Playday Upper West Side

A 90-minute art and sensory experience for children ages 1–4. Instructors guide families through activities rooted in children's literary favorites, focusing on motor skill and cognitive development through color, exploration, and discovery. A parent or caregiver must stay and participate.

$45/session

Mon–Fri 3:00–6:00 PM. Staff pickup from local schools and bus stops. Each session includes snack time and three guided art activities: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and more. September through June.

$90/session

Technique-focused 90-minute sessions for children ages 8–14. Disciplines include Painting & Drawing, Sculpture, Architecture, Fashion Design, and Roblox/Game Design. Sold in 10-class packs.

$120/session

A 4-hour creative camp session available on school holidays and no-school days. Morning session 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; afternoon session 1:00–5:00 PM. Includes two guided art activities and a snack break. Ages 5+ (4+ at Hoboken).

$160/session

Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. A full day of art history, creative projects, motor skill development, and community. Available during school breaks and all summer. Ages 5+ (4+ at Hoboken). Weekly rate available.

$200/session

Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–3:00 PM. Available on school holidays and closures. Includes guided art activities and a snack break. Ages 5+.

$175/session

Drop-in hourly art classes led by accredited artist-instructors. Each session focuses on a specific medium: Drawing & Painting, Watercolor, Sculpture, Cartooning, Little Architects, Color Explosion, Fashion Design, and more. Children are dropped off unattended.

$45/session

In this activity, children are encouraged to leave perfectionism and intense visual accuracy at the door. The instructor will discuss form, shape, color, and lines to teach children about the visual language of composition. Expectations for what is "right" in art will be shifted while joy and spontaneity abound!

$45/session

Bookmaking gives children the opportunity to be both author and illustrator of their own story! This activity walks children through how to design a book and what types of illustrations and story elements to include. Children will make comic books, pop-up books, accordion cards, flip books, and cookbooks. They will learn how each type of story communicates meaning differently, then choose what form best suits their story. Children walk away with their own original book and a stronger sense of storytelling.

$45/session

During Cartooning activities, children's favorite characters from the screen and stories materialize before their eyes! This drawing-centric experience teaches children how to create original characters and those from beloved pieces of media. From Pikachu to Sonic the Hedgehog to a cartoonish self-portrait, children develop a new creative skill set.

$45/session

Children get to experience the fun of mosaic with our COLLAGE CREATIONS activity. Using an assortment of paper pieces, tissue paper, construction paper, and more, children will cut and glue shapes and scraps to make a larger image. Taking inspiration from mosaics in the real world on subways walls, tiles, and famous art, children will discover how small pieces put together can create beautiful pictures. Artwork varies from a monster truck, a basket of fruit, faces, flowers, scenery, favorite book, movie characters, and so much more.

$45/session

Color Explosion centers on the idea of boldly expressing oneself through color. Since color is all around us in many different forms, Color Explosion activities incorporate a wide variety of materials and techniques. Children may collage a rainbow using bright tissue paper, paint colorful landscapes and characters, use markers and watercolors to create vibrant spin-art designs, and so much more. Creativity and color abound as children gain new skills. They will also learn to appreciate the emotions associated with different colors while they create.

$45/session

Create a Character is an opportunity to bring a favorite character to life! Children will use their imagination or reference their favorite pieces of media to design and create a character. Character Creation projects occur in a variety of mediums, ranging from colored pencil doodles, stencil sketches, and watercolor depictions to full-on models out of clay. Children also learn how to depict facial expressions, emotions, and movement in their character. These unique figures represent not only the artist but the differences in their walks of life.

$45/session

Doodle Hour gives children the opportunity for total exploration and creativity. They will have access to PLAYDAY's abundant art supplies they use to create to their heart's content. All art is encouraged, from a unicorn drawing to a fierce battle scene between action figures. In Doodle Hour, the sky's the limit! Instructors help facilitate creativity and discuss with children the best materials or techniques to execute their artistic vision. Everyone is welcome to participate and share in the joy of making in an open setting.

$45/session

During Fashion Design activities, your child's inner seamstress or tailor or clothing designer is inspired to create. Children can explore a wide range of textiles and clothing materials. Instructors will guide them to determine what fabric is best suited for their desired garment. They may choose a bedazzled mesh for a dress, denim for some cool doll shorts, a cheetah print for a bold accessory, and much more. Techniques in drawing, weaving, collaging, and styling are incorporated to create something truly runway-ready!

$45/session

In Little Architects, children design and build the inspiring structures they see all around them. Children are presented with a type of structure that they get to design in their own way. They will collaborate with peers to brainstorm what they need to include for safety and the operation of their structure along with fun elements they wish to add to make it more exciting. Structures include cruise ships, tree houses, shopping malls, amusement parks, schools, resorts, parks, zoos, sky scrapers, train stations, airports, and so many more types of buildings. Working individually, children will learn how to explore and create space by hand-drafting while following guidance from the instructor. Drawings will include floor plans, material keys, interior design mood boards, interior perspective, and 3D models of their structures. At the end of each activity, children will showcase their blueprints and models. As "Little Architects," we empower them to speak confidently about their design, explain its features, and offer positive feedback and questions.

$45/session

Mixed Media combines various materials to create a captivating piece of art. Children will have access to foam, felt, paper pieces, tissue paper, sequins, feathers, puffballs, construction paper, popsicle sticks, and more. As they create, children will observe how different materials interact with each other and decide which materials are best suited to their vision. Instructors will provide the framework for the project, but children will let their creativity soar.

$45/session

Painting and Drawing activities take art fundamentals and apply them to a diverse range of super fun projects. Starting with the basics, children will get to develop brush, roller, hand painting, and pencil skills. These techniques translate to a wide variety of creative projects including cartooning, still life, figure drawing, landscape painting, mixed media, and more. Children are guided in their process and encouraged to try their best to turn their visions into reality.

$45/session

In Paper Play, children see a piece of paper in a whole new light! The activity teaches the art of folding a flat piece of paper to create a new paper sculpture. Children learn traditional Origami techniques to make paper animals, flowers, fortune tellers, and other impressive creations. Paper Play motivates children to consider how they can transform one common material into an intricate piece of art without cutting or gluing. Instructors will facilitate an environment of patience and excitement that allows for children to flourish.

$45/session

Printmaking gives children the opportunity to create their own reproducible print. Children will create an image on a flat surface, cover it in paint or ink, and press it onto a piece of paper or other material to create a print. Once they build their printmaking apparatus, children can use it to create the foundation for many beautiful pieces of art. Each iteration will be mostly uniform yet graced with imperfections and a unique personality!

$45/session

Our Sculpture activities give children the opportunity to explore the ART of form. Children will learn about different sculpting materials such as clay, paper, recyclables, and twine and how to utilize them to create physical sculptures. Instructors will guide children through making animals and plants out of clay, abstract paper sculptures, representations of the human form and figure, and a wide range of other projects. The hands-on approach leaves children feeling a direct connection to their ART and a sense of pride in their execution.

$45/session

Watercolor World allows children to dive headfirst into watercolor as a medium. In this activity, children learn how watercolor is unique compared to traditional tempura or acrylic paints. Projects focus on the hydrophobic properties of watercolors and their buildable color quality. Projects include crayon resistance pictures, salty watercolors, printing, splatter and drip art, flower petal creation, abstract design, and so much more. Children get to see and appreciate the crossover between science and ART as they craft their pieces.

$45/session