For every parent who’s ever had the urge to join in when you drop your kid off at an activity, now’s your chance. Learn and bond as a family, whether you’re practicing kicks at a karate class or painting a masterpiece at an art class. So if you’re looking for a refresh on things to do and learn in Seattle, check out these family-friendly, parent and child classes to take up this year. They’re accommodating to your time, your kiddo’s attention span and your budget. Let’s get learning!
Practice Black Belt Focus
If martial arts and black belt focus run in your family, then classes at Queen Anne’s Family Black Belt Academy are for you. Training under a 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, parents and children in FBBA not only get to train alongside each other in classes, parents play a huge role in helping their children level up at home too. Children earn their white belt by having “black belt focus” at home. That's where they earn marks from moms and dads for completing tasks or following directions with “black belt focus.” It helps children learn to pause gaming, screen time and other activities in a rewarding and motivating way (bye bye, power struggles). The recommended class frequency is two times per week, and classes are open to all skill levels, including beginner.
Good to know: Try a free week of classes when you sign up, and save 20% on an annual payment.
Age: 5 & up
Cost: Starting at $250/one child
Family Black Belt Academy
60 Etruria St., # 350
Seattle, WA 98109
206-280-9508
Online: familyblackbeltacademy.com
Create OOAK Art
Seattle Glassblowing Studio is the place to go if creating art and one-of-a-kind (OOAK) pieces to fill your home is what you're after. Families can create glass art that is casted, pressed or blown. For younger children with shorter attention spans, creating cast pieces takes about an hour, and families can create one or two works in this session. For children 11 years or older, glass blown pieces have been a hit, with classes taking about 3 hours to make three to five pieces. Classes are open to all skill levels, and small and large group classes are available for up to 30 people (hello, birthday party!).
Insider tip: Glass pieces can also be made within 15-30 minutes, if families choose to bypass the class or add more pieces to their haul.
Ages: 5 & up
Cost: $125-$395
Seattle Glass Blowing Studio
2227 5th Ave.
Seattle WA 98121
206-448-2181
Online: seattleglassblowing.com
Build, Design & Create
Free Family Day is returning to The Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM), and we can't wait! It’s a perfect event for budding STEM-minded kids. BAM’s current exhibition will inspire activities related to architecture at the next Free Family Day. This includes 3D printing, building environments and more in the four-hour workshop. Children as young as 4 years old can take part of the event and the whole family is encouraged to join in. Please remember that space is limited and COVID precautions are a top priority at the Museum.
Insider tip: You’ll want to sign up soon for this popular program families have been missing. Registration opened on February 24.
Ages: 4-10
Cost: Free
Event details
Bellevue Arts Museum
510 Bellevue Way N.E.
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-519-0770
Online: bellevuearts.org
Paint with a Twist
We’ve all seen Mommy & Me clothing, but have you heard of Mommy & Me painting? Painting with a Twist is a super family-friendly studio located across the street from the Auburn Outlet Collection. Families can book classes geared toward creating art with their kids, like the Mommy & Me Unicorn class (pictured), where parents and children each paint one half a larger image. You and the kids can choose classes to create specific paintings, based on skill level and the size of canvas. It’s easy to find that picture perfect class when you filter by “Family Day” on the website when you book.
Good to know: The studio is open to birthday parties, baby showers and other celebrations for the whole family.
Ages: All
Cost: Starting at $29/person
Painting with a Twist
920 15th St. S.W.
Auburn, WA 98001
253-735-0308
Online: paintingwithatwist.com
Reach for New Heights
Test your rock climbing skills as a family at Edgeworks Climbing + Fitness in Seattle (hint: they have locations in Bellevue and Tacoma, too). Private lessons at Edgeworks allow families to learn together with an instructor to gain basic techniques in rock climbing. While there is no set age range for children to learn with parents, tots must fit into a harness to take the class. Once basic skills are met, families can enjoy Pro Belay sessions, where staff handle the ropes while parents and kids focus on their climbing course (psst...have your kids race you to the top). Private intermediate and advance courses for repelling and rescue are also available for families looking to master their skills together.
