At Creation Station we have developed our award-winning classes to be provided on-line with crafts packs delivered to each child (or adult for our adult crafting sessions).
We are mindful of the amount of time children spend on screens and wanted to review how children were responding to the online creative classes and what parents and our franchise partners thought.
In this webinar we discuss how The Creation Station online creative workshops have been received by children and adults alike.
Here is an overveiw on the benefits based on feedback from children, parents and our franchise partners,
1. Personalised crafts packs
The children get really excited to receive their own personalised Fun Arty Box with the crafts they need for their ten-week programme. As the boxes are packed with a whole range of materials, there is plenty for the children to carry on getting creative after the session and during the week. Children often develop their activities inspired by the activities they have done in the session.
2. Screen time is minimal
The screen acts purely as way of connecting and facilitating the activities for the children. Just like in our sessions, we provide journeys of exploration, discovery and development. The children don’t have to watch the screen all the time and in fact, they rarely look up as they get so engrossed in their own creations – which is fabulous to see.
3. Individual attention
These sessions feel very personal as we can see and comment on what each child is doing.
“One parent has signed their child up because of the personal and close approach that they can get from being on Zoom with me – with so much distancing going on around them this feels more like one to one interaction”
“There is a lot more 1 to1 interaction, as there is often an adult there with them doing the practical/ helping side of things so it doe shave a very friendly feel” Alix Purton Creation Station franchise, partner
“After the initial introduction of the creative idea, children are really excited to involved in it – alone or with parental support. It’s not the same as watching an online tutorial as the session is helping to develop their own ideas not copy and worry theirs isn’t as good as someone elses. We do feel like we are sitting across the table with them“. Nicola Gillaspy Creation Station franchise, partner.
4. Building confidence / Independent learning /confidence
The sessions are a time for them to show and tell the things they’ve done at home throughout the week. This includes other models and art and crafts, often a development from the sessions but sometimes just lovely random things they are excited to share with us.
In an email from one of our Create Club dads, he said
“I’ve been thrilled to see how my daughter has grown in confidence and independence whilst she’s been participating in the online club with me since Easter”
During the sessions the children join in with discussions and share ideas because no one is watching them in class. They have said they feel more relaxed and comfortable in their own home.
In one of our Create Clubs that moved from in school to online, one of the previously shyest club members is now one of the chattiest!
5. Wellbeing
There is a strong sense of achievement and pride when the children develop their own ideas and produce their own creations. These are often displayed at home. One family has transformed their garage into their daugther art gallery from work hey have done with Creation Station.
The sessions can be directly related to their own experience. For example, in one of our ‘Inspired my me’ sessions, we were created pet rocks. All the children had a pet and brought their pets to show each other onscreen introduction, which was lovely and made the children feel special too.
The children ‘meet’ other children if the session is open to children from any school.
Their creations often get finished long after the session ends because the children are engrossed in the activity. Photos arrive several days later with many comments from parents saying they’ve really enjoyed working on it. We reive a lot of feedback saying that their child has grown in confidence developed a new hobby getting creative!
6. Family
Some children feel more comfortable with the parent/ carer with them in the session, for not just practical support, but emotionally it is helpful for them.
The online classes provide this opportunity and enabled parents to see and get involved if they want to.
We have quite a lot of Grandparents taking part too, as many look after the grandchildren after school. This gives them some structured session time that they can enjoy too.
One parent has described it as ‘family time’ as both dad and mum are currently working at home, and both parents take part with 2 children.
From our experiences and insights, we see that the screen facilitate sessions, but opens up a wealth of other opportunities and benefits that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Find out where your local classes are – Children’s classes near me
If you would like to enjoy pre-recorded classes visit our anytime learning platform called ICR8. Explore anytime arts and crafts classes
