Classes for Kids: A passion for learning starts young

As a child I was dragged to a wide array of classes and lessons. Swimming, Aikido, piano, clarinet, singing, and Hebrew were all activities I participated in, some more willingly than others. While I never became particularly adept at any of these, I believe the routine did instill a lifetime interest in learning, perhaps even leading to the publication of this magazine.

Today, the variety of learning activities available to children far exceeds the selection from my youth of 30-plus years ago. In the Chicago area, classes range from acting to yoga. This article looks at just a few of the options awaiting the newborn to high-school aged population.

Downtown Chicago

Located above the "L" tracks in Chicago's loop, the School of Ballet Chicago provides classical dance training to students as young as three. Classes include Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, and Introduction to Ballet. SBC also offers courses at their satellite near north and north side locations.

School of Ballet Chicago
218 South Wabash Ave., Chicago
312 251.8838
www.balletchicago.org

Overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan, the Boitsov Classical Ballet School offers pre-ballet training for 3-1/2 year olds and older.

Boitsov Classical Ballet School
410 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago
312-663-0844



Near North

Perhaps the newest kids on the block offering classes for kids is Bubbles Academy. Located minutes from Chicago's downtown and the North Avenue Interstate 90/94 exit, Bubbles Academy offers programs for infants though 7 year olds in yoga, imagination, art, music, and creative movement. Founded by Kristine Swano, an educator with ten years experience in private and public schools, and Gregoire Johnson, an entrepreneur and videographer, Bubbles Academy has been offering innovative programs since their opening last autumn.

Swano and Johnson emphasize the "importance in being creative when working with children." This is evident in their whimsical, colorful, 10,000 square foot facility. Two large learning spaces are used, the largest of which features a green, padded, carpeted floor that merges into a mural-covered wall that depicts animals, birds, and a horizon at child's-eye level to help the child feel at the center of this fun and imaginative space. A music and video system are also integral to the space and are used to inspire the young student's imagination.

While the class names may seem silly ("yogini bubbles", "goo-gah bubbles", and "blossom bubbles", for example) and silliness is encouraged among their instructors, this should not hide the serious pedagogy behind their classes. Swano's specialty is early childhood development, and she has used her training in the creation of the classes.

Bubbles Academy
1504 North Fremont, Chicago
312 944.7677
www.bubblesacademy.com

Located in a turn-of-the-century mansion in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, Palette and Chisel has been offering a workspace for serious artists for more than one hundred years. More recently, the Palette & Chisel has become an art school, and this year will be adding art classes and summer workshops for children and teens. Classes will include "Mixed Media Drawing and Painting" and "Oil Painting". For more information contact the Palette & Chisel or instructor Janet Tracy at 312-943-1145.

Palette & Chisel
1012 North Dearborn Parkway, Chicago
312 642.4149
www.paletteandchisel.org

Children are best equipped to learn language when they are very young. Toddlers who learn a language in addition to their native tongue have a tremendous advantage intellectually as they get older. Language Stars offers its FunImmersion™ at nine Chicago area locations. FunImmersion™ is much as the name implies - an entertaining program that combines games, music, and other engaging activities - led by native speakers of a foreign language. Activities include storytelling, puppets, movement, and song. Programs are offered for 3 to 5 year olds, 5 to 8 year olds, 8 to 10 year olds, and a Parents & Tots program for 1 to 3 year olds.

Language Stars
1777 North Clybourn, Chicago
312 587.9795
www.languagestars.com


North Side

Another newcomer to the area is the Inside Out Art Studio in Chicago's St. Ben's community. Classes are offered in art, cartooning, drama and improvisation, and video. They are also one of the few organizations offering courses in mask making and puppet building.

Inside Out Art Studio
2005 West Montrose, Chicago
773 697.5012
www.insideoutarts.us

Sweet Pea's Studio specializes in classes for parents - both expecting and existing - and their children. Courses include "Baby & Me", a class designed to help parents share the benefits of yoga and bond with their 1 to 12 month olds. Also offered are "Infant Massage" (which benefits the child by improving digestion, muscle tone, and sleeping patterns) and Kindermusik¨, a music and movement program for newborns to one year olds.

Sweet Pea's Studio
3717 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago
773 248.9642
www.sweetpeasstudio.com

Kids love to get dirty. Since 1997, Park West Ceramics has been helping adults and children get their hands dirty through pottery classes and exhibits. Their "Kids Clay" program offers children ages 10 and up classes in handbuilding and wheelthrowing. Students are both taught the fundamentals of working with clay and encouraged to use creativity to take their work to a more expressive level.

Park West Ceramics
719 West Wrightwood, Chicago
773 296.2160
www.parkwestceramics.com

The Chicago Aikikai offers Saturday aikido classes for childrens. Ages 4 to 6 can participate with parental participation. A separate class is held for ages 7 to 12.

