Are you looking for art classes for kids, knitting classes, jewelry making or woodworking? Well look no further! ActivityHero has a wealth of creative arts classes to satisfy all of the Picasso’s and Van Gogh’s in your life.
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!
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
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.
Whether it’s gymnastics, soccer, or skateboarding, there’s something for everyone when it comes to the summer Olympics. Dive into a world of international sports, from table tennis to basketball. Feeling inspired by your favorite athletes competing on the world stage? Here are some beginner sports camps and classes for kids who are captivated by Olympic sports this year.
Soccer skills and fun games that kids can do from the safety of their own backyard, garage or patio. Your child will practice their individual gross motor skills, focus and agility to keep them sharp and ready for when the season begins!
With fun challenges they can practice at home, your child will gain new skills and develop their passion for new challenges.
Family Karate provides fun, fitness, karate, and life skills. Now your child can enjoy our unique blend of martial arts and character building in our live online classes with a Master Instructor.
They’re here to help your child become even more engaged, strong and optimistic during this unique time. Grit, resilience and laughter have never been more important than right now.
Hajime Judo (Beginning Judo) teaches judo technique, culture, and character. As kids learn basic judo techniques, they work on developing balance, coordination and confidence. Every class finishes with games that develop motor skills and ends with laughter and fun. This is an amazing place to get your kids active and introduce them to martial arts.
What is your favorite sport? Make it come to life during this week-long camp!
Explore and enhance your LEGO building skills making stadiums, gyms, courts, obstacle courses and fields. Learn how to make a round ball, a football, goals, or any other item you might use in your sport.
Join Fun & Fit TumbleBus for virtual gymnastics style fitness videos! They’re just created a NEW workout video. Get 2 warm up song videos, 1 gymnastics style workout, and free bonus videos!
Virtual TumbleBus videos are intended to promote a love of fitness in preschool and young elementary school age children. Videos work on children’s motor skills, listening & following directions, basic gymnastics, and balance, coordination & strength needed for all sports!
Access these on-demand videos with all sorts of soccer exercises and games! Go around the world with Mr. Matt, play soccer games with Smelli Elli, or go international with soccer in Spain or France. These videos can be viewed on your own time and are perfect for kids to try out soccer in the comfort of their own backyard.
Follow in the footsteps of Naomi Osaka with a tennis summer camp! Introduce your child to something new this year with an exciting day camp experience. Euro School of Tennis will help make your child’s summer action packed on the tennis court. This is a chance to learn about tennis from personalized instructors who can help your child attain new skills in a fun, safe environment. Full day sessions include swimming and games in the afternoon. Half day morning or afternoon is also available.
No Tennis Experience? No Worries. Beginner Kids Tennis Lessons are Here!
The perfect time to help your child learn more about tennis is right now with our beginning kids tennis lessons. Dubbed the Mini Aces program, this class is designed for kids 6 – 8. This intergrade tennis program is the ideal option for first through third grade kids who haven’t had any real exposure to the game. Every clinic is a great way to keep your child active while helping them understand the basics. From learning more about game play to serve and return skills, we’ll help your child learn what to do in a match while having a great time.
What a summer for soccer! Learn new and exciting soccer skills with Coach Ken. Coach Ken’s Soccer Camps have a proven record of helping kids achieve their full potential as soccer players. The coaches are knowledgeable and passionate about the game. All lessons are age-appropriate, challenging, and fun. All levels are welcome.
Try out the newly-reinstated Olympic sport: golf! All SPeeD Academy classes are taught by golf professional Roy Day, PGA. Roy has been named US Kids Top 50 Junior Instructors (2006-2008) and US Kids Master Junior Instructors (2009 to present). In addition to being extremely knowledgeable about golf, Roy makes learning FUN!!
This year, fencing consists of three separate events at the Olympics. Join in the fencing fun with this introduction fencing class. Learn to fence and have fun with peers in a safe way at Maximum Fencing Club. All equipment is provided.
Take after US flag bearer Sue Bird with basketball! At this camp, campers work hard and feel good about themselves in a safe, disciplined, highly structured and motivating environment. Players will learn to work together in a team setting while playing games and tournaments.
