The ActivityHero Team is based in California and includes staff members and bloggers who love to share what they know about parenting, keeping kids active, choosing just the right camps and classes, and running successful businesses for kids.
Many schools are shifting to emphasize the core subjects like reading and math. Because of this, enrichment programs (i.e. art) are getting left behind. And while some believe art education amounts to just basic finger painting or coloring books, shifting this mindset for future generations is key.
Join us for a brief but informative chat with Ginhee Rancourt, CEO and Founder of Young Art.
In this podcast, the importance of art for kids is discussed. How does art spark innovative problem solving? What does the future of design thinking behold? Answers to these questions (and more) are also covered.
Simple activities that support creativity and teach an appreciation of art contribute to your kid’s development right now with many added future benefits.
Did you know? Kids involved in art are:
4x more likely to be recognized for their academic achievement
4x more likely to participate in a math and science fair
3x more likely to win an award for school attendance
Americans for the Arts and Vans Custom Culture
Our Podcast Guest
Ginhee Rancourt founded Young Art and over the past seven years has worked to provide communities with a vibrant outlet for creativity as a children’s drop off art studio, activating experiential spaces in shopping centers and online. Making art enrichment and education accessible to kids is at the core of their values.
Discover more art classes, camps, and activities for your child at ActivityHero.com
Whether or not you are going trick or treating this year, there are a ton of spooktacular Halloween activities that can be done in-person at holiday themed camps or at home to get in the haunting spirit.
Carve out some fun this October to bake creepy cupcakes, paint spooky creatures, learn candy science, and more! Here’s a round up of the best kid-approved classes, crafts and on-demand activities for Halloween.
With a small 4:1 student/teacher ratio, Cindy Art Studio provides personalized instruction on fun cartoon drawings of Wolfman, Bride of Frankenstein, Witch, and Dracula!
Join Jeanette Airen Performing Arts Studio for a super fun Halloween Dance Party class. Wear your Halloween costume and learn a short Halloween dance combo. Or, sign up for singing and theatre games!
Sneak learning into hands-on spooky STEM experiments. Make pumpkins puke with Discover Science Center or learn about candy science with Kidscapades, become a Mad Scientist with Young Art, and more!
Get ready for a haunting night with classes on-demand any time to fit your schedule! Mix up glow-in-the-dark slime and make Halloween crafts – scarecrows, pumpkins, bats, and more!
Social distancing remains present in our new normal. As we head into the holiday season, let’s strike a balance between safely revisiting older favorite customs and finding new family traditions this Halloween.
Written by Sarah Antrim
Halloween means a lot of things: carving pumpkins, decorating the house, dressing up. But for kids, Halloween means one thing — CANDY.
Trick-or-treating is clearly the highlight of this holiday for most kids, I know it was for me when I was that age! To make the most of the holiday, here’s a few tips to keep in mind when getting ready to head out for treats:
1. Let the kids pick their costumes.
As adorable as a family with coordinating costumes can be, the kids usually don’t get quite as excited if they can’t pick their own costumes. This is the one chance of the year that kids get the freedom to be whoever and whatever they want! As a compromise, you could consider having the kids dress up with the family for pictures then change into their desired costume before trick-or-treating. And heck, if you’ve still got a little one toddling around, go ahead and milk that for all it’s worth!
2. Research neighborhoods and events ahead of time.
Since Halloween falls on a weekday this year, many towns have events planned for the weekend or days prior to the actual holiday. Contact your village hall and local businesses to see what sort of special events they have planned. Get some mileage out of that costume and make sure the kids get their candy fix!
3. Prepare for tired legs.
Bring a wagon, toddler carrier, or be prepared to be put on piggy back duty; especially if you have a kids of different ages. Be a good sport–Halloween is supposed to be fun, kids are supposed to wear themselves out!
4. Remember that it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Nothing can ever be perfect–they may not get their favorite candy bar, the weather might be yucky, the doorbells might not be answered–and that’s okay. Play games along the way, like who can guess what the next piece of candy is coming next, to make the experience more fun for everyone.
5. Hold off on the sugar overdose.
It’s tempting to tear into that sack of goodies as soon as it starts to pile up, but try to get them to hold off for a bit. Sugar highs are followed by crashes which will not make the night enjoyable for anyone. Making sure everyone has a hearty meal or big snack before hitting the pavement can help curb the urge to indulge. Just remember to be reasonable, having a few pieces throughout the night won’t hurt anyone!
Remember to keep it light-hearted and fun. Kids don’t want the perfect holiday, they just want a real one. So relax, have fun, and stay safe!
Have you watched every family-friendly movie on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus? Memorized every scene of Trolls World Tour? Eaten your body weight in popcorn? No judgement here – it’s been a long year!
Here are five alternatives to Family Movie Night at home that are just as fun!
