ABOUT
COLOUR PLAY

Colour Play is based on the Experiential Colour Workshop for Babies. A Finnish method that brings babies and their adults together through colour, touch, and shared discovery.

Developed in Finland in 2003, this approach has become a popular early childhood experience for thousands of families in museums, libraries, and art spaces.

History

Colour Play is based on the Experiential Colour Workshop for Babies, a Finnish method that brings babies and their adults together through colour, touch, and shared discovery.

The workshop was first created in 2003 at the Kruunupää Centre for Children’s Culture in the city of Pori, Finland. It began as a collaboration between children’s culture professionals and the Pori Art Museum, with the goal of creating meaningful art experiences for the very youngest children. The method was developed by Päivi Setälä and her team, and it has been used in Finland for over 20 years in art museums, libraries, nurseries, family centres, and cultural spaces.

Since 2003, thousands of babies across Finland have taken part in these workshops, making it a well-loved early childhood art experience.

What is it?

In an Experiential Colour Workshop, there is no pressure to “make something.” Instead, babies are encouraged to explore with their hands, feet, eyes, and whole bodies. They touch, move, press, splash, and play using colours, materials, and safe tools designed just for them. Everything is set up to support the baby’s natural curiosity and their connection with the adult by their side.

The focus is on the experience itself. Being in the moment, discovering how things feel, move, and change. The colours are often handmade from natural, even edible ingredients. The space is calm and welcoming, and the babies lead the pace.

This kind of exploration supports many important areas of development. It helps babies learn about their bodies, their senses, their surroundings, and their relationship with their parent or caregiver. It is also a gentle and creative way to slow down together in today’s busy world.

I have completed official training in this method at Kruunupää, and Colour Play is based directly on the values, principles, and practices of the original workshops.

Benefits of the workshop

For Children

Sensory play that supports early development, confidence, and joyful discovery.

  • Strengthens motor skills through full-body movement
  • Supports early recognition of colours, shapes, and spatial concepts
  • Builds confidence and curiosity through sensory exploration
  • Encourages safe experimentation with natural materials and baby-safe ‘paints’
  • Deepens early connection with the parent through shared experience
  • Promotes body awareness — “Where do I end and where do I begin?”
  • Offers joyful, non-verbal experiences of art and play
  • Nurtures all the senses: touch, sight, sound, smell, and temperature

For Adults

Slow down, connect deeply, and rediscover play alongside your child.

  • Strengthens emotional connection and communication with the child
  • Creates a calm, focused space for shared attention and presence
  • Invites the adult to play, explore, and create without pressure or expectations
  • Encourages social interaction and community among parents
  • Brings joy and insight through observing the child’s unique expressions
  • Offers a fresh way to slow down, tune in, and enjoy the moment

About Me

I’m Vilma, a Finnish cultural producer, an art education student and a children’s arts and culture enthusiast.

A Creative Path

I grew up surrounded by art education, first studying graphic design and later contemporary art. After several years in international marketing and sales roles with large corporations, I realised my heart still belonged to the arts. In 2021, after completing my bachelor’s degree in art and culture, I returned to the cultural sector as a freelance producer and designer.

Professional Training

BA, Art & Culture – HUMAK University of Applied Sciences (2022)

Experiental Colour Workshop for Babies instructor – Kruunupää, Finland (2024)

BBA studies in Business & Management – Xamk University (grad. 2025)

MA (Phil.) in Art Education – University of Jyväskylä (grad. 2027)

Studies in Contemporary Art – Art School MAA (2010-2011) and Vocational Qualification in Visual Expression – Vantaan ammattiopisto Varia (2010).

What else do I Do

I’m a freelance marketer, designer in the cultural field, and producer for a contemporary circus company. I am a lover of nature, sports, arts, children and animals.

Why Colour Play?

I was raised by art educators, so my connection to it started from childhood, and creativity has always been a part of my life. From 2021 to 2025, I worked with the Association of Children’s Culture in Finland, which deepened my understanding of how artistic experiences and practice can be beneficial to the health and overall well-being of the child, even from a very young age.

This journey led me to train as an instructor in the Finnish Experiental Colour Workshop for Babies method and to apply (and be accepted) into a Master’s program in Art Education. Colour Play is a natural next step, a way to bring everything I’ve learned into direct, shared experiences with children and their families. I have been lucky enough to find a great collaborator in Prague, and the workshops take place in the cosy children’s art space Playful Art Club in Holesovice.