Infants & Process Art: The Artist’s First Expressions
Hosted and Facilitated by Sophie Rayner-Grignon, ECC Coach | Infant Programming & Curriculum Specialist
Event Details
In this inspiring and reflective workshop, we will reimagine infants (0–18 months) as capable, creative artists from the very beginning.
Process Art is often associated with preschoolers and older children — but what does it look like for babies? How do we honour sensory exploration, mouthing, movement, and early mark-making as meaningful creative expression rather than “mess” or “just play”?
Together, we will explore how infant brains and bodies learn through sensory experiences, and how educators can intentionally design invitations that support creativity in small, big, mouthable, and nature-based ways.
Participants will reflect on common barriers to offering process art with infants — including safety concerns, developmental differences, documentation challenges, and the tension between process and product — and leave with practical, accessible ideas they can implement immediately.
This session is not about Pinterest-perfect art or handprint crafts. It’s about understanding that every artist was once an infant exploring colour, texture, rhythm, and movement for the very first time.
You will leave with deeper knowledge, creative confidence, and tangible strategies to introduce meaningful process art experiences in infant environments.
Location
Online Webinar on Zoom
Date + Time
Thursday, August 13th, 2026
6:30pm - 7:30pm EST
Fee
This event is $10.00.
Who is this session for?
- Early Childhood Educators
- Early Childhood Leaders
- Supervisors
- Directors
- Childcare Owners
Meet Our Host & Facilitator!
Sophie Rayner-Grignon
ECC Coach | Infant Programming & Curriculum Specialist
Sophie (she/they) is a queer, creative educator with over a decade of experience as a Registered ECE. She lives and works on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Peoples in Ottawa, ON.
Her journey began with babysitting and volunteering in a special needs program in Japan. Her experiences inspired her to pursue Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College, where she graduated with honours in 2014.
Since then, Sophie has dedicated her career to supporting young parents, infants, and toddlers in nonprofit childcare settings. Her approach centers around intentional play, curiosity, and connection — seeing every interaction as a chance to nurture trust, joy, and learning.
Meet Your Workshop Producer!
Jac Hypolite
ECC Coach & Workshop Producer
Email: info@anishatheecc.com
Each session is supported by a dedicated Workshop Producer who helps ensure a smooth, welcoming, and well-organized experience for all participants. Your Workshop Producer will be available to support with registration questions, technical assistance, and any needs that arise before or during the event.
They also work behind the scenes alongside the host to help facilitate the flow of the session, allowing presenters to focus fully on delivering an engaging and meaningful learning experience.
Understand the foundations of Process Art and how it applies specifically to infants (0–18 months).
Explore how sensory learning supports infant brain development and early creative expression.
Identify common barriers to offering process art with infants — and how to overcome them.
Learn the difference between product art and authentic process art in infant settings.
Discover safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate materials (including mouthable options).
Explore nature-based and large-scale creative experiences for babies.
Gain strategies for documenting infant process art to support parent understanding.
Reflect on how to reframe infant art as meaningful, intentional learning.
What You'll Learn:
Why attend this event?
Reframe Infant Creativity
Shift your perspective to see baby exploration as the earliest form of artistic expression.
Build Confidence in Offering Process Art
Gain practical, realistic ideas that work in real infant classrooms — not just in theory.
Leave with Actionable Ideas
Walk away with small, big, sensory, and nature-based invitations you can implement immediately.
Move Beyond Handprints
Explore the balance between process and product, and learn how to advocate for authentic creative experiences.
Deepen Your Documentation Practice
Learn how to capture and communicate the learning happening during infant art experiences.
FAQ
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Are there any membership fees to join The ECC Learning Lounge?
Nope, there are no membership fees to join The ECC Learning Lounge.
Instead, there will be a $10 admission fee for this event.
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Will there be a recording available of this event?
For virtual events, yes, recordings will be available.
However, it's important to note that not all events will be recorded. Details regarding recording availability will be shared upon registration for each specific event. The recording will be made available through our Podia platform. Details on how to access the recording will be sent to all registered attendees after the event.
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How can I contact the ECC Learning Lounge team for further inquiries?
You can contact here or email us directly at info@anishatheecc.com. We're here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.
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What topics are covered in The ECC Learning Lounge events?
Our events cover a wide range of topics relevant to early childhood education, including but not limited to child development, curriculum planning, social-emotional learning, cultural competence, inclusive practices, and leadership skills.
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How can I suggest topics or speakers for future ECC Learning Lounge events?
We welcome suggestions for topics and speakers! You can submit your ideas by contacting us directly with your recommendations via email at info@anishatheecc.com.
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