Sensory-Friendly Saturday: Paper Snowflakes — Detroit Institute of Arts

Sensory-friendly session for neurodivergent children, teens, adults and their families and friends: softer lighting, reduced noise and flexible activities in a calm space. Registration is required (free ticket on the DIA ticket site); all materials are provided.

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About this adventure

The Detroit Institute of Arts sets aside its Art-Making Studio for a calmer version of its family art workshops, built for neurodivergent children and teens and the people who come with them. In the December session families make old-fashioned paper snowflakes, folding and cutting paper into patterns they can take home and hang as winter decorations. The studio runs with softer lighting and less noise, and the activity is flexible, so a child can work at their own pace, step back, or return to the table when ready. All materials are supplied. The session lasts one hour on a Saturday morning, before the museum's busier afternoon hours, which makes it a gentle first museum visit for children who find crowds hard. Parents, siblings and friends are welcome to make snowflakes alongside. A free registration is required through the DIA ticket site, and children under 16 need a guardian with them. Afterwards families can stay and explore the galleries; general admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties with ID.