Rainy day or not, any type of art-related activity is the perfect go-to play idea for a toddler or younger child. After I spent some time guiding my own 3-year-old daughter through her very first (and very simple) arts and crafts activities, I realized how great it was for her to complete these types of tasks — and how happy, calm and fulfilled each messy craft project made her feel. This summer, I’m loving watching her expanding on her artistic side by exploring some of the many kid-friendly art studios that New Jersey has to offer!
Check out these child-friendly art studios with your little one to inspire their creativity
Bright Zebra Art Studio in Matawan, NJ
A family-friendly art studio in Matawan, Bright Zebra Art Studio has a flexible mommy-and-me class time schedule with super fun arts and crafts to make during each meeting. The mommy-and-me art class sessions run for up to 8 weeks and are offered on weekdays and weekends for 2-to-5-year-olds. There are various classes offered depending on what moms think might suit their little artist the most, from classic painting to mixed media techniques. Check out the more advanced classes like comics and fashion design as your kids grow and fine tune their skills!
Bright Zebra Art Studio
1070 Route 34
Matawan, NJ 07747
Hours: Please view schedule for class times
Doin’ Dishes in Montclair, NJ
There are over 150 ceramic pieces to choose from when you enter the Doin’ Dishes beautiful Montclair studio. But don’t worry — even though the ceramics are all very much breakable, bringing children here is strongly encouraged. This studio welcomes children of all ages to attend a ceramics painting session with their parent or caregiver. First, you’ll pick an unfinished ceramic piece, anything from mugs to vases to plates and more, ranging from $8 to $35. Then, let your little one go to town painting with brushes, stencils and sponges, and leave it to be glazed in the kiln. All the pieces need at least a week to be dry and ready, and your child’s masterpiece will be good to go for pickup.
Doin’ Dishes
50 Church Street
Montclair, NJ 07042
Hours: Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11PM-9PM
Wednesday: 12PM-7PM
Thursday: 11AM.-9PM
Friday: 11AM-11PM
Saturday: 10AM.-11PM
Just Bead Yourself in Westfield, NJ
Colorful, beautiful DIY jewelry awaits you and your little one at Just Bead Yourself in Westfield. This one-of-a-kind studio is a friendly, all-inclusive workshop where kids and parents can design and create their very own jewelry. together. The studio offers walk-in beading workshops as well as affordable kids’ jewelry making events on a weekly basis. During these events, jewelry making is often combined with sweet activities like afternoon tea with your child’s doll or a story time reading session. Keep in mind, registration and an enforced age restriction is required for these — ages 3 and up.
Just Bead Yourself
113 Central Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
Hours: Monday-Tuesday: By Appointment Only,
Wednesday: 1:30PM-5PM
Thursday: 1:30PM-6PM
Friday: 1:30PM-5PM
Saturday: 10:30AM-4:30PM
Sunday: 12:30PM-4:30PM
Gone Paintin’ Walk In Studio in Flemington, NJ
Gone Paintin’ Walk In Studio doesn’t require any type of planning, waiting, calling or stressing to enjoy some artsy fun. You simply show up with an excited child who’s ready to create, and allow the Flemington studio to take care of the rest. In addition to children’s teacher-led or walk-in canvas painting or ceramics class, Gone Paintin’ also offers a class for children ages 5 and under called “Paint Me a Story”, in which an instructor reads a story and the students paint something from the storyline.
Gone Paintin’
14 Commerce Street
Flemington, 08822
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 12:30PM-6PM
Thursday, 12:30PM-8PM
Friday: 12:30PM-6PM
Saturday: 12:30-9PM
Sunday: Closed
Drawing Room Fine Art and Sculpture Studio in Midland Park, NJ
Drawing Room Fine Art and Sculpture Studio in Midland Park is completely dedicated to helping little ones grow to love the arts. The studio has broken down three types of classes specifically for younger children, to better fit the needs of their particular age groups — the Mommy & Me class (2-4-year-olds), the Budding Artists class (4-6-year-olds) and the Art Experience class (5-11-year-olds). Enrollment is ongoing, and each hour-long class provides students with a large array of art materials to use, learn about and explore.
Drawing Room Fine Art and Sculpture Studio
27 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor
Midland, Park, NJ 07432
Hours: *Summer Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:30AM-3PM
