keepers because they attract bugs, they break, then you open it up and
there’s all those pieces at the bottom,” says Kinkead. If you simply can’t part
with a preschool noodle craft or feel emotionally attached to something
fragile, wrap the piece in tissue paper before placing it in a bin.

BE SELECTIVE
At the end of the school year, sort through your child’s portfolio or bin and
ask them to pick out their favorites. “So instead of keeping 75, keep 25,” she
says. But don’t stop there! Continue the culling process regularly to keep
their growing collection of artwork manageable. And remember: If they
can’t remember what they drew, it might not be worth keeping.

G O D I G I TA L
Rather than saving physical pieces of art, preserve the memory of your
child’s handiwork by snapping a photo. Display their artwork on a digital
frame or print them in a coffee-table style book. “It’s kind of like the photo
album of your trip to wherever, you also have a photo album of the art
from grades three to five,” she says. ■
JILL, 11, OF BURKE, VA, DREW A SUPERHERO AT A WORKSHOP
FOR MILITARY FAMILIES AT THE WORKHOUSE ARTS CENTER.

A SELF-PORTRAIT PAINTED BY 6-YEAR-OLD ANAYA.

NEXT UP
Kid athletes! Email us a photo of your sports superstar at
editor@washingtonfamily.com and it just might be featured
in our April issue!
20 Washington FAMILY MARCH 2020
“ I W ITN E S S E D K I D S
COMING HOME
AN D S E E I N G TH E I R
ART WO R K O N
TH E WALL AN D IT
MAK E S TH E M F E E L
ALM OS T FAM OU S .

TH AT TH E I R M O M
O R DAD TOO K TH E
TI M E TO F R AM E IT
AN D HAN G IT AN D
H AV E SO M E TH I N G
S P EC IAL FO R TH E M .

IT G IV E S TH E M
E N C OU R AG E M E NT
AN D P RO M OTE S
C R E ATIV IT Y.”
­— Meredith Forte



A RT
C LA SSES
FOR K I D S
ALL CHI L DRE N HAVE
N ATU RA L C REATI VI TY ,
even if it manifests itself as
coloring outside the lines.

Those macaroni necklaces and
glitter explosions and Crayola
chaos that populate childhood
happen because kids have
such an extensive imagination.

Art then becomes a great
vehicle for learning, growing
and having fun. With that in
mind, we put together a list of
15 local art studios where your
child can grow as an artist. For
more inspiration, check out
the listings under “Guides” at
WashingtonFamily.com. - ABRAKA DOO DL E, M U LT IP L E LO C AT IO NS , VA
Abrakadoodle offers art classes for kids ages 20 months to
elementary-school-aged, allowing them to play with paints,
wire, clay and more. They also provide art camp during the
summer and holiday breaks and host Arty Parties, including an
ARTrageous art teacher, activities, lessons and lots of materials.

abrakadoodle.com - AN N A B AN A N A A RTS A ND C R A F TS ,
WASH I N GTON , DC
Anna Banana offers classes for kids ages 2-8 and special
half-day camps on federal holidays so your little artists can
spend that time creating masterpieces. It also has a summer
camps for 4-8 year olds. annabananaartsandcrafts.com
- ART J A MZ DU P ON T ST U D IO, WA S H INGTO N, D.C .

ArtJamz is truly a creative zone (even the walls are painted with
artwork) and has classes and opportunities for the entire family.

Paint parties and graffiti parties are a great way for kids to
make their mark, and both children and adults can participate
in a freestyle session or a guided class. artjamz.com
- BLU E G I RAFFE A RT ST U D IO, WA S H INGTO N, D.C .

Blue Giraffe offers art classes for kids ages 3 and older, including
painting, drawing, collage making, stuffed animals and more.

Half-day camps are offered on federal holidays to add some
imagination to no-school days. bluegiraffedc.com
- LIT T L E LOF T STU DIO S , TA KO M A PA R K , M D
Children as young as 2 can begin their art journey in Art
Exploration class. Older kids can dive into mathematical art,
comic creation or painting and printmaking. Their next
six-week spring session begins April 19 through May 31. Kids also
can attend Little Loft Studios for summer camp, and evening
and weekend workshops are available for all members of the
family. littleloftstudios.com
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/ZINKEVYCH
- L I T TL E P IC A S S O, A N N A N DA L E , VA
Little Picasso offers beginner and intermediate classes for kids
ages 5 through third grade. Then, students can move on to the
Junior Prep program where there is less step-by-step instruction
and more independent work. High school artists can take
Portfolio Prep, which helps teens build a strong and complete
portfolio for college admissions at the top art schools around
the world. littlepicassoart.com
- R E N A IS SA N C E A RT C E N T E R , GA ITH E R S B U R G , M D
The Renaissance Art Center believes that art is an important
foundation for various pathways in life and offers classes
for children ages 3 and up in painting, pottery, animation
and sculptures, plus instruction for home schoolers.

renaissanceartcenter.com Ot h e r g re a t lo ca t io n s :
- MAS ON COMMUN IT Y ARTS AC ADE MY, VA
masonacademy.gmu.edu - T HE ART L E AG UE , VA theartleague.org
- ART S PAC E HE R N DON , VA artsherndon.org
- C APITOL HIL L ARTS WOR KS HOP
WAS HIN GTON , D.C . chaw.org
- WAS HIN GTON ST UDIO S C HOOL
WAS HIN GTON , D.C . washingtonstudioschool.org
- ART WOR KS N OW, MD artworksnow.org
- S TON E BR AN C H S C HOOL OF ART, MD
stonebrancharts.com - V ISARTS , MD visartscenter.org
—AD O R A B ROWN
WashingtonFAMILY.com 21