Think back to before quarantine, before COVID-19 meant anything to you – it was a nice start to 2020 for a little while there, right?! I used to take my girls to art classes every week – we would get messy, they would LOVE it, and they would be learning in such a fun an active way.

Unfortunately, most art classes are not running right now because of the outdoor restrictions but luckily so many of these small businesses have shifted to at home art kits, zoom classes, and recording instructions online. Here are a few of the ones we’ve tried over the past few months.

• Crafted by Me Art

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Stephanie focuses on process and sensory art classes for toddlers and preschool kids – but offers classes for all ages. I first ran into her because she actually was doing art classes in Nightingale Music School while we were doing music class! Oh the good ol’ days…

Why we love it:

• Stephanie’s classes are live zoom classes – with all the funny interactions from toddlers and silly interruptions along the way. It makes you feel like your back in an art studio. She has everything so well planned out, reads books while everyone’s getting settled and interacts with all of the kids like she is right there.
  • Her kits have everything you could need for class – and they are crafts my girls loved to make. They STILL go to their playroom and point at the Elsa Castles they made and want to keep adding jewels and stickers to them.
  • Local pick up of the art kits make it so easy, and if you miss a class (like we did – mom brain!) she has all of the instructions printed out so you don’t miss a beat.

What Crafted by Me Art has coming up: Looks like she’ll be kicking back off in October – make sure to give her a follow and look for the calendar in September.

You can find her at @craftedbymeart or https://www.craftedbymeartclass.com/

• Paint n Craft

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This process art studio has the goal of nurturing children’s raw creativity and free flowing imagination to help them create their own masterpieces – they do this with art kits, camps and classes!

Why we love it:

• Another small business making it easy with art kits that are all packed up and ready to play with!
  • Easy to follow youtube videos to take you and your kids along with the art kits.

What Paint n Craft has coming up: The studio is gearing up to start “Micro-Pods” which are groups of a maximum of 10 per class as well as outdoor and online live classes! I know I can’t wait to get my girls signed up.

You can find the studio at @paintncraft or https://paintncraft.com/

• Aya Art Go

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Aya’s art kits come with a few projects and an awesome detailed email with videos to help you along with the projects. Her kits are a little more advanced which makes it fun for me as a parent because I was actually LEARNING art forms as I helped my girls learn them as well.

Why we love it:

• The intentions that Aya sets before each of her classes and online recorded videos absolutely blew me away. It was such a good reminder for both me as a parent – about to help my kids make a mess of my house, and also for my kids to hear her words as they get started.
  • Aya focuses so well on the process and making sure that each kid hears that their project is awesome – even if it doesn’t look like hers in the video!

What Aya Art Co has coming up: Aya is kicking off another round of online classes right around Labor Day! She also offers monthly art box kits based on your interest and price range.

You can find Aya at @ayaartco or https://www.ayaart.co/

No matter how you get creative these days, I highly recommend it! It’s been a great way to have new and interesting fun with my girls while we’re spending more time at home – not to mention an amazing way to support these small businesses.

What about you and your family? How are you getting creative these days?