For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed working with my hands. I was forever creating things as a child. My parents’ basement was my personal studio space and I would spend hours down there making, cutting and coloring and drawing and forming. Creative energy coursed through my veins and I was in my element every time I was down there. I was fortunate to also take art classes at our town’s arts studio and in middle school we had required electives in the arts: woodworking, music, studio art, cooking and sewing, and computer. (Ok, so that last one wasn’t really “the arts” but I did learn how to type amazingly through it). My favorite elective by far was woodworking — to this day I still have a little shelf I designed and made by myself in 8th grade.
As I became older I spent last time channeling my creativity through my hands. Once I started high school there was no time for creative electives, and I was immersed in sports and band and honors classes. When I entered college I was very academically focused, and despite going to a university with a fantastic arts program, I only took a single class in the arts.
Surprisingly, it was after college when I had the opportunity to work with my hands again. I took beading classes and bought knitting books and retaught myself how to use a sewing machine. I had crafternoons with friends where we would get together and make things and I ran a crafting group. (These were the days before being a parent when I had the time!)
Simultaneously I worked in early childhood education, where part of my work over the years has entailed creating educational activities. One of my favorite things was designing the curriculum for toddler playgroups and testing out the activities to go with them. Once again I found myself cutting and coloring and drawing and forming. (In some ways it has paved the way to where I am today because it made me realize this need I have to create and work with my hands.)
You know what? It was really freeing! There is something so magical freeing about creating with children. Their imagination is not yet stifled by perfection and the need for things to look “right”. As adults, particularly as parents, we don’t always have the time to fully immerse ourselves in our creative sides. Nor do we always give ourselves permission to. Now that Eve is getting older, I want to unleash that fun, creative and messy side of me more. What’s more fun as a parent than letting loose and doing something creative with your kids? (And while it doesn’t relate to my business per se, I feel that creativity breeds creativity, so it also has the added bonus of helping in my own work.)
This has inspired me to put together a list of places in the Boston area parents can be creative with their children. You will find a list of studio spaces; classes in art, music, movement, and dance; science exploration; and local museums (besides the Children’s Museum, New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science) that offer opportunities for children and caregivers to unleash their creativity together in a way that’s fun for both kids and adults. I plan on updating this list so if you see anything I missed, please mention in the comments or e-mail me at bev[at]linkouture.com.
Boston
Diablo Glass School (Mission Hill): Enjoy a glass-blowing demonstration and make your own glass pendants with your family every Sunday from 1-2.
Ages: 6+
Eliot School (Jamaica Plain): This art school located in Jamaica Plain offers two sets of classes — one for 2-3-year-olds, and the other for 3-5-year-olds — where children and their caregivers get to make art. (In the older class, the children and adults work at separate tables but doing the same project.)
Ages: 2-5
Hill House (Beacon Hill): From art to music, you will find a variety of classes for you and your tot to do together.
Ages: 1 year 7 months – 4 years.
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) (Fort Point): The last Saturday of the month the ICA offers Play Dates, a full day of creative activities for families, which includes “hands-on art-making, performance, family gallery tours, films, and more.”
Ages: 6-12
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Fenway): In addition to the museum being stroller-friendly, the Gardner offers studio drop-in art activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Ages: All
Little Groove Music & Art (Various locations) Infants, toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy enrichment classes with their caregivers. Classes are offered in the South End, South Boston, Charlestown, Brookline, and Newburyport.
Ages: 3 months-4 years
Mama & Me (Jamaica Plain): “By providing children with creative opportunities to explore art, movement and playtime with each other, Mama & Me aims to inspire imagination in both kids and parents a like!” Mama & Me offers both classes well as a drop-in playspace.
Ages: Infant-3.5 years
Museum of Fine Arts (Fenway): The MFA in Boston offers a variety of programs designed specifically for families, including the Family Art Cart, Playdates, Art Connections Cards Family Activity, Family Activity Totes, and Drawing in the Gallery.
Ages: Varies by program
Wheelock Family Theater (Longwood): In addition to family-friendly performances the theater offers family-friendly workshops on Fridays included in the cost of your ticket.
Ages: 3+
Cambridge & Somerville
The Beautiful Stuff Project (East Somerville): This creative reuse center offers free and low cost materials to children and educational settings in Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston. In addition to a drop-in studio space and workshops, families can take materials to enjoy at home.
Ages: 5+
Boston Bead Company (David Square): Use their work tables and tools to make jewelry together, or sign up for one of their classes.
Ages: 5+
Duncan Dance (Central Square): This child/caregiver dance class at the Dance Complex offers “a structured sequence of sound and gesture integrated movement activities.”
Ages: 1.5-3
Harvard Museum of Natural History (Harvard Square): The museum offers family activities for elementary-aged children and their caregivers that encourages families to experiment and learn in a fun and interactive manner.
Ages: 5+
Imagine: A Center for Community & the Arts (Fresh Pond): In addition to offering a large drop-in playspace, Imagine offers creative classes and Pick ‘N Paint — items you can paint and take home.
Ages: 0+
Made by Me (Between Porter & Harvard Square): Paint your own pottery in this bright studio located just outside Harvard Square.
Ages: 3+
Mucky Kids (Between Porter & Harvard Square): Mucky Kids offers developmentally appropriate multi-sensory activities. Children are encouraged to explore through classes and drop-in studio hours. Activities offered through their drop-in classes can be tailored to just about any age. Currently classes are offered Mondays-Wednesday and the drop-in studio is open Thursday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm.