Take an Art Class together:
There is something therapeutic about drawing or painting after a long week of work or school, even if you aren’t really an artist! On-demand art classes fit into your schedule and are fun for the whole family.
What’s better than a weekend night decorating cookies or cupcakes? Not only is it super fun, but you get a tasty reward at the end. Make it even more entertaining by creating a theme or game to your decorating – whether it’s Disney characters or seasonal holiday themes. On-demand cooking or baking classes are a good way to learn new skills together in the kitchen, too.
Change the perspective that science is all academic and boring. Getting hands-on with STEM projects at home with your kids can be fun for all ages. Instead of learning about weather science in a book, create clouds in a jar and queue the “wow, that’s so cool”. On-demand STEM activities are available for most ages and can be enjoyed as a family.
Roll up your sleeves and spend some quality time building something together. Working on a project as a family is a great way to connect and have conversations with your kids in a low-pressure environment. The best part is you will have a tangible item to remind you of the time you spent together.
If you have movie fatigue, break out the craft supplies. Instead of watching your kids favorite characters sing on-screen for the 2,536th time this year, create puppet versions of Poppy and Branch and have your kids put on a show! Or, use the time together to decorate for any seasonal holiday or make special gifts for family.
National Coloring Day is September 14th. Set aside time to relax and color together! Coloring is a fun activity for kids to pass time while also being a great stress reducer and artistic outlet.
Did you know?
Coloring lowers stress and anxiety.
Researchers and art therapists agree that coloring in coloring books has many therapeutic benefits.
“A 2005 study (and a 2012 replication study) concluded that people who colored in mandalas—complex geometric figures frequently seen in Hinduism and Buddhism—experienced lower levels of anxiety than people who simply colored on a blank piece of paper. The study concluded that like meditation, the act of coloring patterns can let the brain rest, decrease anxiety, and encourage mindfulness.” 1
Mental Floss
Poly Olbion by Michael Drayton
Coloring books were originally created for adults.
The earliest variation of coloring books is from as early as 1612. A long poem, Poly-Olbion by Michael Drayton, featured illustrations of maps and fun creatures. It became popular for readers to color the illustrations themselves. However, coloring books became popular soon after mostly as a way to practice art skills like watercolor.2
The average child wears down 720 crayons by their tenth birthday.
The biggest crayon is called Big Blue, and it is 1,500 pounds and 15 feet long.3 How long would it take you to use all of Big Blue?
Colored pencils can last your whole life.
If you use colored pencils often, you may find yourself restocking them often. However, there have been colored pencils discovered that were over 100 years old and they could still be used perfectly!4 If you’re looking for long-term pencils, invest in high quality ones that won’t dry out or become faded over time.
People once used bread as erasers.
Before the eraser was invented, people used tablets of rubber or wax. To remove ink from parchment or papyrus, they used bits of rough stone to rub it off. In Japan, they used soft bread. The eraser was invented by an English engineer in 1770 who accidentally picked up a piece of rubber instead of breadcrumbs and found that it worked well to erase.5
Celebrate National Video Games Day on September 12th. While the date and origin of this holiday are unclear, many Americans have decided to designate this day for video games. Why pass up the opportunity to celebrate with them? Here are three ways to enjoy honor this holiday.
Play from home.
Take a cue from gamers all over the world in 2020. Last year, millions turned to video games to have fun and stay connected during the pandemic. According to MarketWatch, video games became a bigger industry than film and North American sports combined due to the pandemic.1
Go old-school.
While video games are now dominated by at-home gaming consoles like the XBox or Playstation, now is a great time to revisit the classics. Gather friends and visit an arcade to bask in the nostalgia of timeless games like Pac-man, Space Invaders, and Pong.
Create with your favorite video games.
Games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Animal Crossing have exploded again in popularity this year. These games all have something in common: the creative element. Within these games, players have the freedom to create their own mini-games, whether it’s roleplaying, designing your own worlds, or even coding your own add-ons. Collaborate with other players to use video games as a creative outlet, or even learn to code your own games!
Manage back-to-school exhaustion and pandemic anxiety with grace.
Here are simple techniques to help us all get back on track using meditation from our friends at LoveHero.
Is it possible that we’ve all forgotten how tiring the first week of school or just visiting the office after being away for so long, really is? The 18-month long new normal’s transition back to the old and connecting with classmates and co-workers in real life has been much harder than expected for some of us. You are not alone.
1. Start with movement
For most young kids, attempting to sit in meditation without any exercise first will be a challenge. Kids understand energy. And, energy can be used as a vehicle to meditate. Start with 5-10 minutes of energetic exercises such as jumping jacks, scissor jumps or running in-place.
2. Use positive language
While exercising, maintain a positive attitude that will get kids thinking about their ability to monitor their emotions and tune into positive feelings. Affirmations such as “I am positive!” work great for this.
3. Use breathing to channel the energy
The next step is to start slowing down the intensity of the exercises and to start replacing them with breathing. Breathe with your belly holding the breath longer and making the inhales and exhales deeper each time.
