Handmade Holiday: 6 Kid-Friendly Spots for DIY Gifts

Here's where you and the little one can make some presents with a personal touch.

By Hanna Neier December 8, 2014

Here’s a holiday PSA from us here at Red Tricycle NY: Your mother-in-law does not need another serving platter that you picked up in a panic at Macy’s. However, she’ll love one personally hand-painted by her grandchild! Make holiday dreams come true — and keep your little one engaged on a cold or rainy day — at one of these drop-in spots where kids can unleash their creativity and help you cross a few folks off your gift list!

For Tons of Options: Make Meaning in Manhattan

With its four stories of lofty modern colorful creativity areas, Make Meaning is an Upper East Side hangout with lots of options for you and your crafty kid. Make Meaning goes beyond the ordinary and offers an enormous range of activities and crafts like soap and candle-making to cookie decorating and more. Many projects costs less than $25 to make, including the make-your-own candles and soaps; you can also decorate a pair of four-inch cookies for $19.

Good to know: The activities here are suitable for all ages with the exception of glass-making, which is for kids ages eight and up. Weekday mornings are open studio where you're pretty much on your own and receive little instruction and, depending on the day, limited to plaster and ceramic painting. For more instruction, and more options, come in the afternoons or weekends when staff run drop-in, hour-long workshops every half-hour. Although drop-ins always welcome, Make Meaning offers and recommends making reservations if you want to avoid a table wait during busy hours.

Hours: Sun.-Thurs., 10a.m.-7p.m.; Fri., 10a.m.-8p.m., Sat. 10a.m.-9p.m.

212-744-0011
1501 3rd Ave. Upper East Side

Online: makemeaning.com

photo: Make Meaning/Shirley Serure Photography

Have a favorite DIY spot? Leave a comment below and let us know about it!

—Hanna R. Neier