Plan your visit
Programs
Parties
Art Factory @ Home
Shop

Select Page

puddle banner

Search for:

Play lab is a drop off program for children ages 4

Play lab is a drop off program for children ages 4-6 that takes place every Saturday!

We are thrilled to welcome Hannah Naranjo-Sears (She/Her) as our play lab facilitator this year. Follow her play adventures on insta @child.at.heart_ ❤️

Hannah is a U of G student studying early childhood education. Hannah is well versed in our philosophy and understands that play is fundamental to how children learn and discover their true selves❤️
.
.
.
#playlab #artmatters #play #defendthewonder✨ #ourprograms #potionlab #joinus #registeredprogram #messyfun #noinstructionsneeded #learningthroughplay #authenticchildhood #messinvited #dressformess #saturdays #allchildrenareartists #theworldneedsmoreartists

#saturdayselfies❤️ #staffsaturdayspotlight .

#saturdayselfies❤️ #staffsaturdayspotlight
.
.
.
Photos from when they were about the same age as the children who visit our studio, these now grown up folks help keep this studio running like a well oiled machine❤️

I am grateful for each one of them🥰🥰😘

To my staff: Thank you for all your tremendous hard work, be it fielding drop in capacity numbers, birthdays, cleaning, programs and even on those tough and not so fun days, you all do it with a smile on your faces and with so much care and love.

Thanks to each one of you for walking this big adventure with me, I can’t do it without you and you all make it way more fun❤️

And big Thank you for 4 days off!!! ❤️❤️❤️
.
.
.
#myteam #staff #saturdayshoutout #thankyou #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #ourstudio #happysaturday #childhood #whenwewereyoung #gettingitdone💪 #welloiledmachine #CAFstaff #justlikefamily❤️ #adventureofalifetime #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #followyourbliss❤ #helpers #studioangels #thankyou #artstudio #bloodsweatandtears #worklife #studiolife #staffinthestudio #thisisus #childhoodselfies

To honour the indigenous survivors, families and c

To honour the indigenous survivors, families and communities who have suffered and continue to suffer oppression and inequality, we will be donating %100 of our drop in sales on September 30th to @anishnabegoutreach.

This day honours the children who were torn from away from their families and forced to learn another culture with no joy or love. We are now learning and continue to learn of the true horrors these children lived and the many, many children who died in residential schools across Canada.

On September 30th we will reflect on the harmful impact of systematic racism in Canadian history so that we can begin to work toward a better future for all.
.
.
.
#everychildmatters🧡🧡🧡 #residentialschoolsurvivors🧡 #remembrance #dayoftruthandreconciliation #september30th

#throwbackthursday❤️ cutest photo of Otis and

#throwbackthursday❤️ cutest photo of Otis and Avery from @missmarigold
.
.

This time 2 months ago our studio would have already been full to the brim!

What a difference!

At the beginning of fall we slow down a wee bit, gather our bearings and welcome programs back to our daily routine❤️

If you enjoy a quieter experience, now is the time to take advantage before school visits and cooler weather bring the busy back.
.
.
.
#smallbusinesshustle #smallbusinesslife #changeswiththeseason #seasonalchanges🍃🍂 #backtoregularprogramming #fallishere🍁 #schoolvisits #kindievisits #kindergarten #quiettimes #headsup

Big time messy and age appropriate fun in our popu

Big time messy and age appropriate fun in our popular baby Basquiat program for babies and their caregivers❤️

Facilitated by one of our early childhood educators, Christina Pinarello (She/Her).

This program pays homage to the bold and revolutionary artist Jean Michel Basquiat and aims to provide opportunities for babies to explore the world around them in engaging and exciting ways.

In this program, Christina is not afraid to think outside of the box and offer new and messy experiences for babies to explore with plenty of freedom …and clothing is optional😂
.
.
.
#mybasquiat #cutenessoverload #babybasquiat🎨🧸 #babyprogram #age6to18months #registeredprogram #clothingoptional #babybum #jeanmichelbasquiat #messy #play #babiesofinstagram #studioprograms #freedom

The biggest compliment I can get is a crying child

The biggest compliment I can get is a crying child that does not want to leave. The opposite is when a child might bypass an invitation that I’ve set out …which means fail and try again.