4. Sit down, breathe and focus on the heart
The other thing that kids understand well is positive emotions. In a sitting position do a few more rounds of breathing, but this time, with the hands on the heart, imagine this energy you’ve built up turning into rays of green light that are shooting from the heart.
5. Become a hero
What good is love if you don’t share it? Kids love being heroes. Use the light shooting from your heart to send love to someone or something that might need it. It can be a group of people (frontline healthcare workers), a person you love, a pet or a plant. Become a hero using your heart to uplift others.
6. Sit in stillness
Finally, sit in silence and stillness for 30 seconds or longer if you can. It helps to play soothing music at this point. Each child is different, so start small and build your way up.
To practice more yoga and mindfulness, find a live instructor in-person or online from home with LoveHero and other yoga options on ActivityHero today.
Stress and anxiety is common for both children and adults. Butterflies before a piano recital or feeling nervous about a big test is a normal reaction to a stressful situation or event. As parents, we can’t eliminate stress in our children’s lives – only teach them how to manage it.
Triggers that can cause stress in children include major life changes such as moving or divorce, family financial problems, peer pressure or bullying, body changes, and worrying about schoolwork. Helping our children form coping strategies at a young age will set them up for long-term success as they encounter education, career, social, and financial decisions.
During 2020, the number of children expressing stress increased with schedule disruptions, school shutdowns, social isolation, virtual learning, and health concerns. According to a parent survey on ActivityHero, 86% of children reported the feeling of anxiousness.
Without healthy stress management, chronic anxiety could lead to behavioral and physical symptoms in children, according to MedLine Plus.
Decreased appetite or other sudden changes in eating habits
Frequent Headaches
Nightmares or Sleep disturbances
Upset stomach or vague stomach pain
Sudden changes in behavior that are out of character
New or recurring fears (fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of strangers)
Clinging, unwilling to let you out of sight (separation anxiety)
Not able to control emotions; Aggressive or stubborn behavior
Unwilling to participate in family or school activities
Stress management for Kids and Teens
Here are 5 ways to help your child manage every day anxiety and take healthy habits into adulthood:
1) Good Sleep Routines
Sleep is essential for your body and mind to recover and reset from the day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 9-12 hours of sleep a night is recommended for 6- to 12-year olds. Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Set a schedule and bedtime routine for consistency. For younger children, this could include a “wind down” time of bath and story time. For teens, limiting screen time and gaming before bed can support more restful sleep.
2) Physical Exercise
At least 60 minutes of exercise a day can have many health benefits for children, including relieving stress. This is a healthy habit for the whole family – hiking, biking, surfing, or other recreational activities are all great ideas to enjoy together.
Other fun, non-competitive exercise and fitness classes for your child to manage stress (and burn off extra energy), include:
Yoga: Online stretching and yoga classes are a relaxing activity for all ages. In yoga classes for kids as young as 4, students learn basic yoga movements and body awareness.
Dance Party: Toddlers to teens can enjoy a fun dance party, connecting in a safe environment led by an engaging instructor. Many dance and movement classes have fun themes and do not require any previous dance experience.
Karate:Introductions to martial arts classes online do not require previous experience, and can be a confidence builder for children.
We’re here to help your child become even more engaged, strong and optimistic during this unique time. We know that grit, resilience and laughter have never been more important than right now.
In addition to exercising your body, scheduling relaxing activities can also relieve mental stress. Art, music, journaling, and other relaxing hobbies all have therapeutic benefits. The most important reminder is to make sure there is zero pressure – these should be purely for fun!
Art Classes for Kids: Art can be a constructive outlet for children of all abilities to express emotions and relieve anxiety. Drawing, painting, clay modeling, and crafts are all great activities.
In addition, any relaxing hobby your child enjoys can help them socialize and unwind. Cooking, theatre & drama, music, LEGO or even making slime could be good options!
If your child is starting to feel overwhelmed, teaching them breathing exercises can help them work through their feelings. Taking deep breaths, visualizing themselves in a calming place, and listening to relaxing sounds are all strategies to help them refocus.
“We started using online classes on Activity Hero after schools closed and I was furloughed. My son especially enjoys Vibras Meditation (now LoveHero). Positive messages and empowerment are so good for kids right now (and always I guess.) The instructor is great and we will continue even after things move to the new normal.”
As parents and adults, modeling self-care and positive thinking is probably the hardest habit to implement. However, our children observe and absorb more of our adult stress than we realize. Some strategies include:
Talk with your children about how you have dealt with stressful situations and encourage dialogue about how they are feeling. Tip: Conversations can be more natural if you engage when your child doesn’t have to look directly at you – riding in a car, walking the dog, or sitting on the beach.
Be mindful of your reactions; take a deep breath before responding to stressful situations.
