Support local businesses and entertain the kids = Win
Social distancing may be hard for us, but it’s even harder on our kids who are missing friends, school, sports, sleepovers and playdates. We’ve found a few options to keep your kids engaged and support locally owned businesses at the same time. Please send us a note at scoopitnews @ gmail.com if you have suggestions that should be on our list.
SAS Cupcakes is offering craft kits for kids. They’re just $5 and you get:
• unfrosted cupcake (vanilla, chocolate, red velvet)
• disposable piping bag
• sprinkles
• cupcake decorations
• chocolate coins
• and a fun craft!
Available in princess and pirate themes, check their Facebook page for new designs and they are encouraging drive through orders so you never leave your car.
KidzArt South Charlotte – Matthews is offering virtual art classes. Live step-by-step instructional drawing classes are scheduled each day, Monday through-Thursday at 2:30pm through Zoom. Each class lasts 45 mintues and is bested suited for kids ages 6 to 11. Sign up and get more details here.
Dish It Out Pottery has take home pottery painting kits. Tell them the pieces you want and 6 colors you’d like. Pay over the phone ($6 per item firing fee plus the pottery cost) and then just pull up in front of the studio and they’ll run it out to you. Brushes and basic instructions will be in the bag. Bring it all back to the studio at a later date for glazing and firing.
Sweet Spot Studio is bringing sweetness with kids cookie decorating kits. Each kits includes Cookie Dough, Cookie Cutters, Royal Icing Outline and Flood, Sprinkles and Scribe. Bonus that you can ask for gluten free cookies. Purchase online and select from one of 3 pickup locations. Keep up with their Facebook page for online classes being added daily.
Painting With a Twist Charlotte is letting you “Twist at Home” with take home painting kits. Ordering your take-out is easy as 1-2-3!
- Register for one of our “Twist at Home” kits (please register for the number of kits you want to receive).
- They will send you an email to select your painting(s) – there are currently around 20 options to pick from.
- Drive by the studio to pick up your kit. Text them at 980-224-7760, and they will run it out to your car.
Each kit includes:
-Surface(s) of your choice (selected when registering)
-Up to 7 paint colors to create your masterpiece.
-Gently used brushes for you to keep!
-Paper plates, disposable aprons, paper towels, and paper for your table.
-Detailed Instructions.
AR Workshop has rolled out DIY To-Go at Home Kits. Order a DIY To-Go Kit online, pick up at your local workshop’s doorstep and craft at home. All materials and instructions included and they have a great selection of options for boys and girls. Get started here to find the pick up location nearest to you.
Charlotte area FlourPower Kids Cooking School locations will offer free live quick cooking demos with minimal ingredients using pantry staples (and ideas for substitutes) starting on Monday, March 23. Follow their Facebook page for updates on how to join in.
Tiny Blooms Yoga has transitioned their kids yoga classes to online classes and they have FREE pre-recorded options available on their website. Check out their virtual schedule below.
D2 Designs has designed a printable PDF activity book for tracing and coloring for preschoolers to help those parents with kiddos at home that need activities to keep them busy. The book is 35 pages, each page has a different activity to color and trace and will be personalized so that your children can trace their names! Each book is $5 and will be emailed to you, instructions on ordering can be found on their Facebook page.
The Dottie Rose Foundation has introduced Gamer Girls. For four weeks, starting Monday, March 23rd, each week will feature a new topic to work online creating games. The time is from 3:00-4:30 each day for the week. Sessions are $49. Each week is a separate session, so you can sign your daughter up for one week or all four. Sign up here!
WEEK 1: March 23 – 27: Learn how to use Scratch for Gaming.
WEEK 2: March 30 – April 3: Learn how to use Twine for Gaming (you will need to download Twine to take this class).
WEEK 3: April 6 – 10: Learn how to use the Wick Editor for Animation.
WEEK 4: April 13 – 17: Learn how to use Alice for Storytelling and Gaming
Free Resources
Join Wing Haven Garden for a VIRTUAL Story Time on Tuesday, March 24th at 10 AM, they will livestream their Story Time program. Education Coordinator, Erin Welty, will be reading a few fun stories and provide a brief how-to for simple crafts your family can enjoy while at home. Virtual Story Time will be streamed on Facebook Live and Instagram.
Discovery Place Science is offering Stay-at-Home Science project on their website. They are updating with new projects so bookmark their blog page for new ones to try with the family.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering online Storytime videos to keep your young readers entertained.
Neighborhood Ideas
We’ve seen some creative ideas in the Charlotte Mom Facebook groups!!
Send a note to your neighbors through NextDoor or private neighborhood Facebook groups with a date to draw and a date to walk the neighborhood to check out positive messages drawn by the kids.
The new scavenger hunts have kids coloring all the same shapes like sunshines, shamrocks, etc and hanging them somewhere on the outside of their home. Families talk a neighborhood walk and count how many they can find.