Chicago Aikikai
3652 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
773 935.2334
www.chicagoaikikai.org

Grace Productions Academy and the perennial Chicago favorite, Wishbone Restaurant, are now collaborating on a "Young Chef's Breakfast Club." On Tuesday mornings children and parents explore sounds, letters, and words, with a different theme being added to the story each week.

Grace Productions
773 593.5048


Far North

Children are fearless. They love to climb and tumble and scare their parents with a total disregard for gravity. At the Circus Factory - a creation of the eclectic and critically acclaimed Midnight Circus - children are provided a safe and fun environment for learning trapeze, tumbling, juggling, human pyramids, and more. Their "Circus 101" class is for 7-14 year olds.

Circus Factory
4430 N. Western Avenue, Chicago
773 463.4574
www.circusfactory.net

Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jane Addams in 1889, the Jane Addams Hull House plays a major role in American social history and the philosophy of community service and reform. The Jane Addams Hull House - Center for Arts & Culture provides classes for adults, seniors, and children. Courses for youths are scheduled in ceramics (an after school program for ages 8 to 12 is offered) and photography (a beginner's course for teenagers is offered)

Jane Addams Hull House - Center for Arts & Culture
1136 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago
773 907.9403 ext. 101
www.hullhouse.org

Recently relocated after many years in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Lill Street Art Center now has a new, spacious facility in Ravenswood. Classes are offered for ages 2 through 17. Toddler courses are designed to include one parent and include "Clay, Song and Stories", where music, movement, and clay are combined in a 10 week class. Classes for older children include art, clay, mosaic, metalsmithing, and much more.

Lill Street Art Center
4401 North Ravenswood, Chicago
773 769.4226
www.lillstreet.com

Another transplant to the area is the venerable Old Town School of Folk Music. Started during the folk music boom of the late 1950's, the school has grown into a prominent venue for performance and education. Kids classes start with their Wiggleworm¨ classes for ages 6 months to 5 years. Wiggleworms¨ combines music, dance, and singing. For older children and teens a wide variety of music and dance classes are offered.

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago
773 728.6000
www.oldtownschool.org

Founded in 1974 and located in Andersonville, the Joel Hall Dance Center's mission is to enrich the lives of its community through dance education and performance. Classes are scheduled for preschoolers, elementary, teens, and adults. Courses include Hip Hop, Tap, Urban Jazz, Classical Ballet, Musical Theatre, and Modern. Training begins for those as young as 2.

Joel Hall Dance Center
1511 West Berwyn, Chicago
773 293.0900
www.joelhall.org

Also in Andersonville, Judy Torigoe and her Allegro Studio have been offering piano lessons since 1992. Group Activity Hours are offered to younger students and covers performance and general musical knowledge.

Allegro Music Studio
5301 North Clark Street, Chicago
773 334.4650
www.allegromusicstudio.com


Northwest Side

The Portage Park Center for the Arts is tucked away in a pretty, quiet northwest side neighborhood, and presents performances, exhibitions, and classes at the former Nebo Lutheran Church Building. Executive Directory Jennifer La Civita encourages visitors and students to "seek the artist in you and celebrate creativity, self-expression, and community." The PPCA offers inexpensive courses for adults and youths. Classes for kids include Berlitz¨ Foreign Language for Children, yoga (for ages 13 and up), creativity (for ages 9 to 17), jewelry making (for ages 9 and up), Filipino Folk Dance (for ages 6 and up), and Cooking (for ages 12 and up). One of their innovative offering is Yoga for the Special Child™ which enable children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and learning disabilities enjoy the freedom of their bodies through yoga.

Portage Park Center for the Arts
5801 West Dakin Street, Chicago
773 205.0151


North Shore

Located next to a lighthouse on Lake Michigan, the Evanston Art Center has been offering adult and youth art, craft, and photography classes for many years. Recent additions to their art school are Preschool and Toddler Art classes. Classes include "Paste, Paint and Pound", a hands-on, experimental class that exposes 3 year olds to a variety of materials and art-making methods, plus stories, music, and movement. Several other titles are offered, as well. For older students courses are available in painting, cartooning, photography, sculpture, printing, and more.

Evanston Art Center
2603 Sheridan Road, Evanston
847 475.5300
www.evanstonartcenter.org

Founded by a trio of art therapists, the Open Studio Project began in Chicago in 1991 and moved to Evanston in 2000, where it offers "Art & Adventure" for parents with children ages 2-5, and "Art & Story" for children 8-12. Open studio is available for all ages.