Avoid negative thinking; Model behaviors of self-care instead of self-doubt for your children.
Be Aware: Children are spending more time online and it’s important to understand (and teach) the dangers of cyberbullying, social media addiction, and predators.
If at any time you feel your child may have chronic anxiety or depression, please consult your healthcare provider. Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety or depression in children could be caused by other conditions, such as trauma. If you need help finding treatment, visit MentalHealth.gov
Join millions of chess fans in their love for the world’s most popular board game to celebrate American Chess Day on September 1st!
Chess tournaments, clubs, and classes continue to attract devoted members of the chess community. Whether you’re a professional or a beginner, there’s something for everyone.
Chess is one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, with a combination of sport, scientific thinking and elements of art. As an affordable and inclusive activity, it can be exercised anywhere and played by all, across the barriers of language, age, gender, physical ability or social status.1
2020 was a huge year for chess.
While people were staying at home during the pandemic, chess was the perfect way to connect with others online. Chess enthusiasm in the US spiked even more with the release of the incredibly popular Netflix Series, The Queen’s Gambit.
With no in-person events to attend, chess masters streamed themselves playing chess. Online chess platforms were overwhelmed with new players. The number of games played on online in 2020 were up 66% from pre-pandemic times.2
Computers are now better than people at chess.
In the late 1980s, computers became capable of beating strong chess players. In 1988, the computer Deep Thought became the first computer to defeat a grandmaster in a tournament game.3 Now, even the world champion doesn’t stand a chance against the leading computer.
All schoolchildren learn chess in Armenia.
Starting from 2011, chess was taught as a school subject just like reading or math in Armenian schools. It’s the first country in the world to include chess as a subject in primary schools. With all the benefits that chess has for kids—creative thinking, spatial reasoning, and concentration—it’s no wonder that this country has made chess a compulsory class for everyone.
There are over 2,000 variations of chess.
Most believe that chess began over 1400 years ago in India.4 However, as it’s spread across the world, games like Chinese chess and Japanese chess have evolved to become popular games as well. Today, international chess is standardized by the International Chess Federation, which was started in 1924.
Ben Franklin loved chess!
You can thank founding father Ben Franklin for American Chess Day. Although the United States Chess Federation started in 1939, Ben Franklin was an avid chess player and even published an essay about the benefits of chess in 1786.
Celebrate American Chess Day by joining a community of chess players, whether you’re just beginning or an experienced player.
As we all continue to adjust to an ever-evolving new normal, surviving a back to school season in the time of a pandemic, remains challenging.
From experiencing unexpected school quarantines (e.g. a student in your kid’s class tests positive for COVID-19) to being waitlisted for after school extended care and all the driving around for drop-offs and pickups, here’s how three moms at ActivityHero are managing the chaos.
1. Hacking (Unexpected) School Closures
Meet Kathrine: Mom to a Kindergartener (Los Angeles)
We were so excited to go in-person to the ‘big’ school this year. Just a few days in, school communicated that a child in my Kindergartener’s class tested positive for COVID-19, so the classroom was going to shut down for 10 days. My daughter was sent home with a computer for virtual instruction along with packets of information and materials for next two week’s instruction.
Solution: Register for last-minute online camps with classmates to squeeze in some virtual play dates.
Distance learning was scheduled for 9-11 am daily. With half the day still remaining, we found online classes to help with the afternoon so she wasn’t parked in front of the TV for all of that time. She really enjoys Minecraft and Roblox so finding social clubs or easy 45~min classes to support her favorite interests was easy. To help support some physical activity, we did also add an online Ballet class.
2. Mind the After School Gap
Meet Tabetha: Mom to a 3rd Grader (San Francisco)
After months of distance and hybrid learning, having school for a 6 hour block of time has been an amazing improvement. We were hopeful at first, then officially waitlisted for after school extended care to get us through to 6pm. As a household with two full-time working parents the 3pm pickup is challenging.With the luxury of school facilitated enrichment programs like Chess and Basketball (and this coveted time for when homework could be done with an on-site tutor) missing this year, panic-mode started to settle in. And then we chatted with some of my son’s friends and realized we could do online classes.
Solution: Find online extracurriculars for your kids so you can attend a meeting and make dinner. It’s a win, win situation for everyone.
Fun classes where learning looks like play is our usual approach for extracurricular activities so our son’s hobbies helped with the selection process. LEGO and Pokemon are his current favorites. Even better, the themed classes we found are actually great for problem solving, building and creativity. Dancing to burn off energy is also a must. Different than last year, only having a small window of online classes has been much more manageable.
