Do you want to introduce your preschooler to music and dance? Attend one of the Kid's Club performances at the UMKC Conservatory. The Kid's Club exposes children to the world of music and dance through interactive and entertaining shows, which are held 4 times per year.
October 13, 2012
Music from Pixar Movies and classic westerns with be shared, along with a live version of the score to a short film about the Hubble Space Telescope
November 3, 2012
UMKC Daners will whirl they way through some of Aesop's greatest fables - “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “ The Boy who Cried Wolf,” and the “Ant and the Grasshopper.” Watch as they use dance, movement, and music to tell the story!
January 26, 2013
A fun operetta for young audiences, this performance will be based on Rudyard Kipling "Just So Story" and will feature singers, piano and percussion.
February 23, 2013
Enjoy two mini-musical performances - the first is based on an original story about a girl who loves to dream. The second has kids visiting an imaginary land and will feature a brief chamber opera in three acts with projected shadow art. A wonderful combination of math and music!
View UMKC Kid's Club in a larger map
Paul Mesner and his puppeteers have been entertaining Kansas City audiences for more than 20 years. Come see some of your favorite books brought to 'life' by a variety of puppets. Both young and old alike will enjoy the wonderful story interpretations the company is showing in it's 2011 - 2012 season. The following shows are recommended for preschoolers -
November 1 - 25, 2012
Learn about safety with Officer Buckle and his very funny partner, Gloria the dog!
December 14 - 16, 2012
A beautiful show that portrays the birth of baby Jesus. Amazing 7 foot tall puppets and held in the Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral.
January 3 - 12, 2013
A special show for our youngest audiences - lights stay on and no loud noises. Come experience your first puppet show!
January 16 - February 10, 2013
Martha the dog is able to talk! Find out what she does now that the humans can hear her.
February 20 - March 16, 2013
A retelling of a popular African American folktale - Wiley and hsi mother outwit the Harry Man.
April 3 - 28, 2013
A hilarious retelling of the 3 little pigs from the wolf's point of view - you will laugh thru the whole show!
May 7 - 19, 2013
A spinning wheel, a prince and a magical kiss -- along with lots of humor!
June 5 - 30
Enjoy the adventurous tale of the brave cat who wears spanish boots!
July 17 - August 11, 2013
Have an exciting time with the dogs as they attend parties, drive cars and have all kinds of fun!
Theatre for Young America is located in Union Station and specializes in live performances for kids. Your child will love the variety of shows they can see, along with the music, humor and personal touches that are experienced. Great shows for preschoolers include:
This season, the shows at TYA are all connected to children's books so be sure to read the story before or after you attend the play!
March 3, 2015 - April 11, 2015
A classic tale of friendship between a young girl, her pig and all the animals of the barnyard! Kids will also enjoy the film adaption of Charlotte's Web (2006) which is a fun compare/contrast activity after seeing the play too.
April 21, 2015 - May 16, 2015
Adapted from the hilarious book, follow along on this crazy adventure to see what happens if you if you do indeed decide to give a cat a cupcake!
June 9, 2015 - June 27, 2015
Will a girl shows up at a castle, will the royal family be able to tell if she's a true princess?
View Theatre for Young America in a larger map
Photo credit: Theatre for Young America
Take your kids to see a show at the Coterie - voted one of the 5 Best Theaters for Kids by Time Magazine. Located in Crown Center, they offer great plays for all ages, and there's not a bad seat in the house! The following shows are recommended for preschoolers:
March 31, 2015 - May 17, 2015
So many antics to follow along with as The Cat, Thing 1 & Thing 2 entertain Sally and Dick for the day. Based on the much loved children's book!
June 16, 2015 - August 2, 2015
A musical adaptation of the book series -- learn how their friendship endures through all types of weather and seasons!
View Coterie Theatre in a larger map
Bring your kids to one of the best hands-on art studios in Kansas City! And it's FREE! Come make a puzzle, color fun pictures and paint with glow-in-the-dark wax. You and your kids will have a great time working together to create some fun artwork.
Kaleidoscope changes the art projects at different times during the year. Some of the things you can enjoy include:
"the dot" by Peter H. Reynolds teaches the reader that everyone can make art, all you have to do is "just make a mark and see where it takes you".
"The Art Lesson" by Tomie dePaola is actually an picture-book autobiography of the famous author/illustrator Tomie dePaola, and how he learned to create his own artist style. Wonderful lessons on doing what you love and perserverence are found throughout the story.
Other places to explore art in Kansas City:
View Kaleidoscope in a larger map
Come explore huge sculptures in the outside sculpture garden, see a mummy or a suit of armor for a horse! You will find old tea sets, fun paintings and colorful art - there's lots of fun kid's activities and things to explore at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
The museum has a lot to offer and kids will enjoy exploring various types of art. Here are some highlights that young children will enjoy:
Read some fun books about art from our "What to See at a Museum" booklist.
Check out other great artwork in Kansas City:
All images have been obtained with permission from the Nelson-Atkins online press room.
View Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in a larger map