Ages: Any (kids must fit into harnesses)
Cost: $90/hr.
Edgeworks Climbing + Fitness Seattle
2839 N.W. Market St.
Seattle, WA 98107
206-781-9828
Online: edgeworksclimbing.com
"Break" Things Up
Renton's Body Language Studio launched their Kid 'N Play Saturday sessions for breaking enthusiasts. Grown up b-boys and b-girls with their own Littles now have an outlet to share their love for hip-hop in this four-week session with Seattle's Massive Monkee's Jeromeskee. The interactive hip-hop and breaking class is open to any skill level, and parents, caregivers or grandparents are invited to join in the fun (one adult and child per class, please). Registration is open and space is extremely limited, so you'll want to register as soon as possible to secure your spot. The first class is on March 5. Classes full? Check in for drop-in availability each weekend, or wait for open registration of summer sessions that begin in March as well.
Ages: 3-8
Cost: $80/4 Sessions; $25/Drop-in
Event details
Body Language Studio
3155 N.E. Sunset Blvd., Suite B
Renton, WA 98056
425-255-1277
Online: cornerstonestudio.com
Snap to It
Secret class alert! The Sprouting Image is known for teaching kids to use real professional cameras to up their photography skills. But they also offer classes for parents and kids to snap great pics together. Register to learn all about composition, aperture and what all the buttons on your camera do (hint: they focus on major camera brands like Nikon, Canon and Sony). Classes are 1.5 hours with two parents and one child, and they take place at an agreed upon location, like the Botanical Garden in Bellevue, a local park or even in the comfort of your back yard. Hello, easy activity! Real professional cameras will be provided for families to use. At the end, photography lesson guides and a gallery image from the day’s shoot (from all cameras) will be sent. It’s a great way to get outside and snap memories together.
Cost: Starting at $225
Online: thesproutingimage.com
Nail It!
Lowe's popular in-person workshops for families are back. They provide monthly DIY Kids’ workshops for the next generation of builders. The workshops run 15-30 minutes and include a kit to assemble with a parent. Don't worry, they're also led by an expert instructor who's there to answer questions and help guide you and your little builders through the project. Workshops are open to all skill levels, and although registration isn't required, it is recommended. The best part? Workshops are free and happen monthly on second Saturdays, so if you can't make it in March, April is just around the corner.
Insider tip: During the March workshop, kids will get to build a tabletop game.
Ages: 4-11
Cost: Free
Event details
Locations in North Seattle, Rainier Valley, Renton & Tukwila.
Online: lowes.com
Classes That Are in the Works
Whip Up Something Good
Mark your calendars for May 2022, because that's when PCC will be adding their parent/child classes into the mix. PCC Kitchen has a great track record with their kid's cooking classes that feature talented cooks and healthy recipes. Expect the same attention to detail and commitment to cooking and baking from scratch with this new batch of classes. While most current kid’s cooking classes are for ages 8 and up, family classes will include the tiniest of tots, at 5 years old. Keep an eye out for registration to open, as spaces will be limited.
Ages: 5 & up
Cost: $95/Parent & kid team
Various locations around Seattle and the Eastside.
206-545-7112
Online: pccmarkets.com
Dance the Hula
Also set for May is Body Language Dance Studio's first Keiki-Parent Hula Classes. Scheduled to debut around Mother's Day, these hula classes are created for families to learn along side each other, with a nod to mom and child (though dads are invited to join in as well). Keep an eye out for registration on their website, or try their parent-kid breaking classes to see what this creative dance studio is all about. We're happy to report, no experience is necessary at this one; all skill levels are welcome.
Ages: 4-10
Cost: TBD
Body Language Dance Studio
3155 N.E. Sunset Blvd.,Suite B
Renton, WA 98056
425-255-1277
Online: cornerstonestudio.com
Covid considerations: Currently, all classes require masks and social distancing according to King County health and safety guidelines. There are few specific classes that will require adults and children 12 and up to show proof of vaccination to participate.
—Betty Rose Cortes
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