Lessons Learned

LESSONS LEARNED GET CRAFTY

By Drew Gieseke

With summer vacation officially here, parents are surely searching for ways to keep their kids engaged while school is out. Check out these metro area shops, organizations and programs to help inspire your child’s inner artist.

CRAFTING SUPPLIES

Get started by stocking up on supplies at locally owned retailers like Schaefer’s Hobby Shop. Family-owned and -operated for more than 70 years, Schaefer’s (schaeferhobby.com) is your trusted one-stop shop for hobby supplies. Meanwhile, inspiration always strikes at Bonboni Mercantile Co. (bonbonimercantile.com), a charming boutique where you may find colorful paper goods and crafting ideas. There’s also St. Louis Art Supply (shop.stlartsupply.com), an excellent supplier located in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood that carries a wide variety of watercolors, studio tools, inks and beyond, making it an excellent place to get started.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES

These interactive institutions offer plenty of artistic inspiration – plus many opportunities to craft on-site:

Artscope

Engaging instruction defines Artscope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering emotional well-being in children and using art to expand inclusivity through engaging activities. Register for a camp online or inquire about an art party package at artscopest.org/registration-1. During these fun events, kids are shown by a teaching artist how to create their own project, which they get to take home at the end of the event.

Artscope, 2929 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314-865-0060, artscopestl.org

The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum

This children’s museum has everything needed to foster creativity among young ones. Hands-on exhibits currently on display include “Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure,” which invites participants to explore the Alaskan wilderness and learn about Alaskan native life; “Sandcastle Beach,” open through July 4, which brings the ocean to the metro area; and “Kenya’s Kids,” open through Aug. 28, which provides an immersive experience that transports children to East Africa. There’s also MADE for Kids, a satellite location with a makerspace where kids can tap into their imaginations to tinker, explore and do more with clay, 3D printers, robots and all sorts of gadgets and gizmos.

The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum, 516 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, 314-822-8900, magichouse.org

Saint Louis Science Center

No matter where your kids’ curiosity takes them, this treasured institution with hands-on learning opportunities is where it all begins. Take your youngsters to the Discovery Room – fit for kids ages 6 months to 6 years old – to engage with toys, exhibits and activities that encourage creativity in the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) fields. Look out for the STEAM easel and opportunities to connect science with art.

Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, 314-289-4400, slsc.org