Children are and always will be the best barometer for what I provide here at the studio❤️

Although their honesty is revealed more by their authentic actions and reactions, I wholeheartedly put my trust in their expertise, especially when it comes to play ❤️
.
.
.
#youcanthandlethetruth #childrenarethebestteachers #truths #tuesdaystruths #howitstarted #trustinchildren #childrenareexpertsinplay #thewisdomofchildren #trusttheprocess #childrenarewise #childrenareauthentic #trustthechildren #trustthechildrentodrivetheirlearning #artstudioforchildren #truthtellers

Symphony in colour Fingerpaint & tempera 2022 Ar

Symphony in colour
Fingerpaint & tempera
2022
Artist unknown
.
.
.
Another beauty left at the easel for us to gush over😍

If children knew or cared about the product of art, they perhaps could rule the art world …

But then that would most definitely take away all the fun of the process…

So we will keep this secret to ourselves for now but will continue to be inspired by all the little geniuses that visit us on the daily ❤️
.
.
.
#littlegeniuses #allchildrenareartists #justanothermasterpiece #dailymasterpieces #processartstudio #growingartistssince2011 #whereartmeetsplay #attheasel #inthestudiotoday #artstudioforchildren🎨🎨🎨 #painting #paintingwithchildren #fingerpainting #letthempaint #processoverproduct #itstheprocessthatmatters #childrenhaveanaesthetic #nevergrowup

Squeezing every last colourful drop of outside pla

Squeezing every last colourful drop of outside play we can… in Saturday’s play lab 🧪🧫❤️
.
.
.
#colourmixing #science #potions #potionlab #waterplay #childledlearningthroughplay #experimenting #allchildrenareartists🌟💛 #playlab #outsideplayideas #carboys #openendedplay #noinstructionsneeded #invitationtoplay #rainbow #liquidwatercolours #itstheprocess #selfregulation #intrinsicmotivation✨ #waterinvitations

about the children’s art factory

Founded in Guelph in 2011, Children’s Art Factory (CAF) is a drop-in art studio for children. We value and encourage collaboration with children over instruction.

Read more about our philosophy.

Policies & FAQs • Terms of Use • Privacy Policy

where we play

37 Yarmouth St.
Guelph, ON, N1H 4G2

art@thechildrensartfactory.com

Play lab is a drop off program for children ages 4

Play lab is a drop off program for children ages 4-6 that takes place every Saturday!

We are thrilled to welcome Hannah Naranjo-Sears (She/Her) as our play lab facilitator this year. Follow her play adventures on insta @child.at.heart_ ❤️

Hannah is a U of G student studying early childhood education. Hannah is well versed in our philosophy and understands that play is fundamental to how children learn and discover their true selves❤️
.
.
.
#playlab #artmatters #play #defendthewonder✨ #ourprograms #potionlab #joinus #registeredprogram #messyfun #noinstructionsneeded #learningthroughplay #authenticchildhood #messinvited #dressformess #saturdays #allchildrenareartists #theworldneedsmoreartists

#saturdayselfies❤️ #staffsaturdayspotlight .

#saturdayselfies❤️ #staffsaturdayspotlight
.
.
.
Photos from when they were about the same age as the children who visit our studio, these now grown up folks help keep this studio running like a well oiled machine❤️

I am grateful for each one of them🥰🥰😘

To my staff: Thank you for all your tremendous hard work, be it fielding drop in capacity numbers, birthdays, cleaning, programs and even on those tough and not so fun days, you all do it with a smile on your faces and with so much care and love.

Thanks to each one of you for walking this big adventure with me, I can’t do it without you and you all make it way more fun❤️

And big Thank you for 4 days off!!! ❤️❤️❤️
.
.
.
#myteam #staff #saturdayshoutout #thankyou #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #ourstudio #happysaturday #childhood #whenwewereyoung #gettingitdone💪 #welloiledmachine #CAFstaff #justlikefamily❤️ #adventureofalifetime #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #followyourbliss❤ #helpers #studioangels #thankyou #artstudio #bloodsweatandtears #worklife #studiolife #staffinthestudio #thisisus #childhoodselfies

To honour the indigenous survivors, families and c

To honour the indigenous survivors, families and communities who have suffered and continue to suffer oppression and inequality, we will be donating %100 of our drop in sales on September 30th to @anishnabegoutreach.

