Learning New Things Outside of School

Backpacks, alarm clocks and schedules, oh my! School is in session, and kids are traipsing through school hallways and bringing home homework. Sometimes, however, kids’ minds need to stretch in unique and exciting ways. Consider some other “classrooms” around the Kansas City metro area that provide opportunities for your kids to learn and grow in ways beyond regular school offerings. 

Snap This!

How does your child see the world? Give him a chance to show you through the eye of a lens. The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI.edu) offers digital photography classes to the 9-11 and 12-14 age groups, as well as drawing and cartooning for the younger ones. They have two campuses: Main Campus located at 4415 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111 and a North Campus located at 1801 NW Platte Rd., Riverside, MO 64116.

Kids also can take an online photography class, such as Discovering Digital Photography or Secrets of Better Photography, at Metropolitan Community College-Longview. Most classes are $99 and last for six weeks.

In Prairie Village, Artrageous offers photography classes (as well as drawing, architecture, collaging, sculpture, even fashion illustration). Local artist and teacher Julie Flanagan provides a fun and creative atmosphere while covering all aspects of a child’s creativity. Contact Julie via email at missjulie@artrageouskc.com or call 913.642.8122 for more class information.

Earn Their Keep

If your child is hitting the tween years and thinking about starting a babysitting career, a great way to prepare is with a first aid/babysitting class.

Located in Johnson County, Blue Valley Recreation holds a Babysitting 101 class for kids ages 11-14. Students will learn skills in first aid, emergencies, personal safety and baby care. Register online at BlueValleyRec.org. 

Another venue for babysitting training is through the American Red Cross. Registration for their one-day training can be done through RedCross.org. First aid, CPR and AED training are also offered.

Love a New Language

Signing is a great way to communicate with your little ones, and it gives them a useful skill for life. Register for classes with Come Sign with Me, an Overland Park-based business, through Blue Valley Recreation or visit ComeSignWithMe.com. Perhaps learning to speak Mandarin is more your youngster’s interest. The Language Workshop for Children (LanguageWorkshopforChildren.com) is a language immersion program based on the Thibaut technique, taught entirely in the second language by native speakers in order for the students to absorb the language naturally instead of through translation.

The Great Outdoors

One of the very best classrooms is the nature that surrounds us. Give your kids a new appreciation for the world around them at the Ernie Miller Nature Center (ErnieMiller.com). The center hosts a variety of workshops and classes, such as Go Green Worm Bin Workshop, archery, map and compass and survival hike. They also have Little Cedar Theater, which gives kids a new way to learn about nature through storytelling.

At only $5/student, the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens offers seasonal and year-round classes. Kids participate in short hikes, stories and hands-on activities in their outdoor classroom. You can find their calendar of events this fall at www.artsandrec-op.org; click on the Friends of the Arboretum tab for more details. Each season, Powell Gardens (PowellGardens.org), located off Hwy. 50 near Kingsville, MO, offers youth, as well as the young-at-heart, a chance to learn the wonders of nature in an uplifting setting.

Something Different

If your kids are interested in something unique, check out these courses! The North Kansas City Community Center offers child yoga for ages 4-8. It provides breathing techniques for self-calming, as well as helping with brain balance. They also offer beginner and advanced yoga classes that are open to children 11+ and 13+, respectively.

Blue Valley Recreation, located just east of 151st & Metcalf, offers enrichment courses such as Financially Alert Kids and Creative Cooks, as well as a manners workshop. Yes, please!

Does your child need to take her dramatic tendencies to the stage? Then the Coterie Theatre is the perfect place for you! With an abundance of locations—Midtown, the Plaza, Lee's Summit, South Kansas City, Overland Park, Liberty and Parkville—there are classes for all age groups and interests. Find out more at CoterieTheatre.org.

Tip: Don't forget Kansas City's local community colleges—they offer a plethora of unique classes like writing with art and music, debate and even advanced castle building! Who knew!

Overland Park writer Hallie Sawyer is a mother of three and blogger at www.halliesawyer.com/blog