Winter Break Activity: Discover DIY

As winter break offers up plenty of free time for kids, it’s time for parents to get crafty about finding fun (indoor) activities to engage their little ones in. We love the idea of checking out any one of these fab city craft venues!

Among the numerous places to get crafty in Manhattan, the Craft Studio, is certainly one of the best. In addition to its awesome drop-in crafting tables, the studio also offers two-hour MiniCamps to entertain your kids during mid-winter break. 1657 3rd Avenue, craftstudionyc.com

Make Meaning is another a great option for family art projects. Visitors to the Upper East Side and Upper West Side locations can choose between options like jewelry-making and cake-decorating. Though it’s possible to drop in, reservations are recommended. 329 Columbus Avenue; 1501 3rd Avenue, makemeaning.com

Parents looking to enroll their children in creative classes should look to HiArt!, which offers “smart art for smarter kids.” Courses like Opera ‘N Art engage kids from toddlers to tweens with high culture through a curriculum of mixed-media studio time, as well as gallery hops and live performances. 227 West 29th Street, hiartkids.com

The Brooklyn Design Lab in Park Slope has an eclectic selection of classes for children as young as 18 months. Your little ones will feel extra special when their creations—think miniature terrariums and t-shirt designs—are displayed in the exhibition center. 413 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, brooklyndesignlab.com

Future architects will enjoy Brooklyn’s Construction Kids. Trained professionals create a safe environment for children to create anything they can imagine, using tools designed specifically for little hands. 63 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, constructionkids.com

Though budding fashionistas have many NYC options for style inspiration, project-oriented Pins & Needles aims to have every participant leave their classes with a finished product. Adults and children alike can enjoy courses in sewing, quilting, and embroidery, and can also rent sewing machines to “Sew by the Hour.” 1045 Lexington Avenue, pinsandneedlesnyc.com

The Textile Art Center has Manhattan and Brooklyn locations with afterschool programs in weaving, dying, and sewing, as well as a gallery-based program for fashion-loving teens to learn from artists-in-residence. Classes for adults are also available. 26 West 8th Street; 505 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, textileartscenter.com

Families looking to learn about Indonesian textiles should drop into Hiho Batik. The store offers classes on the Batik dying technique, which is a very forgiving process that makes it appropriate for all ages. In addition, the store has a selection of beautiful clothes for purchase. 184 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, hihobatik.com

Loop of the Loom offers the city’s only hand-weaving studio. Children and adults can enjoy classes in SAORI, a Japanese hand-weaving process that focuses on free expression and discovery. 227 E 87th Street, loopoftheloom.com

The Upper East Side art haven Kids At Art encourages kids ages 2-12 to get messy in their age- and ability-grouped classes. Also awesome: classes for teens and adults and an on-site art gallery to show off your work. 1412 Second Avenue, kidsatartnyc.com

Budding artists as young as 2 can enjoy an array of seasonal workshops and after-school classes at the Little Shop of Crafts. Parents can even dabble in some watercolor while the kids learn the fundamentals of art. 431 East 73rd Street and 711 Amsterdam Avenue, littleshopny.com

Get toasty at Baked in Brooklyn, a studio that offers a variety of pottery classes for kids and adults alike. While its specialty is all things you can pop in a kiln, arts & crafts afternoons (for 3+) and clay classes (6+) make for some mad fun, too. 242 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, baked-in-brooklyn.com

SewHo is a program taught by Conchi Vitale, a fashion and accessories designer, who offers weekly sewing classes for children and teens. Classes have a maximum of 5 students, ages 8 and older. Projects include everything from drawstring bags, to skirts, and tops. 415 West Broadway, 6S, sewinginsoho.com

The Music Institute of Long Island

Established in 1990, the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. Long Island&rsquo;s foremost musical academies, its instrumental programs include violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone and voice classes. MILI has been voted # 1 BEST MUSIC SCHOOL Consistently.&nbsp; They teach the Traditional, Suzuki, and ABRSM methods. Students participate in All-National, All-Eastern, All-State, youth orchestras, and score highly in NYSSMA and Royal Academy Music Festivals. First prize winners of competitions earn solos at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras. MILI offers Fall/Spring semesters plus Summer Sessions. Semesters include 15-17 weeks of private lessons, solo recitals with a final GALA Concert featuring chamber music. About the Directors: Carol &amp; Geri Kushner: The sisters are violinists, violists, chamber coaches &amp; performers. They believe in instilling the love of music, &nbsp;fostering proficiency, success, confidence &amp; believe all MILI students achieve success. Degrees BM, MM (+), K-12 certifications, attended Manhattan School of Music, Queens College &amp; Stonybrook University.They have been adjunct professors at Syracuse University, Aaron Copland School of Music Pre-College &amp; Five Towns Colleges, Stonybrook University &amp; have taught in L.I. public schools.

Adventuring Portal

<a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&amp;D) games for kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&amp;D. Our D&amp;D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday &ndash; Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).&nbsp;&nbsp;15 total gaming hours for $180.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor&rsquo;s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done &amp; take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&amp;D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do. All our games focus on experiential learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&amp;D adventuring! We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum.&nbsp; All girls&rsquo; groups available.&nbsp; I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started&nbsp;Adventuring Portal, an&nbsp;online Dungeons &amp; Dragons&nbsp;business&nbsp;for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&amp;D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.