with her daughter, Ella Gray, since November.

Camak said, “We come for the social skills, and she has fun. Everybody has fun, I think.”

Ella Gray, who is two years old, is an only child.

Tiffany Wilson said she has been to all of the classes with her 21-month-old, Jolene.

“She loves it,” Wilson said. “She gets to interact with kids she doesn’t get to see everyday.” Wilson said the learning experience is good for the children socially and artistically.

“I just enjoy her and she loves crafts,” said Caroline Benson Beasley of her 19-month-old daughter.

Beasley said the class is a time for daughter, Stella, to experiment, and it teaches her things she can do at home with her daughter.

Perry said Black Creek Arts Council has been offering the class since October, and it has been well received. She said the class is designed to introduce children to art at an early age and to let parents know that young children can have lots of fun with many household items used when used creatively.

At Monday’s class the boys and girls also made texture rubbings and were read a story.

The next class is scheduled for Feb. 13. Two sessions are available. Times are 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. If interested, call 332-6234 to reserve a spot in the class. Class size is limited.