Arts of America at Newark Museum

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the only holiday to celebrate in the month of March.   It’s also National Craft Month, so what better way to keep the little ones busy all month long than with some fun kid friendly craft ideas.  There are tons of fantastic family workshops for all ages, plus new classes and great sites to explore to get you started – no experience necessary!   Even better, NJ Kids has found the best of the best so roll up your sleeves – it’s time for some family fun!

Start your crafty month at Imagine That! in Florham Park – a craft every weekend included in admission price.  March crafts include: Make a Bookmark, Decorate a Kite, a Shamrock... 

It’s Family Fun Day at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison on March 7th; on March 13th it’s Lucky Leprechaun Day - Irish history, activities, refreshments and, of course, crafts!

Discover tales and myths from around the world through pictures, sculptures and decorative objects. Use the museum’s artifacts as inspiration and find ways to tell your own stories at the Newark Museum during their Saturday and Sunday Drop-In Workshops. 

Messy Artist in East Hanover invites you to their Drop In & Play Event March 27 from 9:30 – Noon  for 18 months – 5 years (with caregiver) at their unique station play areas such as the sensory box, project station, play dough, messy station, and easel station. Explore one or explore them all!  Don’t forget to check out their classes – they’ve got something for all ages, from toddlers to teens.

Check out one of the many We Explore classes such as POP! Goes the Bubble! at the Liberty Science Center.  Use a myriad of different objects to blow your own beautiful bubbles. Even create your own bubble wand!

Get artistic at the Montclair Art Museum – Every third Saturday of the month, head to MAM for an hour-long, drop-in gallery program for children 5 and up and their adult companions. Explore and discuss artworks and engage in fun activities in MAM’s galleries and sculpture garden.

Join the celebration of the Irish who worked at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Help with farm and domestic chores, and tour The Willows to discover what jobs house servants performed for the Foster family. Learn about the Irish culture through dance, crafts, and music on Mar 15th 12-4PM. 

Drop in anytime between 10:30 am and 1 pm to the Princeton Art Museum for their Art for Families program on Mar 8.  Look carefully at the details of the painting Napoleon in Egypt and create a marionette to take home.

April workshops at the Visual Arts Center in Summit include Birds in a Spring Garden, Tropical Island Paradise, and Butterflies.

Visit the Penn Museum for inspiration with an engaging docent-led gallery tour of the Egyptian Galleries. With one of the most impressive collections of Egyptian artifacts in the world, the Penn Museum offers a one-of-a-kind Egyptian tour including mummies, sarcophagi, and the largest sphinx in North America.

Read and Explore at Terhune Orchard in Princeton – Learn all about composting, then make a compost container to take home.  Tuesday, March 3rd at 10AM and Saturday, March 7th at 10AM.  Registration requested.

The new Build It Lab in Westfield is the place to be for the budding scientist, computer guru or builder - workshops and classes from Lego and Minecraft to Robotics

Sign up for a class at Raritan Valley Community College – Lego Building, Fashion Sewing, Creative Art...

Fire up the grill - Classic Thyme in Westfield offers cooking classes for the entire family. (And best of all, you get to eat your masterpiece!)

Listen to a story, become a Park Explorer, and make art in hands-on workshops designed for 3-5 year olds at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton on Mar 14th at 11 AM & 1 PM.  Free with admission. 

Calling all parents – perfect the craft of a happy marriage when you drop the kids off at Little Gym for Parent Survival Night! Cranford: Mar 14th; Summit: Mar 20th; Aberdeen Mar 21st. 

Or if performing arts is your craft, don’t forget it’s sign up time for Cresskill Performing Arts Summer Program.

String a bracelet or necklace during open beading time at cin Westfield.  Also: Special Events, tea parties, princess parties, Mother and Daughter Beading and more. 

Craft some fabulous family memories at Woodloch Pines in Hawley, PA.  Endless fun includes Cupcake Wars, Gingerbread Wars, Bingo, Arts and Crafts, skating and tubing and much more.  

Enjoy a family show at NJPAC (and watch actors exhibit their favorite craft!).  March 28th at 2 pm – Sleeping Beauty Dreams by Marionetas de la Esquina, a puppet theater company from Mexico, takes a contemporary and whimsical look at the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.  Before the show, join in a free family workshop to explore the vocabulary and cultural traditions of Mexico through this free mask making and movement workshop. 

Sample Camp Riverbend’s awesome summer activities on March 21st - games, crafts, cooking and more! Drop in any time between 10AM and 12PM. RSVP required. 

Discover new crafting experiences in the Green Arts Studio in Monmouth Museum in Lincroft.  They have a variety of recycled materials ready for your child’s imagination to run wild.   Free with admission.

Leave the mess to Be Craftful in Fanwood. Children and their families can drop-in to create, or register in advance for their daily craft workshops and monthly events such as parent and moms nights out! The only mess you have to worry about cleaning is your clothes (so please dress appropriately)!