“Kids these days” and “back in my day” are not phrases that I use very often. Still, every once in a while, they pop into my head. Like when my eight-year-old gets upset that we forgot his water bottle before leaving on a quick errand. (“Back in my day, we were just dehydrated!”) Or when my toddler wants to play outside and I have to make sure I supervise him. (“Kids these days can’t go out alone without the risk of someone calling child services. My mother just opened the door, let me out…and whistled to call me back inside!”) And the amount of time our kids—including mine—spend on screens (or want to spend on them) is another “kids these days” moment for me.
As parents, we could always use more ideas for getting kids to put down their phones and tablets. So it’s a good thing there are plenty of opportunities in the Annapolis-area for them to use their hands in ways other than tapping and swiping. There are classes that you can do together or that they can enjoy on their own. Let’s give them a chance to build and create something tangible they can be proud of.
Blocks and Bots
If you’ve got a future engineer on your hands, put something in their hands. They can learn to build with toy blocks, wood, or robotics parts. And they’ll hone those math skills as they measure, create, and code. They’ll be STEM superstars after these classes!
Little Engineers: Constructive Play
Age: Toddlers and preschoolers
Location: Glen Burnie Library, 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
Day/Time: Every other Tuesday, 10:30 to 11:30 AM
Price: Free!
Kids Workshops at The Home Depot
Age: 5 to 12 years old
Location: All Home Depot locations
Day/Time: First Saturday of the month. You can register online and arrive anytime between 9 AM and noon. Earlier is better to ensure your child gets a kit.
Price: Free!
White Belt Robotics and Programming at iCode School
Age: 8 to 11 years old
Location: 1034 State Route 3 N., B, Gambrills, MD 21054
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 3:45 to 5:45 PM, or Saturdays, 12:15 to 2:15 PM.
Price: $59 fee and $289 monthly tuition
Sketch and Sculpt
It’s hard to picture Michelangelo as a four-year-old, but if these classes were around in the late-15th century, he probably would have loved them! Everyone has to start somewhere. Give your youngins the chance to express their creativity and bolster their skills. Soon you’ll have your own Renaissance kid!
Free Family Arts Workshops at Chesapeake Arts Center
Age: All ages (caregivers must be present)
Location: 194 Hammonds Ln, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225
Day/Time: Third Saturday of the month, 12:30 to 2:30 PM.
Price: Free!
Paint Your Own Pottery at Providence Pottery & Arts Studio
Age: No age minimum. Children under 16 need an adult to accompany them.
Location: 40 Church Rd, Arnold, MD 21012
Day/Time: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Walk-ins accepted until 3 PM.
Price: Walk-ins are $10 per person for a two-hour time slot. Plus the cost of a piece to paint, which can range from $5 to $82.
Parent/Child Art Classes at Artworks Studio
Age: 2 to 5 years old with an adult
Location: Inside Thrive Gym Annapolis, 451 Defense Hwy, Annapolis, MD 21401 and Thrive Gym Arnold, 1244 Ritchie Hwy, Arnold, MD 21012
Day/Time: Second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10:15 AM and Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 10 AM.
Price: $18 for the class, $28 to participate in open play after.
Paint Your Own Pottery at Pottery Patch Studio
Age: All ages
Location: 10735 Town Center Blvd, Dunkirk, MD 20754
Day/Time: Thursday to Saturday, noon to 7 PM.
Price: All-inclusive with cost of pottery piece, typically $20-$30.
Paint Your Own Pottery at Pic N Paint Pottery
Age: All ages, with 12 and under supervised by an adult.
Location: 3020 Mountain Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
Day/Time: Tuesday to Wednesday, 11 AM to 6 PM. Thursday to Friday, 11 AM to 8 PM. Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Sunday, noon to 6 PM. The last seating is 1 hour before closing. If there are no painters at the last seating, they will close.
