Kids love to be creative and make things whether it’s with paint, glue, markers or Play Doh. But they don’t always love the cleanup, which usually ends up being done or at least assisted by Mom or Dad. Thankfully there are several great options in Des Moines for creative kids, where someone else sets up the project, supervises them and, best of all, cleans up the mess!
Art Happy
208 SE Main Street • Grimes, Iowa • (515) 971-4941
Located in Grimes, Art Happy is a cheerful art-centric place known for its dedicated teaching staff, super-creative birthday parties and popular art classes and events. A place for all things artistic, the facility includes a gift shop, artist’s studios and a classroom for public rental. Psst! Be sure to keep an eye out for fun classes offered on early release school days and school holidays.
El arte Uncorked
Various Locations • (515) 681-4846
This mobile art studio hosts painting sessions at the location of your choice or places like Felix and Oscar’s by Merle Hay Mall or Cupcake Addict in Johnston. They provide all the supplies, instruction and clean up to paint a masterpiece on canvas. They are adding classes and events all the time, so be sure to keep an eye on their website and Facebook page.
Pied Piper Studios
3892 NW Urbandale Drive • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 221-2948
Des Moines’ hub for enchanting fine arts education, Pied Piper Studios offers classes for budding artists from birth to tweens, ranging from art to theater to music classes. Enroll your child on-line to become a member (there are no annual fees) and your budding artist will be able to participate in piano classes, sewing school, summer camps and more. They also host birthday parties at their cheerful studio in Urbandale.
Valley Community Center
4444 Fuller Road • West Des Moines, IA 50265
Valley Community Center, offers low-cost classes for young artists. Classes are $3 per class with punch card or $5 drop in. A punch card can be purchased for either five classes ($15.00) or ten classes ($30.00) and can be used for any child and/or adult class offered at the Valley Community Center. Check their online class schedule and get ready to flex your creative muscles.
Local Libraries
If you want to harness and nurture your toddler and preschool Picassos, starting at your local library is a great economical way to do it. Many of them include a craft with their story time and even more have regularly occurring drop-in crafts. These crafts are usually very simple and are a great way to test your child’s patience while waiting for glue to dry and their ability to sit and listen to directions. Check your local library’s website for current schedules.
Good to Know
If your lil’ art junky is more into ceramics, there are a number of great paint-your-own pottery locations throughout our fine city – check out these four places to get fired up in Des Moines.
Where do you like to take your kids to create something amazing, and leave the clean-up to the professionals? Let us know in the comments below!
