This latest episode of the "Moms of the Lou" podcast features local St. Louis mom and art educator, Colleen Fitzsimmons-Wiviott. Colleen shares her journey from being a St. Louis native, studying on the east coast, and then returning to St. Louis as an art educator. Colleen highlights her experience with the St. Louis Art Museum's teen assistant program and her subsequent career in museum education. She discusses her transition to freelance work, focusing on early childhood art education through her business, Start with Art. Colleen offers tips for parents on encouraging creative activities at home without the mess, emphasizing the importance of making art accessible and enjoyable for both children and parents. Check out Colleen’s blog post on A Guide to Visiting Art Museums with Kids.

We are so grateful to Foss Swim School for sponsoring this episode. At FOSS swim lessons are more than strokes and kicks. They're about building water safety, confidence and love of water that lasts a lifetime, whether your kiddo is just getting started, or looking to level up their skills. It's easier than ever to fit swim lessons into your family's routine. Find the class that fits your family or schedule your free preview lesson today!

A native of St. Louis, Colleen lives in Clayton with her husband, two kids, and rescue dog. She has worked in museum and art education for the past ten years and is the founder of Start With Art, which provides early childhood art workshops and classes around town. She is passionate about helping children discover their own creative processes while building community through art. When she’s not lesson planning, teaching, or momming, you can find her baking treats for her family, visiting the farmers’ market, or checking out all the amazing art exhibitions and performances St. Louis has to offer. Visit startwithartstl.com or follow on Instagram @startwithartstl!

We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! 

This episode was produced by the St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by Half Coast Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. Music composed by Trina Harger.