Art programs are becoming increasingly limited at many schools, with many students only having access to art education once or twice a week. However, there are a variety of ways that parents can foster creativity in their little artists outside of school. From DIY craft ideas to opportunities from museums around Northeast Ohio, here are five ways you can encourage creativity in your child.
1. Art Play Dates
Coordinate with a group of parents to schedule regular art play dates. Each parent takes a turn hosting an art play date for which they plan the craft and purchase supplies. The kids get to have fun completing the art project together while the parents also get a chance to socialize. It’s fun for everyone.
2. Art & Craft Subscription Boxes
Kids love getting mail, and subscription boxes are a fun way to provide them with a new craft every month. These boxes come with all of the supplies and instructions needed, which means very little planning for the parent. Just open the box, set aside some family time, and enjoy watching your child’s creativity come to life. Here are just a few of the subscriptions boxes featuring crafts for kids:
Green Kid Crafts — Delivers hands-on and eco-friendly STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) kits for kids ages 3-10.
Doodle Crate — Art and design box for kids ages 9 and older.
Carefree Crafts — Boxes with five seasonal or holiday-themed crafts for kids ages 3-7.
3. Attend Local Art & Craft Events
In Northeast Ohio, we are lucky to be rich with museums, organizations and stores that provide weekly or monthly art & craft events for kids, many of which are free:
Super Saturdays at Beck Center for the Arts, located in Lakewood, includes free, interactive art experiences for children ages 1-7 four times a year (January, April, October and December).
The Akron Art Museum offers several workshops each month for a variety of ages, including Creative Playdates (ages 0-5), Tots Create (ages 2-3), Kid Studio (ages 7-12) and more. Prices vary by workshop.
On the second Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Cleveland Museum of Art‘s Second Sundays let families enjoy free art-making activities and programs for all ages.
Every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lakeshore Learning stores host Free Crafts for Kids events for children ages 3 and up.
Every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., visit your local Pat Catan’s for free crafts for kids ages 12 and younger as part of the Make & Take program.
As part of the Michaels Stores Kids Club, every Saturday features a new project. The cost is $2 per project, and the events are for kids ages 3 and older.
4. Register for Art Classes
To supplement the art education your child is receiving at school, there are a variety of options, such as the Beck Center for the Arts, for art classes in Northeast Ohio. Art classes provide an opportunity for consistent exposure to art, and are great options if there is a specialty in which your child is interested.
Fine Arts Association in Willoughby provides opportunities for art classes, in addition to theater, dance, music and more.
My Very First Art Class at The Cleveland Museum of Art introduces children, along with a grown-up, to art, the museum, and verbal and visual literacy in a program that combines art making, storytelling, movement and play. The program offers four classes each month, and is for children ages 1½ to 4½.
Young Artist Classes at The Cleveland Institute of Art include a variety of studio art classes for students in grades 4-12 that build upon fundamental skills through drawing, painting and 3D design, as well as advanced classes that help build an art portfolio for college entrance.
After-School art classes through KidzArt are offered in more than 74 different school locations in Northeast Ohio.
5. Get Inspiration on Pinterest
If you are looking for some DIY art projects you can complete at home, Pinterest is a great place to start. Look for ideas for a certain age group, holiday, or type of craft. Pinterest allows you to search for a variety of ways to engage your kids creatively at home and save them for when you are ready.