3. Less Driving = More Learning
Meet Kristen: Mom to a 7th Grader & 11th Grader (Sacramento)
We couldn’t wait for in-person school to start this year. For my 7th grader, this meant going to a new school. With two kids at two different schools and two different sets of activities, we didn’t realize all the added back and forth driving until it was happening. Beyond the everyday drive to and from school, I now have to make a 3rd and 4th trip, 4 days a week for sports. This is in addition to the same daily drop off to and from school at a separate campus and several evening practices for club sports at least an hour each way. Today, we spent over 4 hours in the car driving back and forth and didn’t get home until after 9pm. The boys had to do their homework in the car and I won’t even mention what they had for dinner.
Solution: Fuel kids’ brains with fun online classes to minimize time spent in the car.
We never thought we’d say this, but we were missing online classes and virtual sports. (We saved so much time and gas last year!) To help offset the in-person activities, we decided to go back and add online classes into our weekend schedule. Online Drawing and Art classes have become our time together to connect as a family. The kids are also now signed up for virtual Martial Arts and Coding classes. All of which can happen in the comfort of our home.
Find your back to school solution! Create an account and profile for your kid to find even more personalized classes and camps atActivityHero.
boy student video conference e-learning with teacher and classmates on computer in living room at home. Homeschooling and distance learning ,online ,education and internet.
The Fall Activity Guide:
Online Classes Edition
The best online classes & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero that can be attended from home – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and flexible schedules.
The New York Society of Play provides online game workshops over zoom, focusing on social and emotional development for kids ages 6-13. Come play Dungeons and Dragons, Minecraft, Pokemon Battles, and more! Our childcare specialists are experts at fostering growth through cooperative gameplay.
Choreography by Rae is a performing arts & creative arts educational center that has provided self-confidence boosting programming since 2015. Founded by Rae Wilson (aka Ms. Rae) in New York City, as a way to help people of all ages amplify their voice through movement. Our motto is anyone can dance, even if you have 2 left feet. This 100% female-owned, black-owned business is proud to now offer more than dance.
Founded by former Google Product Director and Stanford graduates, Create & Learn is an award winning online computer science education program for grades K-12. We offer 25+ fun topics including Scratch coding, Minecraft coding, Python, Robotics, AI, Arduino, Cloud Computing and many more. Save 25% off, ending soon!
Experience Galileo-style innovation all year long with our online after-school club for Kindergarten – 5th graders. Designed to complement school-day learning with fun, hands-on projects, Innovator’s Club delivers joyful enrichment on a convenient weekly schedule. Give your kids something new to craft, construct or invent every week. Now through September 10, save 30% off the Fall session!
VoicED offers public speaking, grammar and academic writing classes, and SAT/ACT/PSAT preparation classes. All classes are led under the instruction of the CEO and Founder, Ava – Mariya Gencheva. Mrs. Gencheva has been an educator for the past 18 years, graduating thousands of students as a director and empowering a countless number of her students to debate, speak, write, publish, win competitions and get into Ivy League schools.
The Art in Science was developed by a scientist and an artist to Instill a love of science in young kids (ages 4-12) via an innovative curriculum. In this unique program, the kids learn various science topics (Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering, and more) with hands-on activities that turn into interesting artworks pleasing to the eye and intriguing to the mind.
Join forces with international award-winning astronomer and consultant to NASA, Kevin Manning, a man on no ordinary mission. Kevin founded Look Up to the Stars with a mission to generate interest and foster scientific literacy in students nationwide through the delivery of awe-inspiring, educational and entertaining astronomy programs.
Kiddy School offers one-on-one and group online classes for K-12 kids for the following programs: Programming (Scratch, Roblox, Minecraft, Python, Mobile App Development, and more), Math, Digital and fine art, Photo and Video Editing, Computer Science, SAT Prep, and so much more. Our teachers are regularly trained by our Lead teachers who are Google and Microsoft certified specialists.
Communication Academy offers specialized enrichment courses to grade K-12 students, including: Public Speaking, Debate, Writing, Reading and Math courses. Classes offer a new curriculum every week with experienced professional instructors in a small 12:1 ratio so that students can receive individual attention.
BrainStorm provides educational programs focused on creating the next generation of innovators and thinkers by allowing kids to explore the wonders of STEM during their critical formative years from 1st Grade through High School. BrainStorm’s programs allow students imaginations to come to life as they discover mechanical and structural principles of simple machines, build robots, create code or make their own video game.
Pretty Pony Pastures offers high quality, interactive programs for Scouts and anyone who enjoys being outdoors. Ms. Linda, lead instructor at Pretty Pony Pastures, is dedicated to encouraging children to learn about nature. She is a Project Wild, Wild Turkey, and Aquatic Wild facilitator as well as a life member of Girl Scouts. Virtual Scout Badges include topics such as Junior Gardener Badge, Brownie Bugs Badge, Junior Animal Habitats, and so much more.