Camps are divided up by age and experience, keeping groups separated for the best overall camp experience. The equipment and curriculum for each age group is very different and age appropriate.
Join Little Twisters this summer for days full of Gymnastics, Games, Free Play, Dance, Snack Times, and an End of the Week Performance. The facility is the cleanest and kid friendly facility in Santa Clara County and our instructors are top-notch. Sign up for this camp for a week of fun and gymnastics that your children will love.
Beginners with no previous table tennis experience will engage in learning exercises designed to energize, entertain and build a strong table tennis foundation. Intermediate and advanced players, (competitive table tennis athletes who aim to take their game to the next level), will engage in rigorous training sessions that focus on technique, game strategies, skill reinforcement and physical conditioning. Players of all skills can join to try out ping pong and have fun practicing together.
New to the Olympics, skateboarding has swept the world as a fun and high-energy event. Try out skateboarding with Golden Gate Skateboarding. Start camp with an introduction to skateboarding specific stretching/yoga routines that improve performance and reduce injury probabilities. Cover beginner level skills all the way up to more advanced skills like Ollies, kickflips, 50-50 grinds, frontside 180’s and many more tricks. All skill levels are welcome!
Learn the fundamentals of shooting, passing, and dribbling. Understand the strategy of playing basketball. Have fun in one of KidzToPros’ most popular sports camps! Whether the camper is a first-timer or experienced player, they’ll learn skills that will carry them on to the next level. They’ll end each day engaged, passionate, and motivated for the next day of basketball camp!
This girls-only leadership and soccer summer camp is an opportunity for girls of all playing levels to refine and develop new soccer skills. Along the way, make friends and gain exposure to new experiences including dance, artistic expression, and leadership training.
When school is out, soccer is in! Super Soccer Stars and Soccer Stars United are kicking into this season with summer, holiday, and day-off soccer camps. Coaches work with 4-8 children to build skills and create a team atmosphere. Have fun with the FUNdamentals of soccer! Kids across the country can have a blast in a safe, high-energy soccer camp that will keep them active and allow them to socialize with friends.
The Devil’s Gate Wrestling Club is a youth wrestling club chartered by USA Wrestling in 2014 with the goal of introducing the local community to the sport of wrestling. Their coaching philosophy seeks to teach wrestlers how to motivate and challenge themselves. The Devil’s Gate Wrestling Club strives to implement and teach our youth wrestlers core values like hard work, dedication, goal-setting, and discipline.
Tiny Tees Golf Summer Camp is open to players of all skill levels from beginner to advanced, ages 3-13. Children will work on individual golf skills: full swing, putting, pitching, chipping, bunker play, golf course etiquette, and course play. Introduce your kids to golf through this fun camp designed for young beginners!
These classes teach Shorin-Ryu Karate, a traditional Okinawan martial art, and the complete system of self-defense. Beginning classes will teach basic blocks, strikes, and kicks, and the first form. Advance through these martial arts lessons with Wilmington Karate Club this summer.
Go for the gold in a triumphant Olympic journey. This camp combines art, science and outdoor challenges that build creative confidence, nurture social development and deliver the big summer fun they crave—all in small groups that put safety first. 75% of time is spent outdoors!
Get fired up to create mixed-media torches or glittering medals to light up the games. Master the mechanics of athletes and their equipment by designing high-flying archery bows, judo robots or a go-kart you can race in (a Galileo Olympic event only). Celebrate the Olympic spirit with a range of outdoor games!
This camp is focused on surfing, swimming, and playing at the beach. All surfboards and bodyboards are provided at camp. Experienced instructors will lead kids in swimming, basic surf techniques, and surfing etiquette. Learn about ocean safety and conservation while having safe play time in and out of the water! This is a great opportunity to spend time getting more familiar with our beautiful coast, and the power and fun of the ocean.
For more sports camps and classes near you, check out ActivityHero.com.
Summer camp is almost over and your kids had a blast! As proof of said fun, all the exciting activities have accumulated to become a large pile in your living room. Now what? Here are some creative ideas to manage the chaos.
1. Double down. When kids develop an interest in a certain type of medium, like clay, double down. Exhaust every facet of clay while you explore new techniques and test new projects.
