Kids' Pottery workshops
ARE YOU READY FOR THE CORK & CLAY PROJECT?
How Pottery Classes Are Good for Kids
The latest data on how art affects kids is pretty startling all by itself, with kids exposed to art not only doing better at school, but growing into better people. But pottery specifically? How does pottery offer something special to kids? As it turns out, pottery does provide kids with something special—both pottery painting (along with other forms of painting) and even more so – work with clay. Both have been found to assist child development, helping children to develop fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, imagination, initiative, and curiosity (among other benefits). All of which makes pottery classes a good idea for many kids. And since there are really two very different kinds of children’s pottery classes being offered these days, let’s spin the wheel and look at both.
What Kids Learn
Kids pottery making classes offer instruction in three techniques:
The benefits of pottery making classes for kids? In addition to the techniques and skills they learn, kids get to work with one of the most important artistic mediums known to man (clay) as an accomplished artist or craftsperson would, learning to create a piece of art from scratch through patience, persistence, and growing artistic ability, all guided by an experienced mentor. Pretty exciting stuff when you think about it.
Choosing A Children’s Pottery Making Class
Have a kid just starting out? Then enrol for a beginner-only group. Unlike many other kids art classes, pottery making can take a while to learn and can be frustrating for a kid struggling with the basics while the rest of the class has moved on to advanced techniques. If your child has never done pottery before, joining classes specifically for beginners will help ensure a frustration-free experience.
Along the same lines , we offer a pottery/ceramics class with a low student–teacher ratio, especially if your child is just beginning.
And after you do choose your class, here’s a quick tip:
Put your young potter in play clothes! Clay itself doesn’t stain, but pottery making is messy! There’s going to be plenty of splishing and splashing and you can expect kids to come home wet and dirty. Perhaps keep some spare clothes in the car for your child to change into so that she has something nice and dry waiting for her.
We offer Pottery painting classes for kids.
They are fun, easier to master, and require less of a time commitment than their squishier counterparts. We also provide a more family-friendly experience if you’re just looking for an afternoon of family time or an activity to beat the winter blues.
Kids pottery painting classes (and the adult ones too) come in two basic flavors. There are in-studio pottery classes, where your kids pick out a piece of ceramic and paint it in a group (including drop-ins, scheduled classes and pottery painting camps). Or kids painting parties, especially popular for birthdays, where you reserve the studio and kids enjoy an afternoon of pottery painting.
So why pottery painting? Because pottery painting classes for kids are fun for just about everybody—for older kids and young ones too. They’re non-competitive, and there’s no right or wrong way to do them, meaning that kids are free to be creative and play without worrying that they’ve messed something up. And even though the day may be about pure, wacky fun, kids are still getting the same fine motor skills benefits they would from drawing or painting on paper, along with the satisfaction of creating some pretty cool stuff… like a piggy bank, a vase, or a nifty new way to decorate a shelf.
and psst…there’s something in it for you too
As a parent of young children, I’m not ashamed to admit that one of my favorite perks of kids pottery painting studios is that they’ll do all of the set-up and cleanup. It’s great to have a messy and creative afternoon out with my kids and not have to worry about gathering all of the supplies and then wiping paint off the table or the floor
the lowdown on how it works
For the uninitiated, here’s the typical step-by-step for most pottery classes for kids:
- First, the kids (or you and the kids) choose a pottery piece.
- Next, they’ll receive instruction from the teacher. They’ll learn how to gather their paint and supplies, and then how to use different techniques to create their masterpiece. If you or your child have questions while painting, be sure to ask the teacher!
- Next, it’s time to get to work painting!
- Once finished, the painted piece is put into the kiln to dry for about one week.
so kids paint what… pots?
The variety of pieces your child can paint are virtually unlimited. Of course, there are the usual plates, bowls and tea cups. But some of the more unique options include chopstick holders, colanders, piggy banks, tiles, vases, and even Christmas ornaments.
*And important to note! Most studios use only food-safe glaze so your child’s pieces will be safe to eat off of as well. If you have any doubt, ask!
my child is just learning…can he still paint?
Kids definitely don’t need to be expert at anything to enjoy pottery painting classes. Most studios in fact offer a little extra help, including stencils, stickers, carbon paper and tracing paper to help kids make their work look a little more polished, if that’s what they’re after.
What to Look for in a Pottery Painting Class?
We offer
- Our studio has a large and varied selection of pottery pieces. My little ones tend to be very picky (*ahem, particular) about the pieces that they choose, so having a large selection means that you won’t walk away empty handed with a disappointed child.
- Space: Few things will ruin a child’s pottery painting class faster than not being able to walk around without bumping into others (or worse, having someone bump into your child, causing him to drop his precious work of art!). Öur studio has enough room to work without having to scoot around other painters.
- Aprons/smocks: Our studio provide aprons or smocks, we have enough of the right size for your little one. While the paint is usually washable, you’ll still want smocks (and just to be sure, have your child dress in clothes that can get dirty.
- Organization: I’m the type of parent who loves things neat and organized, but for kids, having organized supplies at the right height is good too.
- Materials: Our studio will have ample supplies for everyone so that you can concentrate on having a fun afternoon out with your little one, without having to borrow supplies from other painters.
With all of the benefits and fun of pottery classes for kids, there’s no better time for your child to begin exploring the world of clay, kilns and glaze.