Category Archives: Kids

Beyond Four Walls

Monday, September 7, 2020

“Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.-Erin Kenny

There have been some silver linings in this Pandemic, one of which is more outside time (baring sweltering days here and there). It’s been amazing to see people out and about so often; playing, walking, biking and through this new path for CReATE STUDIO, creating.

Our spirits are much bigger than the confines of our bodies and minds. We can stretch beyond our four wall experiences and into the outdoors where possibility, creativity and imagination lie.

I loved this quote about not children bouncing off the walls if we take away the walls. That was my antidote during melt down moments when my girls were younger. Now that I have some hindsight on parenting and the things that worked, getting outdoors was hands-down the best tried and true tactic. It’s magical.

I am thrilled that the studio can now tap into that magic with outdoor creating that comes to you. Get your kids outside. We’ll be waiting there with hands-on eco art fun to explore.
Contact us to book a gather session. Let’s get outdoors!

What Kids Make

Monday, August 24, 2020

Creating things shows us who they are.

Freedom happens when they have time and space to use their own imagination to make what they desire.

This Barbie Room is really a few sheets of paper, a little bit of fabric, a box or two, and some pieces of plastic. The pieces come together harmoniously to create an amazing little space that sure I’d like to relax in. We can see what the creator imagined.

My heart sings at the sight of creations like this, seeing what kid get inspired to dream up. I feel like I am seeing them in a most authentic state where the only person they truly need to impress is themselves.

Your kids will impress you and surprise you and after all is said and done you’ll know them that much more.
Visit our other blog posts to see some of the amazing projects kids make.

Jemma W.
Founder & Owner

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This tip gets kids creating at home.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Kids need to create. It’s part of how their brain works.

This tip gets your kids creating at home-fast. Save the various packagings for foods, packages that are delivered and the items you buy. Save T.P. rolls, pen caps and even printer paper that didn’t print right. Need more ideas for things from around the house? Our donation list is a great start.

Recyclables are awesome materials for your kids to reuse by creating with them. They help ideas come to life. They may be playing with all their favorite figures and decide they need a time machine. They can make one with some of the recycled supplies you’ve collected! They may need a room, a car, a bed. All kinds of things become possible when they have these raw materials on hand.

Using the tissue box or the paper towel role as they play amps up their thinking and creating to a new level. Creating with the random things around them is brain food for kids!

So save packaging bits and pieces as they come through your home. It’s a simple tip with amazing benefits for your kids brains!

Today is a gift

Monday, May 18, 2020

So let’s make one.

Whenever I feel uncertain about things I look to quotes for comfort. There is always something that speaks to brighter days that lifts me up. Today as I pondered some of my favorite quotes, I came to this jewel by Eleanor Roosevelt. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That is why they call it the present.”

She always knew what to say and this quote is no exception. As we navigate this uncharted time I appreciate her poignant quote. In fact, it inspired me to think win win. Here’s an opportunity to enjoy the gift of today and make a gift today for someone else! That’ll be three gifts on one. The gift of the day itself, the gift of giving and the gift of receiving a gift!

One of the things I loved to do as a child was to make gifts for my parents and friends. Today my fellow parents, your kids can too. The feeling from creating for someone will have a lasting effect of goodness and the day will have proven itself to indeed be a gift.

Creating is such a useful avenue of self expression. Eleanor shared her creativity with us in the way she used her words and more. I hope her words inspire your family to. Make this day a gift to share.

Jemma W.
Owner

I’m Reading

Monday, February 24, 2020
The Gift of Failure

I’m reading this book on the recommendation of my friend. I wanted to know how the author, Jessica Lahey was going to talk about the benefits of failure for kids. My kids are older but we have lots of kids coming to the studio and more over, I wanted to know how this idea might connect with our CReATE ON YOUR CAMPUS programs on school campuses.

I am nearly finished with the book. I am so glad to see that our philosophy for kids is in alignment with her message. We notice how confidence and successes are gleaned as a natural consequence when kids make stuff. Trial and error are part of the process of creating things. Ideas don’t always translate to physical form but kids don’t mind when they set the pace. They are too busy being engaged in what they are making to think about problems.