This day honours the children who were torn from away from their families and forced to learn another culture with no joy or love. We are now learning and continue to learn of the true horrors these children lived and the many, many children who died in residential schools across Canada.

On September 30th we will reflect on the harmful impact of systematic racism in Canadian history so that we can begin to work toward a better future for all.
.
.
.
#everychildmatters🧡🧡🧡 #residentialschoolsurvivors🧡 #remembrance #dayoftruthandreconciliation #september30th

#throwbackthursday❤️ cutest photo of Otis and

#throwbackthursday❤️ cutest photo of Otis and Avery from @missmarigold
.
.

This time 2 months ago our studio would have already been full to the brim!

What a difference!

At the beginning of fall we slow down a wee bit, gather our bearings and welcome programs back to our daily routine❤️

If you enjoy a quieter experience, now is the time to take advantage before school visits and cooler weather bring the busy back.
.
.
.
#smallbusinesshustle #smallbusinesslife #changeswiththeseason #seasonalchanges🍃🍂 #backtoregularprogramming #fallishere🍁 #schoolvisits #kindievisits #kindergarten #quiettimes #headsup

Big time messy and age appropriate fun in our popu

Big time messy and age appropriate fun in our popular baby Basquiat program for babies and their caregivers❤️

Facilitated by one of our early childhood educators, Christina Pinarello (She/Her).

This program pays homage to the bold and revolutionary artist Jean Michel Basquiat and aims to provide opportunities for babies to explore the world around them in engaging and exciting ways.

In this program, Christina is not afraid to think outside of the box and offer new and messy experiences for babies to explore with plenty of freedom …and clothing is optional😂
.
.
.
#mybasquiat #cutenessoverload #babybasquiat🎨🧸 #babyprogram #age6to18months #registeredprogram #clothingoptional #babybum #jeanmichelbasquiat #messy #play #babiesofinstagram #studioprograms #freedom

The biggest compliment I can get is a crying child

The biggest compliment I can get is a crying child that does not want to leave. The opposite is when a child might bypass an invitation that I’ve set out …which means fail and try again.

Children are and always will be the best barometer for what I provide here at the studio❤️

Although their honesty is revealed more by their authentic actions and reactions, I wholeheartedly put my trust in their expertise, especially when it comes to play ❤️
.
.
.
#youcanthandlethetruth #childrenarethebestteachers #truths #tuesdaystruths #howitstarted #trustinchildren #childrenareexpertsinplay #thewisdomofchildren #trusttheprocess #childrenarewise #childrenareauthentic #trustthechildren #trustthechildrentodrivetheirlearning #artstudioforchildren #truthtellers

Symphony in colour Fingerpaint & tempera 2022 Ar

Symphony in colour
Fingerpaint & tempera
2022
Artist unknown
.
.
.
Another beauty left at the easel for us to gush over😍

If children knew or cared about the product of art, they perhaps could rule the art world …

But then that would most definitely take away all the fun of the process…

So we will keep this secret to ourselves for now but will continue to be inspired by all the little geniuses that visit us on the daily ❤️
.
.
.
#littlegeniuses #allchildrenareartists #justanothermasterpiece #dailymasterpieces #processartstudio #growingartistssince2011 #whereartmeetsplay #attheasel #inthestudiotoday #artstudioforchildren🎨🎨🎨 #painting #paintingwithchildren #fingerpainting #letthempaint #processoverproduct #itstheprocessthatmatters #childrenhaveanaesthetic #nevergrowup

Squeezing every last colourful drop of outside pla

Squeezing every last colourful drop of outside play we can… in Saturday’s play lab 🧪🧫❤️
.
.
.
#colourmixing #science #potions #potionlab #waterplay #childledlearningthroughplay #experimenting #allchildrenareartists🌟💛 #playlab #outsideplayideas #carboys #openendedplay #noinstructionsneeded #invitationtoplay #rainbow #liquidwatercolours #itstheprocess #selfregulation #intrinsicmotivation✨ #waterinvitations

see what we’re up to

get our super fun newsletter!

Thanks friend! We'll keep you in the loop.

© The Children's Art Factory | Brand & Web Design: Creative Worth