Autism and Claud Monet

Spurred on by a fascination for a Disney cartoon for young children called Little Einsteins (a program created to introduce kids to fine art and music), our son developed an interest in the impressionist painter Claude Monet.  Whenever he saw a library book about the painter he'd borrow it...  whenever he saw a print of the Waterlilies, he'd point it out.

Last year, building on Tom's interest, we did a homeschool unit on the impressionists.

We started with a set of BBC videos created specifically to introduce viewers to each of several French impressionists - and we learned an awful lot about where the term "starving artist" came from.  We read a children's book called Linnea in Monet's Garden.  We read about the artists, finding books that included full-color prints.  And, of course, we painted.

Most of what we did took place at home.  But the Big Field Trip was a trip to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.  There, in one of the museum's huge galleries, hangs the REAL Waterlilies...  and over a dozen other original Monet's.  There are Cassatts, Gaugins, Cezannes and Manets too - all of whose work Tom knew from the videos and books.

True, sister Sara (who prefers soccer to museums) was bored.  But for our son with autism - it was a great adventure.  As it was for his mom and dad.

Interested in taking your child with autism to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?  They offer special programs for kids and adults with disabilities, with a unique offering called Discoveries just for people with developmental and learning disabilities.  Don't miss it if you're in New York!