Open Studio Project, Inc.
903 Sherman Avenue, Evanston
847 475.0390
www.openstudioproject.org

Featuring an illustrious list of alumni that includes Lara Flynn Boyle, Joan and John Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Aidan Quinn, and Lili Taylor, the Piven Theatre Workshop has been training fine actors for more than 30 years. Classes are offered for 4th grade through high school and include Theatre Games (grades 4-6), Scene Study (grades 6-8), and Commedia (high school).

Piven Theatre Workshop
927 Noyes, Evanston
847 866.6597
www.piventheatre.org/workshop

Also tucked away in Evanston's Noyes Cultural Arts Center, the Actors Gymnasium Circus & Performing Arts School offers training for adults and youths in the circus arts. Through their affiliation with Lookingglass Theatre, classes are also offered in Chicago at the Athanaeum, 2936 North Southport, and Water Tower Works, 821 North Michigan.

Actors Gymnasium Circus & Performing Arts School
927 Noyes Street, Evanston
847 328.2795
www.actorsgymnasium.com

The North Shore Art League was founded in 1924 and has been offering art classes for most of its illustrious history. Located in the Winnetka Community House, their main studio was built in 1931 and features a 60-foot skylight and large fireplace. Classes are offered for both adults and youths. Kids classes include "Fun with Clay" (for 2nd & 3rd graders), "Art Attack", "Cartooning & Claymation" (for agess 8-12), and "Star Players Musical theatre Workshop" (for ages 6-13).

North Shore Art League
620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka
847 446.0520
www.northshoreartleague.org

The French Institute of the North Shore offers L'Acad?mie des Enfants, a daily French immersion school for young children on Chicago's North Shore. L'Acad?mie des Enfants - The Children's Academy - offers an alternative to English speaking pre-school and kindergarten programs for 3-6 year olds.

French Institute of the North Shore
562 Green Bay Road, Winnetka
847 501.5800
www.FrenchInstituteNS.com

Language Stars offers their programs including FunImmersion™ in Wilmette, Deerfield, and Lake Bluff. To learn more see above.

Language Stars
335 Ridge Road, Suite D-2, Wilmette
847 256.8000

400 Lake Cook Road, Suite 222, Deerfield
847 914.0680

244 East Center Avenue, Lake Bluff
847 295.0095


West Suburbs

In additional to selling contemporary fine art, fashion, jewelry, and gifts, the T.L.D. Design Center & Gallery offers adult workshops and a series of inexpensive classes for kids. Titles include "Journal Making for Kids," "Felt Making for Kids," "Learn to Spin for Kids," and "Weaving on a Loom for Kids." This summer they will also be offering a Crafts Camp for Kids.

TLD Design Center & Gallery
26 East Quincy Street, Wheaton
630 963.9573
www.tlddesigns.com

Founded in 1957, the DuPage Art League offers affordable art courses for children, teens, and adults. Their extensive schedule of courses for youths include opportunities for students 6 to 17. Subjects include "Drawing for Teens", "Wondrous Color with Pastels and Pencil," "Follow in the Footstep of the Masters," and much more.

DuPage Art League 218 West Front Street, Wheaton
630 653.7090
www.dupageartleague.org

The Oak Park Art League has been serving its community since 1921. Their offerings include children's classes on topics such as cartooning, collage, drawing, clay, and jewelry making.

Oak Park Art League
720 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park
708 386.9853
www.opal-art.com

Terra Incognito Studios & Gallery promotes the ceramic arts to adults and youths through a gallery of work by local and national artists, and through education. Youth courses include Kinder Clay (ages 4-5), Kid's Clay #1 (ages 6-9), Pre-Teen Wheel (ages 9-12), and Teen Wheel (ages 12-18).

Terra Incognito Studios & Gallery
246 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park
708 383.6228
www.terraincognitostudios.com

Morton Arboretum is, in essence, an outdoor school, with 1,300 acres of forested and landscaped classrooms. They offer a schedule of more than 300 classes, including a large selection for youths and families.

Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle
630 968.0074
www.mortonarb.org

Language Stars offers their programs including FunImmersion™ in Hinsdale. To learn more see above.

Language Stars
133 Ogden Avenue, Suite LL1, Hinsdale
630 321.1060

Your local park district, YMCA, or YWCA can also be an excellent provider of learning outside the classroom.

The perception of children and youths being glued to their Nintendo sets and computers is far from an accurate one. Many are active and interested in a more hands-on and creative lifestyle. Getting young people to understand that learning is not something that is compulsory and limited to the classroom is important to their intellectual growth.

These are just a small sampling of the extra-curricular activities that just may open someone's eyes to the great world of learning that surrounds them if they're just willing to look!

This article appeared originally in the Spring 2005 issue of Chicago Learning Guide Magazine.

Photos courtesy of Evanston Art Center, North Shore Art League, Circus Factory, and Bubbles Academy.

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