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Arts and crafts

Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

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Original poster

your thoughts appreciated - setting up art club for kids

56 replies

desperatehousewife · 17/02/2005 09:17

I am about to set up an art club for toddlers.

It will hopefully be held in a child friendly cafe twice a week (therefore decent coffee for mums). I want to make it a bit different from the usual type of thing on offer - I really want it to be fun for the mums/carers/dads too.

It will be an hour and a half at a cost of £5 per session. I provide all materials and do all the clearing up.

I will theme it each week and there will be a variety of mediums available to experiment with.

What for you would make it a bit different, or make it so you came away feeling you had got value for money?

I'd be really interested in your thoughts and advice.

This is a big step for me - been floundering being an at home mum for the past 3 years and am desperate to get out and do something again that is creative and inspiring.

Thank you in advance

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Original poster

desperatehousewife · 17/02/2005 19:35

ah right - good point - any one know anything about how you go about doing this? IS this necessary even though the parents/carers will be present the whole time and essentially taking responsibility for their own kids?

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Original poster

desperatehousewife · 17/02/2005 19:58

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Original poster

desperatehousewife · 17/02/2005 21:25

Do I need police/authority checks?

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Original poster

desperatehousewife · 17/02/2005 22:51

any of you night time crew got any thoughts on what would make a really good art club for toddlers (ages 2-4) - £5 for an hour and a half of kitch fun for mums and kids - no clearing up or glitter over the house because I will do it all for you! Held in cool kid friendly cafe.

Any thoughts from anyone?

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sobernow · 17/02/2005 23:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JaysMum · 17/02/2005 23:51

pretty sure as the organiser you would need to have a police check done.....just know that all memebers of our school PTA had to have the check done....and we are never left with children alone!!!

Best to be safe than sorry....also what about insurance?????

Dont want to put the frighteners on you.....just had a bad experience myself once at a sat morning club I organised.....kiddie slipped on juice that had been spilt on the floor.....kiddie broke arm....parents tried to sue!!!!!! All worked out OK in the end but it was a bit traumatic at the time.

stupidgirl · 18/02/2005 12:45

I think it would be a reassurance for parentsif you were police-checked, even if it's not strictly necessary(and I don't know whether it is or not).

I contemplated doing something very similar a few months ago (do a search of the archives, the relevant thread should be in there somewhere). I haven't got any further than the thinking stage, but I got loads of positive feedback.

Evesmama · 18/02/2005 21:15

fwiw, i think its fantastic idea and you have spurred me into doing something like this when i can go back'to work', we live miles away, so no competition..i would love to have somewhere to take dd like that so ill think youll be a huge success!!

Original poster

desperatehousewife · 19/02/2005 17:03

I really really appreciate all your positive feedback - I feel very encouraged. Thank you all so much

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Prufrock · 20/02/2005 14:36

Oh I wouldn't be looking for something perfect to display - we currently have a very odd looking (but to me perfect) hedgehog in pride of place on our mantlepiece and from the quality of workmanship I hope none of the adults at nursery helped And I agree that the process is more important - but I would want me and dd to learn new processes at an art class - which it seems we would haev done at the one in Boston, whcih sounds great. The one we went to was more along the lines of the reality desribed by roisin - I would much rather sweep up glitter/clean my kitchen table (one of which I do most days) than traipse to a cafe and pay £5 to supervise my own toddler doing stuff we already do.

ScummyMummy · 20/02/2005 15:41

I think this is a lovely idea but personally would think about aiming it at older children. I definitely wouldn't have paid £5 per child for an art class when mine were toddlers, I'm afraid. At that age mine weren't developmentally ready to be "taught" art. And scribbling, play doh, clay, painting, crafts etc were available free at home, nursery and toddler groups. They are willing and interested now and I'd be very happy to pay that sort of fee for an art class, partcularly if it offered the more unusual types of activity that sobernow mentions.

I imagine you'd get some interest for toddler classes if you find the right area with the right clientle though. Above a certain income bracket people don't seem to go to toddler groups anymore. I once had an absolutely horrendous morning with my boys at a pottery cafe in a very salubrious area of London. Packed full of toddlers shrieking and throwing clay at each other, whilst being either ignored or feted as the next Henry Moore by their carers. Horrible. And cost a fortune. I've not yet psyched myself up to go and pick up my own children's masterpieces! But that place must make a mint, so if you're in it for the money (and profit isn't a dirty word, y'know!) and can bear the day to day horror I think you may be onto something.

Enid · 20/02/2005 16:23

I actually do already run one - well, its starting properly in the summer but we've had taster sessions already. Afraid we have 'ditched' the toddler idea - not enough take up! The most popular age is 5-12s - then parents don't have to stay.

I would agree with posters that have criticised the price. I think it is very expensive for something that you could do at home with your kids - especially if you have to stay anyway. I also agree with those that have said that it is nice to have things to take away. Whatever others may think, parents really like to see something that a child has produced. We have a theme and everyone works together on it to produce their own painting/collage/model.

