The “maker” movement, a DIY wave that has swept the country, has plenty to offer kids and families. If your child loves to make art, repurpose used materials into new inventions, design robots, or build giant structures for the sole purpose of knocking them back down, here are some options that are sure to challenge and delight.
What happens when you get a group of enterprising artists and environmental designers together to create an interactive kids’ workshop for the Hammer Museum? Something awesome, of course! Artists Edgar Arceneaux and Nery Lemus, and Formation Association Design Director John Chan are the creative team behind Collapse Construction, a set of colorful cardboard tubes and zip ties that kids (and grown-ups) use to build huge structures in the museum’s courtyard (10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.), then knock them down and begin again. It offers an unconventional and creative option for birthday parties or special school events. Contact Nery at 626-543-4088 to learn more.
Whether your kid is passionate about Legos, animation, robotics or Minecraft, Digital Dragon (3026 Nebraska Ave., Ste. A, Santa Monica; 424-280-4654; www.digital dragon.co) has you covered. Classes are targeted toward tech-minded kids ages 7 to 18 and run the gamut from computer programming to 3D printing. Digital Dragon’s goal is to help students evolve from consuming technology to creating it. The 90-minute classes cost $33, including materials.
Little Junebugs (27 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; 626-440-7300; www.littlejunebugs.com) offers kids a place to plug in their imaginations and immerse themselves in crafting fun. The studio is open Tuesday through Sunday ($10 per hour) for little ones to use the fun crafting supplies provided. Best of all, Mom and Dad don’t have to clean up afterward. Little Junebugs also hosts birthday parties and innovative events such as karaoke crafting parties.
Accessible via an alley, Rediscover Center’s (12958 Washington Ave., L.A.; 310-393-3636; www.rediscovercenter.org) warehouse has the cool feel of a secret club. And it really is something special. Kids build, craft and create with supplies from an always-changing selection of donated and reused materials, limited only by their imaginations. Hand tools and hot-glue guns are available, and facilitators are on hand to assist when needed. The warehouse is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. every Saturday. Admission is free, and visitors pay $5 for each project they take home. Camps and workshops are also offered.
Located in the Hammer building at LACMA, the Boone Children’s Gallery (5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; 323-857-6000; www.lacma.org) is a place for families to paint together almost any day of the week (it’s closed on Wednesdays). Families enjoy the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of the gallery while learning more about art from China and Korea. Anyone under age 18 signed up for the free NexGen membership – plus one accompanying adult – can enjoy free admission to the Boone and any of LACMA’s other regular exhibits.