Among her many subject points, Jessica talks about creating opportunities for kids to find autonomy in the things they do. That’s another benefit of our free-style way. Autonomy is born into our self guided setting as kids create from their own imaginings.
I am enjoying her book and inspired for my own parenting of young adult daughters. I also appreciate the validation of what I feel is so important for kids, to do the things they can in their own way and for themselves.

Jessica will be speaking through our local school district, Las Virgenes Unified School District on March 18th. Click here is you want to learn more.

-Jemma W.
Owner
(photo credit jessicalahey.com)

Art Heals

Saturday, November 2, 2019
Creating art is part of the conversation

I am so excited to take CReATE STUDIO on a road trip to CMATO next Sunday November 10th.
The Museum’s NEW instillation series theme “Empathy, Beneath The Surface” thoughtfully considers the one year anniversary of The Wolsey Fires and Borderline Shooting through art. The conversations are sure to be ongoing and bring people together through works that center on thought, connection and healing. After all, art heals.
We’ll be bring a family fun component that invites kids and their families into the Empathy conversation through a hands-on project exploration- making rustic dolls. Using rustic materials and fabrics kids can dress their doll characters with inspiration from artist, Simphiwe Ndzube, one of the seven featured artists whose work with second-hand clothing is woven into his work.
As part of this family event we are asking for donations of gently used clothing in partnership with CMATO to donation to local organizations in support of those in need. We look forward t sharing this creative Sunday with you.

Clothing donations can be brought to CReATE Studio this week and next and marked CMATO to distinguish them from our other donations.

Make a Haunted House

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Perfect Halloween fun.

I love October. The feel of the air, the smells of fall, the deep colors and of course Halloween. This year I felt inspired to create a workshop series that grew from the kid in me who loves October the way I do now.
This October we’re Creating Haunted Houses during our workshop series each Friday.
The goal is for each participant to create a 12″x 12″ haunted house that matches their love of Halloween and all things fall in a whimsical way from rooftop to ground floor.
This includes wall paper, spider webs, funky furniture they make and the zany characters of they develop. All materials are included.
If your kids love halloween they are going to have the best time making their own Halloween House to savor every halloween or all year long. Learn more and sign up through the Creating Haunted Houses link.
I can’t wait!
Jemma W. Owner

Parent’s Night Out!

Sunday, September 1, 2019

That’s what we’re talking about.

Every second Saturday of the month we host a Parent’s Night Out event at CReATE!
It’s a Win/Win experience because kids spend an evening at the studio, creating to their hearts content while their parent’s go out on the town for a date night!

Adriane Burckert hosts these awesome nights and always has a special seasonal project option for the kids to do. The kids are encouraged to bring a sack dinner or eat before hand but Adriane has heathy snack options on hand as well, after all using all that brain power to create means kids need some extra fuel for their bodies.
At $26 per child or $8.60 per hour the price for our evening is better than any sitter would be.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 14th from 6-9pm and book your child for a Parent’s Night Out with us while you try that restaurant you’ve heard so much about.

Online scheduling

Welcome to Club CReATE!

Monday, August 26, 2019

A subscription membership program for our community.

We are over-the-moon excited about our new Club CReATE Monthly Subscription program which launches September 1st!
With unlimited drop-in creating sessions for kids, our monthly subscription membership program is the perfect way to bring more free-style art to your child’s life all month long, month after month! That means your kids can pop-in for an hour, 2 hours, 30 minutes or whatever time your family schedule permits to have creative time to draw, paint or build their ideas and imaginings.
The benefits of creative freedom are explained in this article from pbs.org and I couldn’t have said it better myself though in short, kids need creative opportunities to develop their whole, healthy selves. An important added benefit of time spent at CReATE STUDIO is independence. That’s kids learning to do for themselves. A skill they’ll carry into adulthood.
At CReATE kids get all these benefits and you get one more. You need not worry about the mess that creativity can unleash because it all happens with us!
Starting September 1st we’ll have easy online registration for our automatic monthly subscription on our Happenings Page.
$19.95 for a single membership / $38.95 for two
We can’t wait to share more creative time with your kids.
We want to spend lots of creative time with your kids and your family.
Let’s create together!
Jemma W.
Owner

Great idea!

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Loving this clear carry-all tote.
As Dr Wayne Dyer once said, “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.”
I think that includes plastic bedding package sleeves.