I have an idea - your thoughts needed, please

[stupidgirl]

After reading...I think it was Zebra's thread, about what arty activities she could do with her little one, I started thinking.

It's something that has only occured to me this morning and I've come onto the pc during the day, which I don't usually do (any excuse!) to lay down some ideas and get some opinions.

Lots of people were saying they hate the mess, and I've heard it said in the past (not on here) by some parents, that they don't 'do' art with their children because of the mess, or because of lack of confidence I guess.

I was thinking about setting up a childrens art group. Meeting for an hour or 2 once a week and basically giving them a free rein to make a mess!

Maybe would have a theme of some kind - something really basic like 'insects' or maybe using the style of a particular artist - it would depend on the age of the children. There would then be certain activities laid out, which the children could join in with, or do their own thing. There would be lots of different materials available, so the children would have the opportunity to experiment.

So, there's the idea, in a very rough form, now the questions

Would you send your child to a group like this? What age would you expect it to cater to? 'Pre-school' or older children?

What day and time would you want ti to be, would you, as a parent, want to stay with the child or drop them off and collect later? Would it bother you that I wasn't 'qualified' (have done art up to A'level, but only just scraped through with a pass!)?

Any other thoughts? Things I haven't thought about? Any ideas, positive or negative would be appreciated. Thanks.

well i take dd2 to a drop-in group at the same place my dd1 goes to nursery. they have arty things there (mainly pre-schoolers attend), and my dd2 loves the p[ainting table. she will spend the whole session there if i let her. they tend to follow themes, this 'term' its stories. we have had the hungrey catapiller where the kids were making catapillers out of tights and newpapers, and gluing circles together. also the 3 little pigs. it seems to follow the same theme as dd1 nursert classes next door.

i do encourage the arty side in my kids, they have a box full of craft bits, paints available, brushes, pens, pencils,chalks etc. some people think i'm mad, in fact some days the place is just a glitter palace.

anyway i'm waffling, i think the group is part of the sure start scheme, maybe worth conatacting them.

police checks?

Thinking of money - buying art materials each week could eat into profits, especially if some child knocks all the paint pots over. You would have to keep close tabs on expenditure and make sure parents pay you before the class. Also - will you run a drop in service (10 places, say, and first come first served) or will you offer a course of lessons and ask parents to pay for all of it up front?

Another idea - if you had transport, you could offer a mobile art class. You'd set up your equipment at specific events, leaving parents free to enjoy themselves for a couple of hours. Or see if you could offer the service to cinema- or restaruant-goers. For instance, a sunday afternoon art class in a cinema complex or restaurant, so parents could go off and enjoy a film or a meal while their children have their class. And parents wouldn't be too far away in case they were needed.

Hmmm, I think I'd prefer to do it as a drop-in thing, but then how do you restrict numbers? It wouldn't be great to have to turn people away.

Right, so what would you expect to pay for something like this?

great idea
if the kids are not with parents you would have to have police clearance
sorry just skim read this thread so apologies if i have got the wrong end of the stick

My DH is a dance teacher and he goes in to schools and runs a dance club or does an afternoon....this leads on to them joining (sometimes) a dance class - could you contact a school (or preschool or nursery or even Mums & Tots) and offer a free session and see how it goes.

Your local Training and Enterprise Council will be able to offer advise and you may also be able to contact WEETU (womens small Business help & advise - sorry you'll have to google it). The job centre may be able to point you in the right direction and the tax office may also be able to offer advise.

Contact you local childminding network - they may have some ideas for you (re costs,location, lenght of class, willing helpers etc)

Loads of luck

I've just opened my local paper to see someone offering art classes to children as well as adults, S-girl! She is an artist but whether she's actually qualified, I couldn't say. And it reminds me that I vaguely knew someone a few years ago who was very arty-crafty and she ran classes for little ones. I've just sent off an order to these folks Baker Ross who I discovered via Mumsnet.

Stupidgirl, still trying to get in touch with Blue Kangaroo lady - I know she recently moved, but her number's unobtainable. Don't think it should be a drop in thing though - you need to get them to pay termly in advance so that your costs are covered regardless of whether or not they turn up each week. I think we paid about £7 per 1 1/2 hour session - but then she never skimped on materials so we all felt it was good value.

Also meant to say - regarding Popsy's comment - I wonder if that was why all our sessions were accompanied by parents?