Quick Tip: Once your kids tire of the medium, use the opportunity to have conversations about organization and material attachment. Together, you can discuss why they may want to keep something or whether they can find new use for their old items.
2. Innovate. Continue learning! Kids can practice problem solving long after camp with a project that’s returned home. Using everyday household tools and materials available, your kids will think of new ways to improve a project by making it look and work better.
“My kid designed a backpack at an innovation camp this summer. He added small details after realizing the water bottle holder wasn’t strong enough. He also included a waterproof side pocket as a new feature.”
3. Repurpose. Channel your inner Marie Kondo. If it sparks joy, keep it to create a whole new personalized project. Finding new purposes for old items is a great way to give new life to items while preserving memories.
“I have a canvas in our living room that I decoupage paintings my kids did when they were toddlers. I also save artwork throughout the year to decoupage onto keepsake boxes and memory frames for our extended family.”
4. Personalize gifts. Kids’ art is great for everyday items like custom mugs, iphone/ipad cases, or mouse pads. It’s a quiet way to keep your loved ones close, wherever you go.
“My nephew took a lot of online art classes in 2020 and we used his drawings to create a custom iPhone case as a grandparent’s gift.”
5. Document the whole memory. Get pictures with your kids holding their designs. It documents the special creations and their ages of completion. It also offers the perspective of scale to show how large and small the items were.
This bridge lasted a while on his shelf but was eventually tossed to make room for LEGO builds. Looking back we’re so grateful to still have pictures of my son holding the special projects.
6. Practice postcards. Creating postcards or packages can be a fun project itself! Practice writing letters with old paper projects. Gather, cut and fold old projects to create a package for far away loved ones.
Quick Tip: Use this as a teaching opportunity about the postal service and how it works!
7. Host an art gallery. Celebrate a summer’s worth of artwork! Let kids choose their favorite pieces to display around the house for an art walk. Whether it’s with just the family or with more friends, a gallery day is the perfect way to give your art collection a send off.
Quick Tip: You can even make snacks and decorations to complete the “museum day” and spend time reviewing each piece of artwork.
Transform your kids collection of summer camp t-shirts into a quilt to use when they are cold or hang as a work of art to admire on the wall.
Breakdown and recycle the projects because there’s only enough room to keep a select few.
Now that all of your kids’ most recent art projects are organized, take some time to start planning their next round of enrichment camps and classes at ActivityHero.
Here are some simple tips to help your kids from experiencing brain drain during summer break.
Summer vacation is traditionally known as a time for kids to pause academic studies and just have fun. So while taking a break is important, preventing the Summer Slide is also a priority worth considering. In 1996, the first studies of the Summer Slide showed us that kids lose large amounts of knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which can contribute to an escalation of future skills lost.
Younger kids are more at-risk of experiencing learning loss. “In general, kids learn a lot more in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade than kids in middle school or high school, because learning follows a curve where it’s accelerated early in life and then plateaus,” says James Kim, Ed.D., an assistant professor of education at Harvard University.1
Summer Learning Loss Facts2
1 month (equivalent) of overall learning is lost after summer vacation
3 months of math skills + 2 months of reading are lost over the summer
6 weeks is spent re-learning old material in the fall to make up for summer learning loss
Yes, these numbers sound scary, but don’t worry! Being informed is the first step and knowing that we’ve got you covered with solutions is the other key part of this process. This summer, keep your kids engaged with these teacher-approved brain-building activities.
Read
60% of kids ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading books for fun a lot.1 Kids gain more from reading when they actually enjoy it. Let them choose.
“Learning through play is about continuity; bringing together children’s spheres of life – home, school, and the wider world, and doing so over time.” Susan MacKay, Director of Teaching and Learning at Portland Children’s Museum.3 Kids’ math and vocabulary skills extend beyond worksheets and can be found in hobbies related to board games, S.T.E.A.M., sharing stories, and more.
Chess Camp by New York Chess Academy (2021 ActivityHero Best of Winner!)
Paul Harris, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education who studies imagination. “The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere fantasy.”4 Through imagination, kids expand their cognitive abilities to think, know, remember and experiment with new concepts. Even though it may not seem like it, they are learning! Familiar skills are being used to develop new ones.