Price: Per piece. The average price per child is $24 and for an adult the average is $35 to $40. Prices can range up to $129.
Little Artists: Process Art at Glen Burnie Library
Age: Toddlers and preschoolers
Location: 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, MD 21060
Day/Time: Second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 10:30 to 11:30 AM.
Price: Free!
Cultivate and Cook
Let your kids get into nature through gardening, cooking, and even helping out our feathered friends. They’ll learn how we can help the environment and how the environment helps us! It won’t be long until they’re running their own farm-to-table restaurant—or at least cooking up something delicious for you!
5 Steps to a Native Garden at Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library
Age: 11+, including adults
Location: 269 Hillsmere Dr, Annapolis, MD 21403
Day/Time: Saturday, March 21, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Price: Free!
Cooking Classes at Taste Buds Kitchen
Age: There are classes and camps for anyone 2 to 17 years old
Location: 800-D Abruzzi Dr, Chester, MD 21619
Day/Time: See their website for all options.
Price: Varies by class, but ranges from $25 to $49 per person.
Winter Water for Birds at Homestead Gardens
Age: Geared toward ages 5 to 10, but children younger or older may enjoy the activities as well.
Location: 522 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146 and 743 West Central Ave, Davidsonville, MD 21035
Day/Time: Sunday, February 22, 1 to 2 PM in Severna Park, 2 to 3 PM in Davidsonville
Price: $15
Make and Mend
Sewing, crocheting, weaving, and other fiber arts are so underrated. With fast fashion, it’s easy to take for granted how our clothes and other fabrics are made. Luckily, these skills are becoming more popular, not only because they’re useful but also because they are the perfect mindful activity. Have your kids try out some of these classes to enhance their wardrobe or repair their clothes to make them last longer.
Friends and Fiber Arts at Odenton Library
Age: Kids (6-10), Teens (11+), and Adults
Location: 1325 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD 21113
Day/Time: Second Monday of the month, 4:30 to 6:00 PM
Price: Free!
Sewing Lessons at Clapper Creations
Age: 7 through adult
Location: Crownsville, MD
Day/Time: Weekends
Price: $60 for a two-hour lesson, $30 for an additional hour or additional student
Tweens Learn to Sew at The Quilting Parlour
Age: 10 to 13
Location: 2110 Priest Bridge Dr, Suite 12, Crofton, MD 21114
Day/Time: Sunday, March 1, 1 to 4 PM
Price: $75, plus $5 for kit purchased from instructor
A Bit of Everything
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for your kiddos to do all sorts of projects, check out these spots. They have classes and activities for almost every creative persuasion.
Craft Activities at Be with Me Playseum
Age: Any age, but probably best for kids 1 to 11
Location: Near Macy’s at Annapolis Mall, 2002 Annapolis Mall Dr, Annapolis, MD 21401
Day/Time: Open Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, 1 to 6 PM
Price: $15 per person, free for children under 1. Crafts require the purchase of Playseum Dollars. Activities vary in price from $3-$30 with the average activity costing $5.
Craft Activities at Play Street Museum
Age: Best for kids 1 to 8, but older and younger can participate.
Location: 560 Ritchie Hwy, Suite F, Severna Park, MD 21146
Day/Time: By reservation Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Crafts are weekdays only.
Price: Admission is $15.50 per child ages 1-8. Older and younger children are free only when accompanied by a paying sibling.
Classes at Maryland Hall
Age: Kindergarten through teens
Location: 801 Chase St, Annapolis, MD, 21401
Day/Time: Varies.
Price: Varies from $50 to $250 for ongoing courses.
All of these classes will get your kids out of the house, using their hands, and creating something they can see, hold, and show off. No matter whether it’s a plant, a pinch pot, or a robot, it will be something for your family to admire and be proud of. Whether they’re toddlers still learning how to hold a paintbrush or teens who are getting ready to leave the nest, they can learn skills that will be useful for the rest of their lives.
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