Before I started this review, my son said "How many stars should we give art camp?" and when I…read moreasked how many he wanted to give, he emphatically said "5 Stars!" LOL the child has spoken! 5 stars it is! There are so many camps to chose from in the East Bay but what we have been loving about Aran's Art Camp is the intimate group size: there's no more than 10 kids per art camp and we've lucked out with an even smaller group during our time here. The camp is taught by a mix of Aran herself and her staff and they've been nothing but wonderful. My kiddo comes home from art camp every day bursting at the seams about everything he's worked on and learned (giving me safety tips about glass fusing and teaching me what a pinch pot is!) and he looks forward to going back each day. Each week is a different theme so if you wanted to sign up for multiple sessions, your child will definitely be working on something different each time. While the hours are 10-2, they offer before and after care for an additional fee which basically turns this into an all day camp if you were to maximize on the 9-3 aspect of it. There's a lot of half day camps out there so if you use their before and after camp, you get a good chunk of the day covered! Lastly, they go to the park every day after lunch to let them move around and get some sunshine and Fridays is pizza day! My kid said he would love to come back to art camp again next summer.

Such a cute art studio with a variety of artsy activities! They have a variety of colors of paint…read morealong with a lot of different things to paint. It's pretty quiet in here compared to other places which I love! Parking is super easy since it's in a plaza, the people that work at this studio are super friendly and nice, and they offer so many other activities - I saw a kids painting night happening before, they have glass fusing, etc. They also have an area in the back where it looks like they do most of the classes so the pottery painting is almost always available!!

Mindart Studio is an exceptional art studio for children of all ages. My child has been attending…read moresince 2021, and the growth in their artwork over the years has been truly remarkable. The staff are friendly, talented, and gifted teachers whom kids genuinely love learning from. With flexible scheduling options, it's easy to find days and hours that fit your family's routine. After five-plus years as loyal students, we can say without hesitation that Mindart Studio is an outstanding choice for any child passionate about art. They have various locations so check their website for further details.

My daughter's drawing class has been going on for 8 weeks, and she has completed 8 pieces of…read moreartwork under the careful guidance. Although her lineworks are not very mature and the colors are not very neat, these imperfections add up to a very unique style. Mindart's teachers are very creative in choosing the theme every time. Every time my daughter finishes a piece of artwork, I cannot believe this is something made by her!

What a great place to let your creativity flow. They have pottery, raku firing, jewelry…read morefabrication, lost wax casting, painting and so much more. And if you are the creative kind, they have an awesome gallery that is used to exhibit some of the local artists. Oh, I should not forget to give a shoutout to the instructors. They are each top notch, kind and willing to share their experiences to set you down the path to prove your artistic talents. So don't wait, set yourself free from those reruns and sign up for a class through the Hayward Arts and Recreational Department (HARD) and try your hand at your new you. It's a great place to learn, meet people and share experiences.

My daughter attended an art camp at this location, and she loved it! She had so much! She will be…read moreback for sure next year.

first time making rugs & it was an amazing & fun experience! we had the chance to trim the rug and…read moreto shave the top even. sevyn (owner) is really sweet and welcoming! answered all our questions & concerns prior to starting! located inside the plaza on the right side! there's some parking spots inside the plaza and also on the street right outside. overall if I wanted to make another rug I would definitely come back! - classes are also offered :)

My 10-year-old daughter and I had an amazing day at Sevyn's studio. It was our first time tufting,…read moreand Sevyn was the perfect guide. She is flexible, accommodating, and a wonderful teacher. The environment she facilitates is entirely non-judgmental and free of rigid rules. We felt like we were just hanging out in an artist's personal workshop where you're handed the tools and given the freedom to create at your own pace and guided when needed. We never felt rushed and loved the comfortable, relaxed vibe. Highly recommend.

Great time at Messy makers! We did a drop in class while my daughter had a week off of daycare…read more Usually the classes are on weekdays--ideal for stay at home moms or Nannies to take kids. I suggested to Amy to do weekend classes for working moms, she mentioned she would think about it. Overall, nice class where the first 10-15 minutes are free play in stations such as painting, kinetic sand, playdough then there is an actual class where everyone does the same thing and then there is story time and after that kids can jump on the trampoline. Most of the kids in the session I went to were younger than my daughter so come in with an open mind! Your 2 or 3 year old may be the best listener in the world, however if all the other kids are not paying attention, you might not get your desired art project. I think my kiddo liked the trampoline the best :) Overall a cool class, if you sign up for a whole session it's approx $30 a class. Once again, come in with an open mind, your kid is not gonna roll out of here being the next Piccaso.