Through exploration, curiosity is encouraged. With that, more experiences and interests for your kids emerge. Studies show that exploration also supports social-emotional development by allowing kids to build confidence for both independent and collaborative interactions with others. Try something new today.
Join us for a fun 1 hour drawing class, perfect for a Mother’s Day gift! CD will take students step by step to achieve a simple drawing. You will learn different pencil strokes to create an awesome drawing. All you will need is paper (any type), pencils and an eraser!
In this all inclusive package participants will receive a ticket for a 1 hour event hosted by a YA instructor including step by step guidance on how to navigate the Cupixel app to create meaningful works of art. This package also includes a Cupixel Art Box that will contain the following: Device stand, 5 card covers, pencil, eraser, sharpener, 6 squares, 6 envelopes, and a 12 pack of high quality dual tip markers.
What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with a heartfelt activity perfect for you and mommy!
Mother’s Day is fast approaching! Looking for a special gift for mom? Join Electivity’s virtual art class to create a special piece just for her, or join the class with mom for a special experience! Pay what you want, and proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry.
La mamma e’ sempre la mamma .. let’s make something lovely for her and learn a beautiful “filastrocca”.
This Mother’s Day Workshop will be lots of fun for boys and girls alike to create cards and little presents for their mom, grandmas, or any other moms they have in their life. Students can use pictures of them and their moms together to make picture frames, construction paper, markers to write messages dedicated to their moms, or even other recyclable materials such as dried flowers to attach to their cards.
Special class for Mother’s Day – let’s spend some quality time together in this fun science and art activity for Mother’s Day with The Art in Science. Kids learn various science topics with hands-on activities that turn into beautiful and creative artwork.
Join us for an art lesson to create a special gift for mom!
Gift the beauty of art with a special Mommy & Me masterpiece. The lesson will begin with basic shape recognition as we break the shapes down in the sketching phase. The class will then move on to coloring and learn basic shading techniques.
Gift the beauty of art with a special Mommy & Me masterpiece. The lesson will begin with basic shape recognition as we break the shapes down in the sketching phase. The class will then move on to coloring and learn basic shading techniques.
Join Artist Center for an art class to create a beautiful work of art for mom!
Free Draw is offered during each class where the students can choose whatever subjects they want. Learn from a professional artist whose clients include Disney & Warner Brothers.
Work alongside friends and have fun with arts and crafts that you’ll want to keep forever.
Sessions are catered to children aged 5-10ish and we hold to the fact that your child will grow confident in their creative expression and in their day-to-day life all while giving back to the community! All proceeds are donated to drawchange, a nonprofit organization that provides art therapy-based programs to impoverished children around the world.
Extra curricular activities open kids’ minds to new interests. They help build skills outside of the classroom. They provide a productive break from study. And they open new social opportunities to grow a community. Here are editor’s picks for interesting new classes to try:
Foreign Language
The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills.*
Learn Spanish through theatre games and music! We naturally learn language through trial and error and through play. In Theatre Games in Spanish, students learn to communicate in Spanish by playing games and having fun. We strive to joyfully instill a love of language through embodied learning and play.
In this fun and musical class, learners explore German greetings, keywords, introduction vocabulary and pronunciation – through music! Learning a language is fun and easy with Ms. Kelsey – let’s sing, dance and color!
Ms. Kelsey is a professional opera singer and language teacher, and she started Musical Learning in 2016. She has taught German, French, English and ‘Musical Science’ for the past 10 years both online and in person.
Ages 3 – 7
$100/ 8 session series that meets twice a week starting Feb 22
Skills attained through STEM education include problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure and more.*
In the first 4 weeks of the session, students learn about the electromagnetic nature of matter and energy, including: Magnetism, Magnetic Induction Electricity, Photons, Solar Energy. In the second half of the session, students are introduced to atoms, subatomic particles and the Periodic Table of Elements (Hydrogen to Xenon). They learn how atoms form molecules, and also learn about the structure of the Periodic Table. Class content is taught through engaging visual aids, physical demonstrations and thought-provoking discussion.
Python is one of the most feature-packed coding languages ever and today underlies the foundation of many websites, applications, and games.
This fast moving course assumes no prior experience with Python programming but rapidly takes you to high levels of functionality illustrating how you can write your own programs in Python!
