New center offers arts, crafts to kids

By Emily Sorensen

Looking for a place your kids can get creative and messy, without having to scrub paint off your furniture?

Beth Jeffrey, a newcomer to the Poway area, who moved here with her family from Australia three months ago, recently opened Paint the Walls, an arts and crafts activity center, located at 11385 Poway Road, Suite 108, Sabre Springs Plaza. “We chose Poway [to move to] because it’s such a family-friendly community with great schools,” said Jeffrey.

Paint the Walls offers both free play and more structured arts and crafts play. “It’s really about open, creative play,” said Jeffrey, who was inspired to open the store after her children enjoyed playing in a similar activity center in Sydney, Australia. “The idea is for little kids to be creative and make that mess they can’t make at home.” Jeffrey said the activity center is also her way of giving back to children who may not have access to art at school, due to budget cuts.

The walls are literally your child’s canvas at Paint the Walls, as they’re made of whiteboard, intended to be painted on, and a chalkboard floor for chalk art. Paint and chalk is unlimited and part of the entrance fee. When your child tires of painting, they can also have unlimited time with the store’s homemade Play-Doh, as well as dough tools and colored sticks. Each week, new additional activities will be offered.

Craft items are also available for sale for children ages 3 and up, ranging in price from $2.50 - $3.50, and include a tray of special crafting items like rhinestones, glitter, feathers, wiggly eyes, foam shapes and more.

In April, Paint the Walls will begin offering classes for kids, with projects including beaded necklaces, letters for names, toy vehicles, trinket boxes, frames, treasure chests, and more. Classes 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays for ages 4 -6, and 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Thursdays for ages 7 -10. Cost is $150 for eight weeks, including materials.

On Saturdays, Paint the Walls will host birthday parties, which include set up and clean up, basic decorations and a craft pack for each child, with extra services and items available for purchase, including balloons, fun foam, face painting and party favor bags. Cost for birthday parties begins at $275 for 15 children.

Entrance is $10, $8 for a second child (must be a sibling). Discounts available for large groups (please call ahead). For more information, call 858-722-6920 or visit www.paintthewallssandiego.com.