I am a nanny for the most adorable 2 year old and her parents signed her up for the Messy Makers…read moreprogram. From the moment she walked in she loved it ! Ms. Amy has an enchanting backyard that is child friendly and beautiful. She understands child development and introduces age-appropriate activities for the children that cover all the domains: cognitive, social emotional, physical ( fine and gross motor skills), and language and literacy through a variety of open ended art experiences. The activities are child chosen and she even reads a book and offers a yummy snack during the duration. The other parents are friendly and it's a wonderful learning time ! I have my masters in early childhood education and have been in the field for 30 years and believe me your child will love this !

When the invite initially arrived I was not thrilled thinking it was an indoor jump house (from the…read morename). I am an elementary school teacher so this is my weekend nightmare. I was SO wrong! This is a rare Bay Area gem for kids and families, every city should have one. All the attendees were impressed with the genius of the space, organization, cleanliness, and huge outdoor area. There are multiple indoor and outdoor "zones." The building is a duplex- home, when you enter there is a craft room with multiple round tables with crafts set up, in the center is a book/play area with tons of toys and cute furniture, a side room with a free personalized photobooth (email not printed) which is where the food was set up, and two bathrooms. Outside there was another bathroom. Down the ramp was a patch of fake grass where the party set up a piñata. Next to that, toddler equipment on wood chips. In the center, a huge table for kiddos to eat. Then the back corner has a large play structure and a fun bike ride where multiple kids could ride at the same time. This said, it's important for folks to consider that the two adults provided from Twirl are not enough to supervise an entire party. So keep this in mind as you are planning your party. This wasn't an issue at all for our group as the parents were all very hands on. The party I attended was from 10:30-12:30. I was so impressed with Duponte and Bella's ability to jump in- give the kiddos tattoos, help with the cake, clean up, and transition to the afternoon party. This is the PERFECT place to host your toddler- 2nd grade birthday party!

We hosted my son's 3rd birthday party at the Whimsy location and it was magical, even the planning…read moreprocess was effortless! The staff were so kind, accommodating and caring. I've been at birthday parties where you have to ask the staff the help but not here. Both Duponte and Emma were looking for opportunities to engage. Emma played with the kids and attempted to keep the group entertained with crafts. They both helped set up; Duponte even lifted heavy coolers filled with drinks out of my car (and then reloaded when the party was over). Both staff hung up banners and helped with random set up tasks that I asked to be completed before guests arrived. The morning of our party it had rained at it looked like the weather was cleaning up so both Emma and Duponte wiped down the outdoor play equipment so the kids could spend some time outside. Everyone here loves kids, and it shows. We also received lots of compliments from friends and family truly impressed with the space and the activities available. It was the best place possible to host a birthday party. Thanks to everyone at Twirl for making my son's day so special and my day so easy. We can't wait to come back!

Allison is a wonderful art teacher and my daughter really enjoyed taking her art classes for the…read morepast year. She is a kind spirited person and really awesome/patient with kids of all ages. Her classes are fun and creative. My daughter always had something beautiful to bring home, and alot of them are hung up in her room at our new place :) Art classes can get expensive but i find Allison's fees to be very reasonable and it is for an hour and a half...Unfortunately we moved out of SL and the classes had to stop, if we were any closer, i would sign my daughter up for her classes in a heart beat! There is a beautiful garden and a play structure right in front of her school, another plus!

Mulford Gardens is a sweet lushly vegetated, pergola blooming playground, outdoor venue, and art…read moreschool tucked off a side street on the industrial section of San Leandro. I saw a sign for a children's art camp and took the opportunity to enrich my little peanut who goes through paper like a bag of Doritos with a little formal instruction. The camp lasted a week, three hours daily, and concluded with a celebratory art show and family friendly picnic. The instructor, Allison, is a talented life long artist from a family of artists, who currently runs the day to day functions of the park along with the school in the rear building. She is amazing with rowdy smocked children running amok flinging actual paint and canvases--not washable fingerpaint, but wear your play garb for a genuine, stain inducing introduction to techniques of fine art. My daughter came home with a bagful of illustrations of every animal known to man, a finished canvas, and a memory of an experience she wants to repeat again. Fortunately, the school offers both after school programs during the year and multiple sessions in the summer. Additionally, there are adult classes--one in the late afternoon and another on Wednesday evenings that I recently decided to dip my 'haven't painted in 20 years palette' into. It's been a fabulous three classes so far. A traditional art curriculum with warm ups, exercises in charcoal still life's, cross hatching, scratch etching, and sustained work on oil canvas. Allison knows when to give guidance and when to let you figure out brush strokes on your own. I'm learning to ride my "artist" bike all over again and enjoying every challenging, creative moment. I highly recommend this obscure little school in San Leandro. I hope it grows like the garden it's situated in.

This studio is amazing! The teachers here are so supportive and so kind! I'm so glad i get to be…read moreapart of this studio!

My daughter loves dancing with this studio.She has been dancing with this studio for 7 years…read more Highly recommend