Ours is a three-hour drop-in session and children pay £1 an hour - but we have funding. How many children are you thinking of having? You will need assistance if you are having more than 10 - some parents will just chat over coffee rather than help their toddler - especially if they are paying for it.

Yes, you will have to be police checked, as will anyone who assists you. You will also need a child protection policy I would have thought.

Do you have contacts at the cafe - I would have thought a village hall would be cheaper/more likely to let you do 'messy' stuff.

Good luck!

Evesmama · 21/02/2005 10:19

id take dd to it and shes only 22 months..like someone said, its wonderfull when 'theyve' made it no matter what it looks like and gets them enjoying making things from an early age..good luck DH

Original poster

desperatehousewife · 21/02/2005 10:33

I am not aiming to 'teach' art as I am not qualified to do so. The service I'm offering hopefully will tick a couple of boxes for some types of mums:

those who are keen to get out and meet other mums, that isn't a playgroup scenario. Somtething that they can get stuck into with their kids and not feel like a loose limb on the edge!

Also to provide all the messy, and fun things that some mums just are not prepared to do at home either because they can't bear the mess or because they just aren't creatively minded in that way.

I would have sessions of no more than 10 toddlers.

I have taken my toddler to one locally for a term (charging £5 for 1.5hrs) and it was always full. My feeling is that in the right place with certain people, the price is ok.

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Enid · 21/02/2005 17:13

but I still think if they are the kind of mums that won't do it at home because it is too messy, they won't do it with their toddler anyway. They will want to chat to the other mums so you will need a couple of helpers won't you?

Also, I was thinking about this at the weekend. dd2's toddler group have an art and craft session every week (usually organised by me). Now they sit at the craft table for 30 mins MAX, then they are bored. Its fine at toddlers because they can run off and play with something else. I worry that 1.5 hours is too long to sustain a toddlers interest - but if you have been to one and it worked, and you think the price is right and the figures add up - then go for it.

Original poster

desperatehousewife · 21/02/2005 18:18

Hi Enid,

The one we went to was 1.5 hours - and I think it worked because there were 5 or 6 different 'stations' available of different acitivites so that they didn't get bored - junk modelling, marbelling, clay, painting and stamping. Then we would break for juice and a biccy, then a bit more art then a group activity and finally a story to calm things down. The time just flew by and everyone really enjoyed it!

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miranda2 · 21/02/2005 18:39

I think its a good idea, but a few thoughts:

I would personally be very attracted by the coffee shop setting - but how do I actually drink a hot cup of coffee while doing art with my pre-school child?? Can you get cups with lids? Or at least think about the logistics from the mums point of view - I know it would be most attractive to me if I could basically read the paper and drink tea, while keeping an eye out for my child but NOT having to get too involved in the actual crafty stuff myself.
Something to take home would definitley make it feel more 'worth' the money. Ds did a great xmas present for us at nursery - they got cheap plain white tiles, and glass painting pens from baker ross, and the kids drew a picture on the tile. they then put felt circles on the bottom, and it is a hot pot stand! Cheap and simple, but not the sort of thing you'd do at home, and a lasting thing - that would make it well worth the £5 I'd have thought.

philippat · 21/02/2005 19:40

not much point CRB checking yourself....

Enid · 21/02/2005 19:43

I CRB checked myself! You don't actually do the check yourself obviously. You just send your details and the CRB do it...doh.

Enid · 21/02/2005 19:45

another good idea is to buy a pack of wooden photo frames from Ikea (5 for £1) - let them decorate and paint, voila!

philippat · 21/02/2005 19:45

well yes... but what exactly do you do when they send back the notice telling you that you are a child molester? (not YOU obviously...)

Enid · 21/02/2005 19:46

dh, that sounds good - but (and I promise I am not trying to put you off!) if you have several 'stations' then you need people to 'man' them - will you use volunteers? Often hard to get people to volunteer if you are profit making...

Enid · 21/02/2005 19:48

They don't! They would refuse to licence me to work with children. If I am a child molester and I apply, they would refuse me clearance. If noone gets to hear about it I suppose theoretically I could get the job, but the police would keep a close eye on it - you have to declare the place you want to work too.

cazzybabs · 21/02/2005 19:52

Could you link it in with a story and what about multicultural art - you know read a story about a rabbit, then make rabbit masks etc. I would pay for this because (a) I am lazy and hate clearing up anf (b) lack ideas. AS a teacher who was run art clubs I would say don't stretch yourself- start simple say with 1 activity till you get more confidenent in dealing with all those children. There are loads of crafty ideas on the internet.

Original poster

desperatehousewife · 21/02/2005 21:34

cazzybabs, that's exactly what I want to do - run the theme throughout the session - starting with the book!

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