Creative Things for Kids to Do

If money is not a huge concern, check out Pint-Size Picasso classes in the Arden area. I found the classes to be pricey but many fellow moms love it. Also, Busy Bees Studio.

A lot of the local museums have occasional arts & crafts programs. Crocker Art Museum is one, as is the Discovery Museum. Info is on their websites. Many times they are free. Similarly, the local libraries often have different creative programs - check out the Sacramento County library website for schedules.

We have an easel set up at home with crayons and markers and finger paints. I also make playdough for the kids (often scented so they can explore their sense of smell) and on some days, I take out cookie trays and put shaving cream into them so they can have fun making shapes and exploring texture. Clean up is easy because the shaving cream is basically soap. If you have a chance, look at the PBS website for "A Place of Our Own" - there are a lot of creative ideas there for home-based arts and crafts projects.

It depends on if you want to spend money or not. There are great indoor places like jumphouses (Bounce Spot and Pump It Up) and other indoor playareas (All About Fun and Funtastic) that charge an admission fee of about $6-8. As for anything that's free and indoors (because of the weather), you'd have to get creative in your house. There are internet sites like kids.com and SacMomsClub.com and other sites that can give you creative arts and crafts ideas (do a Google search for kids activities or kids crafts). Or call Michaels or one of the crcaft stores to see if they're having an event. Or get a bunch of easel paper and get out the paints or playdough! Have fun!

hi, there
I am very creative myself and so my kids pick it up too. For my business I do all kinds of vintage items. So I have clay, beads, yarn all over the place. Sometimes it gets too much and I take them to Michaels. On Saturdays morning they have classes for half an hour, which is perfect for me and enough to shop for things I need for my work.
i live in Davis and over here there is tons of classes and parties. I am doing them once in a while to at my house too.
we have explore it museum which fun too. and kids can experiment with something and create. good luck

In the spring/summer look for the Art Cart in Rosevill. It's free and has fun creative art projects each week. It travels to different parks. Look in the rosevill parks and rec. book.
You might try the parks and rec. nearest you.

There are often fliers at the Sierra 2 Center advertising art classes and other things for young children. Check out the bulletin board by the Great Beginnings Child Care entrance. You can also pick up a free copy of Sacramento Parent magazine there (around the corner by the bathrooms), and it includes a calendar of local events as well as ads for local places to do stuff.

Also in Davis besides the Exporit Science Center on Second street, my grandsons' favorite outdoor places are Central Park (Third and B Streets)with water spouts they can run through and the big wooden play structure behind the Davis Art Center at Covell and Poleline Road. The Art Center has art, dancing and craft classes for all ages.

I am always looking through magazines for easy, fun crafts for my grandchildren and I to do together. My grandchildren--three girls and one boy--are two eleven year olds, an eight year old and a 30 month old. We have made placemats (which they love to use!), planted flowers, grown vegetables from seeds, used Elmer paints to make shelves colorful, etc.

My grandchildren love to be outside so will sometimes pack a lunch, go the park and I let them run off some of their energy!

I hope these suggestions, help...my grandchildren never say they are bored!

M. J (Nana)

My kids love Color Me Mine in Folsom. Color Me Mine is a paint your own ceramics studio. Kids and adults can pick from a variety of different ceramic pieces (mugs, platter, cups, etc) and paint them there in the studio. The kids get to pick what color paints they want to use and just be creative, your daughter will love it!
www.colormemine.com