With An Emphasis on the Homeric epics of The Iliad and the Odyssey, the Milesian School of Thought yielding Thales, Pre-Socratics highlighting Democritus and the Socratic Period illustrative of Socrates Philosophy in the Context of Innovation Ranging from The Theory of Everything to Einstein’s Unified Theory and Quantum Realms.
Digivations Institute has NASA award-winning curriculum and is an ActivityHero Best of 2020.
Join us online for S.T.E.A.M powered fun where you will explore the curious worlds of science, technology, engineering, art and math. Conduct experiments, create art, build, take things apart and enjoy learning how art, science, engineering and technology are connected.
Homeschool offers academic flexibility. During these ever-changing COVID times, many families have turned to this option. Try these classes for academic homeschooling and enrichment education!
Family Karate provides fun, fitness, karate, and life skills. Now your child can enjoy our unique blend of martial arts and character building in our live online classes with a Master Instructor.
In each class we’ll ask you to set a self leadership goal for your children, and in the next class we’ll follow up progress on those goals.
Ages 5 – 11 but fun for the whole family! Try it as a stress reliever!
$10/day trial classes or $20/day regular price ongoing throughout spring
This is a great introductory trial for parents thinking about homeschooling their kids.
In this curriculum which follows the Common Core State Standards, we dive into EVERYTHING your child should learn in First Grade WOW! See below for a snapshot of some of the covered content. In previous classes on different platforms– parents would RAVE how their child would not be able to read at all prior to Mrs. Hendricks Academy and by the end of the curriculum- they were reading whole sentences, creative writing on their own and excelling.
Each week we will have a different princess joining the class. After the princess arrives the children will perform their dance while the princess sings, Then they will sit with their favorite toy while the princess reads a fun book! After story time the children will have a chance to each personally interact with the princess! It’s not everyday your child will get to have a virtual Disneyland experience!
We bet your child loves going to amusement parks to experience the variety of fast, dropping, and spinning rides, but have they ever thought about the science that goes into building those rides and the people who are responsible for designing them? In Snapology’s Amusement Park Engineering class, students will become engineers building their own amusement park rides like roller coasters, Ferris wheel , Bumper Car and other awesome rides!!
Snapology of Los Gatos serves Almaden, Camden, Los Gatos, Saratoga and Cupertino.
Join this online workshop and experiment with candy chemistry! Create a sugar density gradient and make a Skittles liquid rainbow, and of course, make Valentine’s oobleck. Registration includes a Valentine’s Science Kit with all the materials to follow along in this live, hands-on class.
Sketch and paint a Valentine’s Day masterpiece in this online class! Learn how to draw with step by step instructions from a live teacher. The class will begin with basic shape recognition during the sketching phase and will then move on to coloring and basic shading techniques.
Join this FREE workshop for crafts, science projects, games, and guest speakers. At Hypothesis Haven Science Club’s 2nd Annual HeART of Science event, kids will learn about the hardest-working muscle in the body (the heart) and how to keep it healthy and strong! They will also learn about new treatments and discoveries that doctors and scientists are working on to help people with heart disease.
Join this Valentine’s Day cookie-baking class and spread some love in the kitchen! The price includes a shipment of gourmet cookie mix, a new silicon mat, sprinkles, and some surprises. You will learn how to make hand-cut sugar cookies, roll out the dough, bake, decorate with chocolate, royal icing, and sprinkles.
Make your very own Valentine’s Day pop-up card in this interactive online class! Pick a special person to make your card for and design something unique and fun just for them. Learn about sign language and how to say “I love you” with your hand as you engage in fun arts and crafts.
Learn how to sculpt with step-by-step guidance from a live art instructor! The class will begin with ball shapes during the preparation phase and will then move on to color and basic sculpting techniques. Kids of all skill levels can use clay or playdough to sculpt cute Valentine’s Day animals.
This Valentine’s Workshop is a sweet activity for the whole family! The Materials Kit has supplies for 4 guests in the same household. You’ll learn how to make these amazing Pop Up Valentine Cards that you can personalize. A heartfelt gift for friends, grandparents, and teachers. The kids-only workshop is also an option here.
