Supporting Early Learning through the Arts

Pictured above: Ethan, bottom left, sits with his mom during Syracuse Stage’s Theatre for the Very Young performance of Tiny Martians, Big Emotions at Mundy Branch Library. | Photo by: Ben Cleeton

When 3-year-old Ethan first arrived at a performance of Tiny Martians, Big Emotions, he stayed close to his grandfather, quietly observing the unfamiliar room around him. By the end, he was eagerly participating in the interactive performance alongside other children.

“For him to go from sitting back with grandpa to then interacting and getting in trouble for being on stage — it was quite the half hour,” said his mother, Carolyn Walker, a nurse practitioner from Jamesville. “That’s exactly what we hoped would happen.”

The performance at Mundy Branch Library was part of Syracuse Stage’s Theatre for the Very Young program, which we supported with a $20,000 Community Grant. Designed for children ages 18 months to 5 years, the program introduces preschool and kindergarten students to live theater through sensory-friendly, interactive experiences that encourage emotional expression, creativity and social connection.

This season’s production, Tiny Martians, Big Emotions, follows two martians exploring feelings for the first time while engaging young audience members in conversations about emotions, colors and textures. Through play and participation, children learn that everyone experiences emotions differently and that sharing feelings can build understanding and connection.

For families like Ethan’s, accessibility made all the difference.

“Honestly, that it was free and available to the community and close to home,” Walker said when asked what motivated her family to attend. “If it had cost money, we probably wouldn’t have done it.”

According to Americans for the Arts, arts and culture help strengthen communities by fostering creativity, connection and belonging. Yet for many families, especially in communities where access to early arts education has historically been limited, those opportunities remain out of reach. According to CNY Vitals, more than 40% of Syracuse children live in poverty, contributing to those barriers.

“Theatre for the Very Young at Syracuse Stage deepens our commitment to community engagement and arts accessibility,” said Kate Michelle Laissle, director of education at Syracuse Stage. “We hope by introducing toddlers and preschool aged children to live performance, we foster early developmental growth, spark imagination and lay the foundation for lifelong arts appreciation.”

For Ethan, the experience also created an opportunity to connect with other children in a welcoming environment.

“He’s an only child, so most of his interactions are with adults,” Walker said. “Experiences like this give him the ability to interact with other kids and open up a little bit more.”

Walker said the informal, intimate setting helped ease the anxiety many parents feel about bringing young children to performances.

“It was a very welcoming space,” she said. “Knowing that if he became overwhelmed, we could easily step out without disrupting anyone made a huge difference.”

Now, after seeing Ethan grow more confident during the performance, the family plans to attend more theater productions together.

“Programs like this give kids like him opportunities we might not normally be able to do,” Walker said. “We really value the arts, and this keeps him engaged in those kinds of experiences.”