NR Computer Learning Center (NRCLC) provides hands-on and online afterschool/weekend computer training to kids in coding, programming languages, Robotics, Video Editing, and Website design. NRCLC also offers live online exam prep classes for AP Computer Science and Microsoft certification exams.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Pintsize Fitness & Sports was developed in order to introduce children to exercise in a positive, fun environment where they will gain the skills to build healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. Studies show that children who begin exercising at a young age have increased self-esteem, earn better grades and continue to lead healthy, active lives into adulthood! Now offering virtual Sports, Martial Arts and Fitness classes for children age 2 to age 12.
Kodeclik is an online coding and math academy for kids and teens, offering online live and video classes in Scratch, Python, JavaScript, Minecraft, Roblox TinkerCAD, and more. The company was founded in 2015 by two parents who were teaching their 5 year old to code with Scratch Jr. Kodeclik shows kids the exciting and endless possibilities there are once they learn to code.
Give them something to look forward to after school! Dragonfly Designs offers virtual Afterschool Art Camps for ages 5 to 12 that let kids unwind, unplug and use their imagination. You (and they) will be amazed at what they learn to create. With projects in Tie Dye, Cartooning, Painting, Fashion Design, Clay, Jewelry Making and more, there’s something for every interest!
At ClasShare, we believe that every kid has the potential to become an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur, a leader, or an actor! Our classes have been carefully designed to help master skills and promote confidence, with offerings such as Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Acting, Money and Time Management, establishing friendships, filmmaking, and more!
At Toc Toc, we believe in learning Spanish the way we learn our first language: through games, music, having fun and getting fascinated by the sound of words. Our class is the perfect opportunity to expose your baby to a second language right when the “language learning window” opens – starting at 2 years old. Accompanied by parents or caregivers, children start learning Spanish through a variety of activities such as singing simple, rhythmic songs and dance, all from the comfort of home!
Cooking Round the World is delighted to be able to offer your children engaging, fun and delicious online classes. An online class includes map education, fun facts about the country or state selected, a slide show showing cultural nuances, cooking dishes representative of the country or state, and ending with a lively rendition of a country’s folktale.
Talentnook is a platform where you can find all the help and learning resources you need to guide your child towards success. We are here to be the personal guide for every learner, providing them with resources like tutors, programs, advice, consultation – helping them every step of the way to advance in their learning journey. Talentnook has tutors for different subjects like Math, creative writing, English, Spanish, vocal and so much more.
Classes and Camps at Young Creatives School of Art are designed to teach young artists how to create and learn skills in an encouraging, fun-filled environment. We explore favorite themes that include pets, wildlife, aquatic life, drawing inspiration from nature as well as kid friendly themes such as sweet treats and exploring imagination. We offer live online after school classes and semester art classes.
Evolution Academic Speaking Excellence offers virtual public speaking classes for kids after-school and during school holiday breaks. We are an educational institution focused on working with every student on their path and journey towards mastering the art and skill of communicating effectively. Class topics include TED Talk & Debating, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, and more.
Art~Design~Creativity offers meaningful experiences and services for the community. We are unique in our industry, with programs that bring art, design, and creativity to be incorporated into real life. Virtual classes include Art & Creativity Club and Spanish Club.
Super Skills with a Real Life Twist! In today’s busy world kids need a special place where they can learn, practice, and develop the leadership skills needed for a successful life. Kid Power Academy Coaching Center provides this opportunity! Our kids build confidence in their ideas and themselves during our “learn as you lead” program. Our experience-driven method literally transforms shy kids into confident kids as they eagerly exchange ideas as: Entrepreneurs, Senators, Authors and more!
At ALOHA Mind Math, we are passionate about visual math and inspiring kids to develop confidence and agility in math. Did you know math is rooted in our visual neural networks? This STEM program will present math in a hands-on, engaging and fun environment. Your child will learn to do math on the abacus and mental math techniques. Watch your child develop confidence and agility with numbers. This class will broaden your child’s understanding of math as they realize they can be math rock stars. Small, instructor led classes online.
InternMart cultivates high school students academically and professionally by connecting them to real-world internship experiences near them. We strive to offer quality learning opportunities for the youth of today, the future of tomorrow.
Wiz Kid Coding is one of North America’s leading Coding and STEM education companies focused exclusively on creating and delivering innovative coding and digital literacy programs for kids between the ages of 3 to 17. Our programs have won great reviews from parents, educators and, most importantly, many of the children who participate in our programs! Virtual classes include Roblox, Minecraft, Scratch, and more.
Code Wiz offers a wide range of individualized STEM programs for kids aged 7-17, each tailored to the students’ skill level. Watch your kids expand their creativity through computer science! Our approach is student-driven, project-based learning. We offer classes for Robotics, Minecraft modding, Roblox, Game design, Animations, Digital Art, Mobile app development, Java, Python, and more.
The road of American ingenuity runs through Silicon Valley, where the tech experts and thought leaders of today shape the future of the nation’s tomorrow. The camps and classes of Siliconvalley4u help aspiring engineers and seasoned tech professionals alike stay ahead of the ever-accelerating pace of technological development. Whether they’re learning to build apps in Java, Python, Mobile apps, operate 3D printers, or build robots from scratch, youngsters benefit from personalized, hands-on instruction from the center’s resident experts.
