Preschool and Family Art
Located in Grand Rapids and welcoming families from the surrounding areas, our Preschool and Family Art Program for ages 3-6 offers a range of thoughtfully designed classes that combine sensory-rich, play-based activities with intentional learning.
Through engaging storytimes, hands-on art projects, and creative exploration, our classes introduce young children to the foundational principles of art and design, such as color, shape, line, texture, and form. Each program, whether it’s a caregiver-child experience or a child-only session, is crafted to nurture curiosity, develop fine and gross motor skills, and foster social-emotional growth. Our goal is to provide a joyful and supportive environment where children can express themselves creatively and build essential skills that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.
Art classes for Kids in Grand Rapids
What to Expect:
Best art classes for kids Grand Rapids​
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Balanced Approach to Play and Learning: Our program integrates playful exploration with structured, purposeful activities. Each class begins with a storybook about creativity or a famous artist, setting the stage for art projects inspired by these new “artist friends.” This approach blends imaginative play with targeted learning, helping children build fine motor skills, such as cutting and drawing, and gross motor skills, like painting on large surfaces or working with clay.
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Supportive and Skilled Educators: Our educators are experienced in early childhood development and use a gentle, encouraging approach to foster both creativity and foundational learning. They provide guidance that supports social-emotional development, helping children learn empathy, collaboration, and self-confidence—key skills for kindergarten readiness.
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Low Student-to-Teacher Ratio: We have a small student-to-teacher ratio - 10:1 - to ensure attention and care to all.
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Interactive and Sensory Experiences: The program emphasizes learning through sensory-rich activities that engage children in hands-on exploration. Whether they are feeling different textures, mixing colors, or shaping materials, children are encouraged to use all their senses to understand the world around them. This kind of active, tactile learning supports cognitive development and fosters a deeper connection to the material.
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Purposeful Creative Exploration: While the program is rooted in play, each activity is designed with a clear educational purpose. Children are encouraged to experiment, make mistakes, and explore their creativity, all while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This method ensures that every moment of play is also a moment of learning.
Acorn Explorers
Designed for ages 3-4
Acorn Explorers offers sensory-rich, play-based art experiences for young children. Each class begins with an engaging storytime that introduces concepts like color, shape, and texture through stories about art and artists. This leads into hands-on activities such as painting, drawing, and collage-making, where children explore materials and express their creativity.
The focus is on exploration and fun, fostering a joyous art-making process that encourages discovery and the development of fine motor skills, as well as social skills like sharing and communication in a supportive environment.
Budding Artists
Designed for Ages 5-6
Budding Artists encourages a balance of play-based learning and structured exploration tailored for children ages 5-6. Each session starts with an engaging storytime that introduces an artist or artistic concept, setting the stage for the day’s activities. Post-storytime, children delve into hands-on projects like detailed painting, beginner printmaking, and basic sculpture. These activities are designed to fully engage the senses and support motor skill development.
While fostering joy in creation, our class also emphasizes social-emotional learning. Activities are aimed at building teamwork, enhancing communication, and developing empathy. Children also practice following directions and expressing individual creativity, laying a strong foundation for academic readiness and smooth transition into structured learning environments.
Nest & Nurture Art Class
Designed for ages 3-6 and their parents/guardians/caregivers
Join us in the Nest & Nurture Art Class, where children aged 3-6 and their caregivers explore art together in a nature-inspired, collaborative environment. Each session starts with a storytime that introduces an artistic concept or artist, igniting curiosity and paving the way for creative activities.
Post-storytime, families participate in hands-on art projects like painting, drawing, and collage-making. These activities focus on the fundamentals of art and design—color, shape, line, texture, and form—through sensory-rich, play-based learning. Working side by side, children and caregivers experiment with various materials, fostering a deep connection while enhancing motor skills and social-emotional competencies like empathy, communication, and teamwork in a supportive setting.
Preschool and Family Courses
Art Classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation
We are proud to share fine art classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation.
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Registration for the East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department classes is done so through their website. If you would like to see, or register for our courses there, please follow the link below. If you have questions in the registration process, please email hello@cultivategrandrapids.org
"When I first enrolled my son in Cultivate’s Preschool Art class, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s been such a joy to watch him thrive! He’s always been a bit shy, but the focus on play and creativity has really helped him come out of his shell. The teachers are so kind and patient, and they make every child feel welcome and important. Now, he looks forward to art class every week and has even started telling stories about his artwork at home. It’s incredible to see him gain confidence and express himself through art
~ Parent of three-year-old
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"I wanted a program that would be educational and supportive for my daughter, who is 5. Cultivate has been a wonderful fit. She’s always been curious about art, and this class has given her a space to explore that curiosity in a structured yet playful way. I love how the instructors incorporate books and storytelling into the lessons—it really captures her imagination. She talks about the famous artists like they're her "friends" like they do in class and it's so cute."
~Parent of a four-year-old