Focus on self-love with this gentle and relaxing yoga! Follow along in this accessible, live class to center your body and mind. The gentle flow will end with a guided meditation, focusing on love.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Curious Mind Academy! Join this virtual party for 90 minutes of fun. Play themed games, enjoy some Valentine’s Day trivia, and top it all off by making a special treat, chocolate brownie mug cake.
Searching for kids activities to do during Presidents Day break? Try these on-demand kids activities, which are great for any downtime during the break. Here are some of our favorite DIY activities and printables for school holidays.
In this 60-minute video, learn about an important historical leader, Hiawatha. Follow along in drawing this colorful portrait while learning historical information, color pencil technique, and shading.
Specifically designed for K to 6th-grade students, every lesson is designed to give you an hour break and engage your child’s mind with fun, educational and creative activities.
In this video, Ms. Priscilla presents this fun class for kids of all ages which is designed as an introduction to the practice of yoga. Class is slower paced and focused on developing clear and safe alignment in foundational poses. Come to learn, play, and maybe even break a sweat in a supportive environment.
Explore the history of clay art and become a clay artist yourself!
The Ship & Make Kit includes air dry clay, a ceramic tile, tools, acrylic paints, and a pottery badge! This 30-minute YouTube instructional video will allow children/tweens to follow along and pause when they need more time. This video was recorded to meet the requirements for the Girl Scout Pottery Badge, but fun for all to participate!
Players will be able to access 6 different videos through your account once registration is complete, covering age-appropriate sessions designed to work on ball mastery, skills, tricks and moves. This is balanced with a fun and educational approach which implements our Champions of Characters philosophy.
The wider world of soccer is important to us too, and we profile a different country every time- this bundle is focused on the USA.
In this video, Hannah from Codemoji.com will show you how to create a flappy bird-like game using Scratch. Code your own game, learn Scratch functions, and build a foundation in programming skills and critical thinking.
Follow this video and printout tutorial to build your own Starfinder, a version of an ancient model of the sky.
Build your own Starfinder, and it will show you how the sky looks at any hour of any night of the year! All you have to do is “program” the Starfinder with the date and time you want.
Grab your ingredients and join Chef Michelle Minori as she leads your family through the process of making flatbread pizza in this fun-filled cooking adventure! Together, you will learn how to make the flatbread dough, chop toppings, make a dressing and more. Chef Michelle will teach you new techniques and share a little bit about how to make this recipe your own.
Follow along with these videos of an Anime Manga workshop and your student will learn to draw our favorite Japanese style art. This five day workshop includes ten on-demand videos with over 10 hours of drawing and coloring direction taught by Young Rembrandts founder and CEO, Bette Fetter. Draw at your own pace! Students can pause and rewind each lesson as needed.
Follow this on-demand video to bake a delicious and eye-catching rainbow cake. Fun for the whole family, all on your own time! Join Active Art and Science for more hands-on activities you can do on your own.
Did you know that you can access MemberDeals discounts to your favorite amusement parks, zoos, and other popular destinations as a free benefit of being part of the ActivityHero community?
Find great, money-saving deals at you and your kids’ favorite outdoor locations across Southern California for now and all year long.
This “Thrill Capital of the World” features over 100 rides and attractions that will satisfy the whole family! Within this 260-acre theme park, Six Flags contains 19 thrilling and exhilarating roller coasters that your kids will greatly enjoy. From smaller toddlers to thrill-seeking teenagers, Six Flags offers a number of rides to everyone’s liking. (See discounted price.)
At the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, your kids can enjoy the characters and environments from their favorite childhood stories. They can meet their favorite princesses and villains, go on adventures with the stars of their most-watched movies, and explore fascinating attractions like “It’s a Small World” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Children of all ages will be entertained at the “Happiest Place on Earth!” (See discounted price.)
With tickets to watch the splendid Los Angeles Dodgers, your kids can cheer for their favorite team in an exciting and electrifying atmosphere! Fans of all ages can enjoy the perks at this magnificent Dodger Stadium that features great outdoors seating and delicious food to enjoy during the game. This spirited venue brings people to their feet and gives them gripping games and exhilarating plays. (See discounted price.)
