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.
There is something so magical about creating with children.
Their imagination is not yet stifled by perfection and the need for things to look “right”. They see endless possibilities where we often just see what it is in front of us.
Photo by Muha
Our children can teach us so much about the world and allow us to get back in touch with our inner creatives.
Read more: The Zen of Creativity
Inspired by my role as a mom, I put together a list of places in Boston and the surrounding area where 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.
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 ages
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+
Read more: Tips for Taking Your Toddler To An Art Museum
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+
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.
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.
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).”
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
Read more: 5 Simple Ways to Ignite Your Child’s Creativity
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