Founded in 2012, Coderise focuses on Software development training. It is our mission to teach kids age 8-12 the digital skills they require in today’s digitized world. They learn basic programming skills by creating websites and online games – including Minecraft, Roblox, and web development.
At Firefly Dance, we’re always grooving! There’s such an inherent joy in moving, one children can easily tap into. I strive to highlight that joy through imaginative games, songs, and stories while learning technique in a structured setting. Whether it’s your toddler or tween -or any age in between- we’re bound to get a little silly and make it incredibly fun to dance from your home!
With its high-end training, performance, structured, and progressive curriculum, One Voice Institute of Music and Art (OVIMA), is a global and full-scale complete performing and visual arts institute. OVIMA has three main divisions – Western Music, Indian Music and World Music, offering classes in all instruments, as well as in musicianship subjects such as music theory, sight reading, and more.
StudyPlum offers affordable online classes for K-12 with licensed teachers, small class sizes and live instruction. Classes include academic topics such as 1st Grade Reading, 6th Grade Math, 7th Grade Social Studies, American History, Geometry, and more. Get a heads start on the new school year with 20% off, ending soon!
Beyond the diverse set of online programs we have to offer, what is special about Ivy Camps USA Online is that we take an interdisciplinary approach to remote instruction whereby we foster growth, encourage exploration, and sustain motivation through play and thought-provoking games. Classes include a wide range of topics, including: outer space, public speaking, backyard biology, acting, and more.
Learn to Design, Build, Code, and build Cognitive and Soft Skills! at Wize Computing Academy offers a comprehensive and scalable form of coding education that encourages creativity and builds and strengthens logical reasoning in young learners. Classes in Scratch, Python, Vex Robotics, Roblox Game Design, and more are all fun and project-based.
Pixical Piano Learning strive to remove barriers of distance, time & boredom to help children enjoy the process or learning piano. We do this by delivering a masterclass experience through our empathetic & inspiring teachers, modern pedagogy, handcrafted product experience combined with loads of fun. The Pixical Curio online program offers 1:1 instruction, studio performance class each week, exclusive access to a community to discuss all things piano, and much more!
Lady V’s Finishing School believes that manners are a very important life skill. In the Manners Matter class, children will learn manners appropriate for the 3-10 age range. This will include what etiquette/manners are, what words are used to express our good manners, making introductions, and talking on the telephone. We will learn about setting a table, thank you notes, and much more.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in the San Francisco East Bay area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Here at Mathnasium of Newark-Union City, we help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting – our unique approach enables us to effectively explain math concepts and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn!
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Berkeley, Castro Valley, Moraga, and more . Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate artist, The Artist Center has an art education for you! Our students receive quality instruction that is sound in structure and unique in its training. We give the artist an opportunity to explore their skills, ideas and talents and grow throughout each class. They will also benefit by receiving individual guidance from professional instructors in all projects.
GrowFit Camp provides a safe place for children to learn and play. Our campers discover new passions, engage in a variety of sports and group games and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our unique, age-appropriate games and challenges help children build self-confidence, develop relationships and have lots of fun!
Enjoy the benefits of playing tennis with Euro School of Tennis, located in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. We offer a full array of tennis programs for children and adults including: Group Tennis Classes, Junior Tennis Development Programs, School Break Camps, and Private Tennis Lessons.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Dallas, TX – including music, coding, art, sports, fitness, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations in Dallas, University Park, and West Lake Hills, TX. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Wize Computing Academy offers coding and robotics online classes, camps, after-school, in-school and weekend classes for kids 4-16. We are a project-based and student-orientated program that follows computer science standards and adopts best practices for creative learning used by MIT Media Lab.
Stage Notes is the highest-rated music school in the Hurst/North Richland Hills and Keller/N Ft Worth areas! We offer private lessons in a large variety of instruments as well as voice lessons, group classes, summer camps, and art!
MPM Conservatory (Music Place Mansfield) provides music lessons and acting lessons beginning age 5 through adult! Our goal is to help our students grow their gifts and talents, while encouraging a life long love of music, theatre, and the performing arts!
Our wide range of lessons include: Group Piano, Group Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting, Group Drums, Group Ukulele, and Private music lessons.
Urban Youth Park Denton is an an indoor recreation center and family fun center in Denton, TX.
We provide a great place where family and friends can try out the many fun activities we have on offer to stay active and fit – including Parkour, Bootcamp, and Educational Fitness for youth and adults. We have day care services where kids can enjoy our indoor playground or have a private and quiet space for themselves.