At the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, fans can enjoy thrilling games, delicious concessions, and great merchandise from their favorite team! This exhilarating game is a great experience for fans of all ages as they get a chance to make wonderful memories with their family. The modern Angel Stadium has splendid outdoor seating where your kids can watch the game they love in an exciting environment. (See discounted price.)
At the Aquarium of the Pacific, get a chance to view the wonders of the largest ocean in the world. With over 100 exhibits, you and your family can explore the fascinating underwater world with the animals and creatures you love! Featured exhibitions include the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, the Shark Lagoon, the Lorikeet Forest, and more. (See discounted price.)
This exciting water park is the perfect place for adventure-loving kids! Six Flags Hurricane Harbor features exciting and heart-pumping water slides for your thrill-seeking kids and calmer lazy rivers and family-friendly rides for you and your toddlers. Kids of all ages can enjoy the several rides here as well as the delicious food while making wonderful memories with their family. (See discounted price.)
Discover over 1,400 animals at the immersive and lush habitats at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens! Your kids can learn about the fascinating wonders of wildlife by visiting the wide variety of animals at this zoo. Los Angeles Zoo also features exhibits like Elephants of Asia, Rainforest of the Americas, and the Lair. (See discounted price.)
This small family farm has now grown into a world famous theme park and is the perfect place to visit with your family! With several rides and attractions, everyone can find an activity for them at Knott’s Berry Farm. From water rides and thrilling roller coasters to family-friendly activities, Knott’s Berry Farm has something for every member of your family. (See discounted price.)
This scavenger hunt that takes you through LA is perfect for puzzle and adventure-loving families! Starting at the Los Angeles Public Library, this adventure helps you discover and learn about the historic downtown Los Angeles. This walking tour of the city is a great way to experience the outdoor life of LA! (See discounted price.)
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood gets you closer to the entertainment you love. The Studio Tour gives guests a revealing look behind the camera at how Hollywood magic is made. From Friends to Harry Potter and Wonder Woman, fans get to see the real sets and soundstages where the greatest names in entertainment made history as they touch, tour and explore the iconic 110-acre studio. (See discounted price.)
Explore more locations and deals outside of Southern California!
On-demand STEM classes and activities for your child are a great option when you need an activity at any time of day. ActivityHero provides a wide variety of classes and activities in science, technology, coding, engineering, math, and more! Here are some of our favorite on-demand STEM activities.
From WALL-E, Baymax, to Transformers, robots have been some of our favorite movie characters. In this Open Class, Professor Atkeson from the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University will walk us through the basics of robotics and then explore soft robots, which have soft cushiony bodies.
Do you know your kids can help scientists solve puzzles and design vaccines by playing games? Genetics, together with computer science, are two of the most promising fields for the future. Join this talk to learn the basics of genetics and explore the fun game designed by Stanford experts!
Have fun baking a dessert with your kids and learn some science at the same time with this DIY Solar Oven by Beau Coffron, in partnership with Home Depot. All you need is an old pizza box and a handful of tools and materials. In just a few easy steps, you’ll have created an innovative solar oven!
Learn how to code with Javascript in Classroom Antics’ easy-to-use web interface and self-guided lessons. Progress through fun online coding activities at your own pace. Complete up to 9 lessons (one hour each). Lessons feature fun projects such as creating an facetracker, eclipse simulation, greeting card, snapchat filter, community map and more!
This On-Demand segment is part of our Playgineering and Fungineering series that uses the Engineer’s Process to create scenes with Technic and regular Legos and other materials through design, construction, robotics and play.
In this segment, in addition to highlighting key features that define turrets of castles, we provide step-by-step instructions for building turrets using 2×4 and 2×2 Lego bricks that are able to interlock-style attach to the walls of the castle that we build in different On-Demand segments in our series.
This package by RISU provides printable worksheets to practice basic math concepts at your own pace. These worksheets are designed to improve math proficiency quickly and motivate kids to learn math!
This on-demand activity includes a telescope kit and video instruction, where an expert astronomer and telescope builder will walk you through the process of assembling the telescope. Then, begin exploring the universe like Galileo did over 400 years ago and see the wonders of the winter sky!
Join Miss Rennu in this short video and immerse your child into the world of reptiles! Learn all about different reptiles from around the world with amazing visuals and wonderful explanations!
