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Are you exhausted by YouTube searches, overwhelmed by Pinterest, or tired of hunting down creative activities for your child? We have your back with a hub of filled with hundreds kid-friendly creative prompts that are fun, easy, and engaging.
You want to get your child involved at the maker table, but you don't know where to start. Does finding a project, figuring it out, and then prepping it stress you out before you even start? We do all the planning for you so all you have to do is set out supplies and watch creativity unfold.
You want to get your child involved but nothing seems to hold their attention. They struggle to stay focussed and it's hard to come up with ideas that keep them interested. TinkerLab's teaching philosophy is based on current educational research that puts the child in a position to imagine, explore, experiment, create, and reflect. Our methodology encourages children to follow curiosities so that they are confident learners with self efficacy and motivation.
You want be the parent who doesn't hesitate to lay out paints and glue at a moments notice, and you could use some tips to help you get started with process art, tinkering, building, science, and hands-on making. We've worked with thousands of parents just like you and are ready to give you the tools you need to make magic happen at your tinkering table.
TinkerLab Schoolhouse is the only art and STEAM creativity membership that teaches families how to set up hands-on experiences, offers hundreds of developmentally appropriate videos, and delivers weekly project plans.
Choose your own adventure from an easy-to-search library of activities for all ages and interests. Topics cover collage, design, drawing, engineering, fiber, math, painting, photography, printmaking, process art, science, and sculpture. Fill your pantry with basic supplies and you’ll never be at a loss for ideas. Loaded with set-up tips, Extend it! Ideas, and teaching that encourages kids to think outside the box.
We'll send you a weekly organized blueprint that includes a planner, materials checklist, and designed magazine to inspire your whole week. The thoughtfully curated art or STEAM activities come with a complete materials checklist, downloadable PDF activity sheet, “Extend It” ideas to stretch the activity for kids who want to try more, and fun short-format videos that kids can watch on their own or with their favorite grown-up.
TinkerLab Creative Journey - a getting started series that helps you go from overwhelm to comfortable creating. We'll cover everything from setting up your makerspace to developmental ages and stages.
Deep dive workshops with Rachelle and/or guest teachers that cover topics such as How to Set up Invitations to Create, How to Talk to Children about their Art, Process vs. Product Art, and Setting up a Creative Space for Kids.
Connect with other families and educators who are also on a tinkering, making, process art journey with an interest in raising creative kids. Swap ideas and get inspiration in this welcoming group.
Kid-friendly Curated Spotify Playlists to create with (a member favorite)
Tried and True Dough and Sensory Recipes
We’ll make sure you don’t get stuck when you’re hit with moments of perfectionism or overwhelm from art-making messes. You need someone rooting for you with reminders about why this work is so important.
The Schoolhouse sweet spot is early childhood (ages 3-8). Most of the prompts are open-ended and exploratory, making them accessible and friendly for families with younger children, children of multiple ages, and older children who enjoy exploring and tinkering.
You’ll gain access to your hub as soon as you sign up. Once you enroll, we’ll send you an email with your login details.
You’ll have access to Schoolhouse as long as your membership is active.
The activities are EASY to set up, even if you don’t consider yourself creative. The wide range of art, science, and tinkering projects are designed as starting points for further discovery, and leave room for experimentation, ideation, and creativity. It’s all grounded in best practices so your child has fun while they learn and grow. Each activity comes with a downloadable PDF, short-format video (+ transcript) that you can watch with your child or that they can watch independently. Families who don’t want to access video can still have a rich Schoolhouse experience with PDFs alone. Some of our members keep activity binders for children to flip through and select activities on their own time.
When you join Schoolhouse we’ll invite you to work through exercises that can help you establish a creative habit. Building on that, each week we’ll send you a curated calendar with 5 prompts (plus a supply list and tips for success). If building a creative habit is important to you, set aside time to try at least one prompt each week and you’ll be on your way to developing more creative confidence. For families who would rather choose their own adventure, pick and choose from our growing library and go at your own pace. Implement as you learn and take as much time as you need.
We like to keep things simple and our focus is largely on basic materials like crayons, markers, paper, watercolor paint, playdough (we’ll give you an easy DIY recipe), and household supplies, so you won’t have to dig deep into your pocket to join in. Every now and then we’ll introduce more unique materials because they’re fun. When possible, we’ll share alternative supplies for these items.
TinkerLab Schoolhouse is designed for families to use with their child or children at home. One membership per family. The home membership is not designed for classrooms, art classes, art studios, businesses, or to be shared by multiple families.
Teachers, art studio owners, or playgroup leaders: Please email us at rachelle at tinkerlab dot com and we can set up a classroom membership for you (extra fees apply).
We welcome makers with all skills and have helped so many parents who were new to making. Our simple projects carve a clear and easy path to open-ended making, and our four-stage TinkerLab Journey will help you develop the creative skills you need to support your child along the way.
We’re happy if you’re happy. Schoolhouse is risk-free. If it’s not a good fit, email us within 7 days for your money back. Once you’re a paying member, you can cancel at any time and will only pay for the current billing cycle.
Yes! We recognize that some families can use extra help and we don’t want anyone to get left behind for lack of resources. If you’re facing financial hardship, scholarships are available. Apply here.
I have taught thousands of children how to connect with their inner voice at the maker table, and I can teach your child, too, in TinkerLab Schoolhouse.
I have a masters in Arts Education from Harvard, I’m the author of three best-selling books on childhood creativity, and I’ve been an art and STEAM teacher for over 20 years. Throughout my career in arts education, my mission has always been to help children pay attention to what lights them up while following their curiosities.
When children can experiment, explore, imagine, and play, they become fuller versions of themselves. Perfectionist tendencies fall away to risk-taking, uncertainty is replaced with confidence, and fear is taken over by joy!
Join me in Schoolhouse and discover how liberating it can feel to help your child connect with their innate creativity.