Kids
St. Johns County Kids Explore Creative Alternatives to Traditional Sports and Dance
From woodworking and cooking to coding, music, sewing and stop-motion animation, these St. Johns County programs give kids the chance to discover interests beyond traditional sports and dance.
By Heather Vreeland
Not every kid is a soccer kid, a baseball kid or a dance kid. Some would rather build something with their hands, learn to cook dinner, make a movie, master an instrument or figure out how a robot works. The best extracurricular activity is not necessarily the one everyone else is signing up for. It is the one that makes your child come home wanting to tell you what they learned, show you what they made or ask when they get to go back, and sometimes finding that thing just means looking a little beyond the ballfield. Fortunately, St. Johns County has plenty of places for kids to discover the thing they are a kid for. From woodworking and culinary classes to coding, music and even stop-motion animation, these less-traditional extracurriculars give children a chance to explore new interests, build confidence and learn skills they may carry with them long after the school day ends.
BUILD IT | Ancient City Craftworks
For the kid who is happiest with tools in hand, Ancient City Craftworks introduces children to real woodworking through traditional hand-tool techniques. Students learn to measure, cut, shape and assemble wood while developing patience, coordination and problem-solving skills along the way. Rather than assembling a premade craft kit, kids work through the process of turning raw materials into something they can actually take pride in making themselves. Progressive classes allow students to continue building their skills as they gain confidence and experience.
COOK IT | Saint Augustine Create-a-Cook
Cooking classes offer kids something few extracurriculars can: a skill they will use for the rest of their lives. Saint Augustine Create-a-Cook brings hands-on culinary instruction to children through after-school enrichment programs offered at schools throughout St. Johns County. Students learn basic kitchen techniques, follow recipes and prepare real food while building independence and confidence in the kitchen. For parents hoping to expand a child's palate—or eventually hand over dinner duty one night a week—this may be one of the most practical after-school activities around.
ANIMATE IT | Make Space Workshop & Classroom
For kids who are constantly drawing, making videos or inventing stories, Make Space turns creativity into something tangible. Its children's programming has included everything from stop-motion animation and ceramics to screenprinting and other hands-on art experiences. In stop-motion classes, students can combine drawing, painting, collage, clay and everyday objects to create their own short films, learning the basics of visual storytelling along the way. It is part art class, part technology lesson and part imagination lab—ideal for a child who wants to create rather than simply consume.
make-space-workshop.squarespace.com
STITCH IT | The Art House
Sewing and crochet are having a comeback, and they make a surprisingly satisfying extracurricular for creative kids who enjoy working with their hands. The Art House offers opportunities for young makers to learn skills like hand sewing and crochet, along with a broader lineup of art instruction. Beyond producing something they can actually use or wear, fiber arts require concentration, patience and problem-solving. They also give kids the rewarding experience of watching a project slowly take shape—one stitch at a time.
CODE IT | Code Ninjas + Club Scientific
For the child who is always asking how things work, STEM-based enrichment can turn curiosity into a real skill set. Code Ninjas introduces kids to coding and game development in a format designed to feel more like creating than studying, while Club Scientific offers hands-on science, robotics and other STEM enrichment programs at schools throughout St. Johns County. These programs give young problem-solvers a chance to experiment, design and build while developing logical thinking and persistence—without requiring them to sit through another traditional classroom lesson.
codeninjas.com
clubscientific.com
PLAY IT | Find Their Instrument
Music lessons do not have to mean years of reluctant piano practice. Local studios offer kids the chance to explore everything from piano and guitar to voice, violin and drums until they find the instrument that speaks to them. Luton Piano Academy offers individualized piano instruction with an emphasis on creativity and musical understanding. Paz Music & Arts Academy offers instruction across a wide range of instruments, while Young Artist Music Project combines lessons with opportunities for students to connect, perform and explore music together. Lanza Studio and other local instructors add even more options for families looking to match a child with the right teacher and style.
lutonpianoacademy.com
pazmusicarts.com
yamp.squarespace.com
PERFORM IT | Improv + Theatre
Some kids do not want to memorize lines or learn choreography—they want permission to be funny, spontaneous and completely themselves. Improv gives them exactly that. Local theatre and improv programs, including Third Space Improv, give young performers opportunities to practice quick thinking, storytelling, listening and collaboration. Because there are no wrong answers in improv, it can be especially appealing to kids who love performing but may feel intimidated by auditions or traditional stage productions. The confidence they build thinking on their feet can carry over far beyond the stage.
MOVE IT | TumbleFIT at Anastasia Fitness
Not every active kid wants to join a team. TumbleFIT at Anastasia Fitness offers another way to move, challenge the body and build confidence without committing to a traditional sport or dance program. Beginning students work on foundational tumbling skills such as rolls, handstands, cartwheels, bridges and walkovers before progressing into more advanced movements. It combines strength, flexibility and coordination with the simple fun of learning how to do something kids naturally want to try anyway.