Ages: 18 months-7 years
Mudflat Studios (Porter Square): Teachers guide parents and child pairs in working with clay in these one-time workshops.
Ages: 4-12
New School of Music (Harvard Square): This music schools offers a variety of classes for kids and caregivers, from group guitar to violin through the Suzuki method to music and movement classes for tots.
Ages: Varies by program
Parts and Crafts (Between Porter and Union Square): This family makerspace “encourage[s] kids to play, think, make, and learn through the exploration of the arts, science, computer programming, and engineering.”
Ages: 7-13
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology (Harvard Square): This Harvard science museum offers a variety of programs for families.
Ages:
The Playspace (Union Square): In addition to play area, this community space offers an art studio and drop-in classes as well as music & movement casses. The price of admission for the drop-in play includes free coffee & tea and WiFi and access to art materials.
Ages: 0-5
Zoya Designs (Teele Square): Create fun sewing projects together with your child in a 4-week class.
Ages: Depends on your child’s capability, but probably elementary school-aged or older
West of Boston
Brookline Arts Center: Thee center offers seasonally-themed weekend classes for adults and children to explore “in a variety of artistic experiences.”
Ages: 2-4
The Clayroom (Brookline): Paint your own pottery in this cozy studio space located in Coolidge Corner.
Ages: 3+
Create a Cook (Newtown): Learn how to make simple dishes with your preschooler in this hour-long cooking workshop designed while they also learn kitchen safety.
Ages: 3-5
Culinary Underground (Southborough): This cooking schools offers hands-on cooking classes for kids where you can learn how to make simple and healthy food as well as baking classes.
Ages: 7+
deCordova Museum (Lincoln): In addition to having an incredible outdoor sculpture park which kids of all ages will have fun exploring, “DeCordova offers engaging, fun, and informative programming designed for families to see, experience, and learn about art together.” (Their website also has some fantastic tips for families who are planning on visiting the museum.)
Ages: Varies by program
Empow Studios (Lexington): “Empow Studios brings technology, arts, and play together to help young learners discover and build on their creative talents.” In addition to classes, they offer 2-hour drop-in sessions for adults and kids to enjoy exploring together.
Ages: 7-13
Indigo Fire (Belmont): This clay and glass art studio offers drop-in programs for clay building, glass fusing, and pottery painting.
Ages: Varies by program
Jam Time (Maynard & Natick): This large indoor play space also offers classes in music and movement, dance (including Zumba!) and art. (Plus they also have free WiFi and coffee and snacks available for purchase.)
Ages: 3 months-6 years
The Kid’s Place (Needham): This interactive drop-in craft studio offers a variety of creative projects for kids of all ages, including both canvas and plaster painting, ceramics, and candle making.
Ages: All ages
New Art Center (Newton): In addition to offering workshops for kids, teens and adults, New Art Center offers some parent/child classes for younger children.
Ages: 3-5
The Paint Bar (Newton): Instructors guide you step-by-step through a painting (but you’d be amazed how differently each one turns out!) to help you create a beautiful piece of artwork! Some Sunday afternoon are designated specifically as Family Day for children and a caregiver. (There are also locations on Newbury Street and Falmouth.)
Ages: 8+
Puddlestompers (Newton): Explore nature and “build the foundation for a lifelong enjoyment and love of the outdoors” through hands-on outdoor activities.
Ages: 2-5
Whimsy Arts & Crafts (Framingham): From a Peruvian drum to designing your own t-shirt, this creative environment for families offers a drop-in arts & crafts studio as well as classes.
Ages:3+
North of Boston
Arlington Boys & Girls Club (Arlington): In addition to swim and sports classes, the club offers dance, arts & crafts, science and music classes.
Ages: 6 months-5 years
Artbeat (Arlington): This shop and art studio offers drop-in time every day of the week with projects read for you and your kids to make together, from mosaics to painting. Prices vary by project.
Ages: 3+
Clay Dreams (Arlington): Paint your own pottery at this family-owned business.
Ages: 3+
Einstein Workshop (Burlington): This drop-in space “is a hands-on learning center where you can explore the creative side of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). (Burlington)
Ages: 3+
Kidcasso (Wakefield): This kid-centered art studio offers “mommy and me” style classes for adults and their tots.
Ages: 12 months-3 years
Peabody Essex Museum (Salem): PEM has a variety of activities to encourage you and your kids to discover art together, including drop-in art making, an art cart, and story trails.
Ages: Varies by program
Ready, Set, Kids! (Arlington): This space is actually three organizations in one: Happy Healthy Kids Fitness Studio (offering fitness classes for kids including some mom & child classes), Yak Academy (offering language classes for children as young as one), and Boston JCC (offering parent/child development classes well as fun programs for younger children).
Ages: Infant-10
South of Boston
Ceramics a la Carte (Canton): Paint your own pottery, design a mosaic or paint a canvas. (You can also bring your baby in and have custom baby print ceramics made!)
Ages: 3+
South Shore Arts Center (Cohasset): Children and caregivers have the opportunity to work on the same projects at different tables, creating in parallel.
Age: 3-5
South Shore Pottery (Abington): Paint-your-own pottery (and canvases) in this creative studio. In addition to classes older children and adults can take, they offer a storytime for children 6 and younger listen to a story and then do a painting related to it.
Ages: Varies by program
Linking up with Mrs. AOK and What’s Up with the Whilhelms for That’s What She Said #TWSS.
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