Pandemonium Music Academy offers Music Lessons, Summer Camps, RockStar Birthday Parties at our Keller Tx Studios. Our degreed instructors know their music and impart that on our students. We also know that an element of fun will foster their love for their instrument and a passion for music.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Los Angeles and Orange County – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Bellflower and Santa Barbara. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
The Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to offer young people throughout LA’s Eastside and beyond, primarily its K-12 population, with equitable and affordable access to multidisciplinary arts education programs. LAMusArt offers over 30 different classes within the disciplines of music, art, dance and drama. Programs start at age 4.
Jeanette Airen Performing Arts Studio is an award-winning music and drama studio that offers in-person and online classes including singing, acting and dancing. This session we will travel back in time to the 80’s for our production of Fame Jr.! Our small class sizes make it possible for more one-on-one attention and solo opportunities! Learn from professional performers in an encouraging and safe space while building self-esteem, teamwork skills, and most importantly, having fun!
4Kids Worldwide’s mission is to provide athletic, academic, mentor services to enhance our student-athletes, especially those living in economically deprived areas.
The Los Angeles School of Music offers fun and engaging music lessons and classes on piano, voice, guitar, and more! Our online classes are always live and interactive.
Our music teachers are professionals with at least a Bachelor of Music, and most have a Master of Music degree, from schools such as CalArts, UCLA, and USC. All instructors have years of teaching and performance experience.
Camino De Santiago Nature School provides parents of Orange County and the areas around Nevada City an alternative and unique educational resource where children can maximize their time outdoors and learn in a holistic manner. The students are immersed in nature all day, everyday.
Geek Girls Society is an after-school program for geeky girls ages 8-18. We are an elite group of girls who celebrate our fandoms, share them with one another, and learn all about what it takes to be an AMAZING Geek Girl.
Geek Girls Society Houses meet twice a month to discuss all things geeky, make fantastic crafts, play games, and explore the pop culture universe.
The mission of Strategic Kids is to be a positive impact on our community by teaching life strategies through games.
We believe there are games and activities that can naturally teach us valuable life skills. From problem-solving through teamwork, patience through visualizing results, confidence through achievement and sportsmanship through defeat, games and the strategies behind them have a way of teaching these life skills while having fun and exercising the mind.
Hero City Arts & Crafts LLC was created so that kids can get back to playtime without digital screen time. Imaginative and creative play activities that are influenced by the world’s best comic book characters and movies ever made. Our platform is about self-expression, educational learning from STEM workshops to exploring art and crafts.
Our philosophy at Pamper & Play is simple: parents need help and kids need entertainment and FUN on their days off during the school year! We know that parents want fun, enriching and most of all FLEXIBLE activities for their little ones while they are on break. That’s why we have jam-packed the school break camp with fun arts, crafts, games, music, dance, messy science and more.
Teach Communication through Science (TCTS) was established in 2018 as a private STEM educational company with the mission of inspiring and nurturing kid’s innate curiosity by giving personalized care to its students age 4 to 14. TCTS offers in-person programs like Tinker Club and hands-on STEM classes in Glendale, CA.
Role-playing is a fully immersive creative blend of game, improv, and writing. It’s not just fun – Luck of Legends games are Common Core aligned and designed to teach, emphasizing non-violent problem-solving, teaching kids to out-talk, out-think, or out-maneuver challenges as heroes on a fantastic adventure. The format lets kids experience powerful and dramatic moments together, which can do something that’s usually impossible online: allow for genuine relationships to grow.
Gymboree Play & Music offer a wide range of play-based classes for infants to experience and explore with mom and dad. Our dynamic classes support social, physical and intellectual development and give your infant the earliest start for the brightest future.
The Fall Activity Guide:
San Francisco & Marin Area
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in San Francisco & Marin area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Mathnasium of Pacific Heights SF is your neighborhood math-only learning centers. We help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Mathnasium instructors use our unique assessment process to determine (with great accuracy) exactly what each child knows and what they need to learn. Next, we design a customized learning plan for teaching the concepts the student needs to master.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including San Francisco, Mill Valley, Larkspur, and Greenbrae. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Pinecone Active Learning provides after-school programs in Math, Reading, and Writing for students from three years old through high school. The younger students start by learning numbers and letters, then progress at their own pace through daily work and twice weekly classes to master concepts presented in step-by-step booklets.
It’s Yoga Kids® is a premier provider for quality enrichment, education and publishing. The IYK® System builds healthy habits to overcome challenges and increase confidence, resilience and JOY for all ages, abilities, identities and colors.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Rock Band Land is a unique creative arts program based in San Francisco that focuses on artistic collaboration through rock music, storytelling, visual arts, video production, and comedy. The program is wildly creative and wonderfully crazy. No prior experience necessary.
Always Learning and Growing provides outdoor camps and classes for children and families with the goal of giving children the developmental benefits of a significant nature experience.
Children hike, learn about nature and science, and learn new physical and social skills. Small group sizes and highly trained teachers. Classes for ages 18 months to 6 years and camps for ages 3-8 years.
