Like a lot of other parents, I feel guilty that I’m not spending enough time helping my kids explore their creativity.
Even though my husband is convinced I spend my day channel-surfing between Dr. Phil and any episode of Bravo’s Real Housewives, the truth is, like most work-at-home moms, my day is chock-full with arduous chores. Between doing mountains of laundry – you won’t believe how many shirts my son is capable of trashing in the span of a couple of hours – washing dishes, making dinners, keeping the kids from killing each other, helping with homework and baths and doing all the cleanup that goes along with it, I barely have a minute to squeeze in time to sit and color with my kids.
In any case, I’ve vowed to schedule a weekly hour of “art time” with my children to help them release their inner Picassos. If you’d like to do similarly, I’ve found classes on the Island where you and your kids can enjoy good old-fashioned one-on-one time together gluing and painting.
STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
The Staten Island Children’s Museum (SICM) at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center is a local gem that boasts a variety of interactive exhibits and artistic activities. At its daily walk-in workshops, you and your child can sit at a table covered in brown paper, great for doodling, and take part in the “craft du jour.”
Address
1000 Richmond Terr., Livingston.
Admission
$6 per person; children under 1 and members are free.
Hours of operation
Workshops are held on Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Age appeal
2 to 10.
What kids will go gaga for
The tactile experience of sculpting air-dry clay, creating three-dimensional works of art, like masks and puppets and kid-friendly scientific experiments.
Parent perks
No messy cleanup, and flexibility (during the three-hour window, you can show up any time, take your seats and get to work!)
Drawbacks
You’ll need extra shelves to display all your child’s creations.
Overall
You and your child will get a solid 20 minutes to immerse yourselves in an activity. And, if you have time to spare, there are loads of exhibits to explore.
Information
718-273-2060 http://www.statenislandkids.org.
CREATED BY YOU
If your child loves to paint anything he can get his little hands on, Created By You is the perfect outlet for him to unleash his artistic passion. The shop sells an assortment of ceramic pieces – including cupcake boxes; fairy sculptures; sports-themed banks; skateboards; hand-printed platters – which you and your child can paint with every shade of paint imaginable. Or you can pick from an assortment of mosaic pieces and create funky designs.
Address
332 New Dorp Ln., New Dorp.
Hours of operation
The front studio is open for walk-ins, seven days a week.
Admission
You pay for the price of the pottery you choose, plus an $8 studio fee, which includes all your paint, supplies, glazing and firing.
Age appeal
3 years and older.
What kids will go gaga for
Choosing their own pottery and paints and creating a keepsake for your mantle.
Parent perks
I’ll admit it: I enjoy going there probably more than my 5-year-old!
Drawbacks
There’s pottery everywhere; don’t bring your 2-year-old along. (My son, narrowly escaped breaking at least a dozen pieces.)
Overall
A great opportunity for kids to be creative.
Information
718-979-1841.
Bottom line: I love the fact that my kids can freely express their love for glitter and glue far away from my living room– Got any creative ideas, classes that are Mommy sweat-free zones, places where kids and parents simply enjoy creating art together? E-mail me at madijack@earthlink.net.
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