These amazing STEM Kits include 3-5 STEM experiments and activities shipped right to your door. These include videos with pre-recorded STEM lessons to guide you through the activities. Each video lesson is taught by a California credentialed teacher that specializes in STEM Education.
Build a wind-powered car while learning about the scientific concepts behind the process! These printables will guide you through the steps of building a car, testing it out, and experimenting with it!
On-demand classes and activities for your child are great for a busy schedule. Follow along with these activities featuring fun musical instruments, dancing, and games!
If you don’t know where to start learning piano, this free music reading tutorial is perfect for beginners! More available on-demand lessons by KidzKeys include step-by-step video instruction, listening examples, and printables. Your child will love Ms. Emily’s fun and encouraging teaching style.
This 30 minute class is a sample of what the Two Left Feet Dance Studio offers virtually. Support their amazing dance instructors while getting a introduction to dance styles like pop, ballet, tap, creative dance, and hip-hop!
This free Getting Started on Guitar video is perfect for beginners. Mr. Jonathan will show students the parts of the Guitar, how to read Guitar Music (called Tablature), and how to tune your Guitar at home (Printable Download Tuning Guide Included!). Guitar Club gives students the opportunity to grab a guitar and have fun learning how to play well-known songs.
Explore the piano with in this dynamic on-demand video class by the Bay Area Music Project. Learn about music fundamentals through stories, games, and songs.
Learn how to remix your favorite songs and work on your own digital music projects. Beat Makers will show you how to lay down some beats, remix well-known melodies, and jam to your own songs! This video lesson includes video instruction, a full access account on Soundtrap, printable worksheets, and listening examples.
Cucu’s Playhouse provides this great music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers! In each class, children are introduced to basic concepts like animals, colors and numbers through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, active and engaging.
These videos by Gymboree Play & Music are great for young children from 6 months to 5 years old. Miss Stephanie hosts a Sing and Learn Class with lots of great songs, activities, and play time for your little ones. These on-demand videos include fun and learning in all types of subjects each week!
On-demand classes and activities for your child are a great option when you need an activity at any time of day. ActivityHero provides a wide variety of on-demand content that can be used at any time, free of any cost! Here are our favorite free, on-demand options.
What’s your favorite movie – Cars, Frozen, or maybe The Avengers? Did you know that computer technology is behind the making of all of your favorite movies? This video shows children exciting state-of-the-art technologies and how they are applied in the real world!
This class will focus on (1) a review of the basics of nutrition, and (2) how to use the five food groups to create a healthy, well rounded, delicious meal. Some of the student activities will include (1) preparing their own individual menu for a stir-fry (2) watching Dr. Mary cook a nutritious stir-fry, and (3) several choices of posters to create.
Have fun baking a dessert with your kids and learn some science at the same time with this DIY Solar Oven by Beau Coffron, in partnership with Home Depot. All you need is an old pizza box and a handful of tools and materials. In just a few easy steps, you’ll have created an innovative solar oven!
Learn how to code with Javascript in Classroom Antics’ easy-to-use web interface and self-guided lessons. Progress through fun online coding activities at your own pace. Complete up to 9 lessons (one hour each). Lessons feature fun projects such as creating an facetracker, eclipse simulation, greeting card, snapchat filter, community map and more!
Join Madame Barbara from Springs French Music Lingua for a fun introductory class and learn the Itsy Bitsy Spider in French. This is a 22-minute previously recorded live online class. Download the coloring page for additional reinforcement of the French vocabulary.
In this FREE video you’ll learn how to make the perfect pie shell. You’ll learn how to create pie dough and then how best to roll out out and form it into a pie pan. This lesson is for a pie shell for sweet pies. The method can be used for quiche and tart shells by changing just a few ingredients.
In this on-demand class you will learn the basics of Inkscape while creating your very own winter theme card. We’ll learn how to create a basic winter scene, including how to make some basic evergreen trees, snow flakes, and form a snow man. You can print and use the card you create as a holiday card, or a card to bring in some winter time cheer.
Choose from a collection of free Winter and Holiday themed coloring sheets and Sudoku printables! These are great for long car rides or for the whole family to enjoy.
