Discovering art with a toddler: Laing Art Gallery family visit in Newcastle

After a week confined to our home thanks to Cyrus’s chest infection, we were desperate for a change of scenery. The city’s intu Eldon Square had become a second home, but this time I decided to introduce my eight-month-old, Little C, to the world of art at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Baby-friendly venue

Art galleries aren’t usually thought of as baby-friendly. The silence that greets you on entry can feel intimidating, almost as potent as a disapproving glare. I half-expected the visit to descend into a nightmare, but it didn’t.

A gallery that welcomes little explorers

The Laing felt surprisingly accessible for young children. Colours, textures, and gentle spaces invited curiosity without being overwhelming. Even the youngest visitors could point, gurgle, and engage, making the gallery a space for families to explore together.

Quentin Blake: inside stories

The exhibition “Quentin Blake: Inside Stories” offered a glimpse into the illustrator’s process, from raw sketches to final artworks. His work, familiar from Roald Dahl’s books, is vibrant and full of movement, perfect for capturing a child’s attention and imagination.

Little C was drawn to the bold parrot wallpaper and the vividly coloured furniture in the children’s area. His small reactions reminded me how art can communicate without words, even to someone still learning to speak.

Hands-on inspiration

Although he was too young for the hands-on sections, the visit sparked ideas for us at home. Watching him absorb colour, shapes, and forms reminded me that introducing art doesn’t require perfect understanding, just presence and attention.

Reflections on the visit

Our time at the Laing was a rare pause in the intensity of early parenthood. It was a moment to slow down, to notice, and to share curiosity with a child discovering the world. I left the gallery quietly grateful for the experience and looking forward to the conversations and explorations still to come as Little C grows.

If you’re in Newcastle before July 8th, the Quentin Blake exhibition is worth a visit. It offers a gentle, welcoming introduction to art for children, and a chance for parents to reflect on discovery through a child’s eyes.