One of the great joys of childhood is taking paint or crayon to paper, adding some imagination and getting creative. At Orange Hippo, a kid-focused Danforth art studio, parents avoid the mess all that creativity generates (still trying to get that marker off the wall?), but still get treasured artwork for the fridge.

Sogie Sabeta, a mum of three started Orange Hippo in 2008 after noticing a lack of art programs in her neighbourhood. Orange Hippo gives kids from 18 months to 12 years a place to experiment, explore and be creative with art. The studio offers a variety of workshops, with everything from claymation, to mixed media, to printmaking. They also host a weekly drop-in time, where kids and caregivers can play artist for $20/hour per family.

The studio, done in lively oranges with exposed brick and natural light, is a comfortable and enriching place for kids to hone their artistic talents. Arts-trained instructors, who also seem to know a thing or two about keeping kids happy, run the workshops and drop-in sessions. Kids do the crafts with their parents or caregivers and work together to create the prepared age-appropriate crafts (with a bit of instruction). And don’t worry about creating a mess! Smocks are provided and all the craft tables are art-friendly. Just be sure to wear arts and crafts appropriate clothing.

We enjoyed our visit to Orange Hippo during the drop-in session, creating some spooky Halloween crafts and using more than our fair share of glue. The crafts were well thought out and all the materials were on hand, which helps keep little ones focused and engaged. Our only caveat is that you’ll want to consider whether your child has the focus to justify the hourly drop in rate, particularly if they’re in the toddler set like our little tester.

Along with the regular kid workshops, Orange Hippo also holds sessions for “big kids” and groups. All the materials are provided, along with instruction and nut-free snacks for each workshop and Orange Hippo loves hosting birthday parties.

So why the name “Orange Hippo?” The inspiration came from Sogie’s daughter, who wisely stated, “Hippos can be orange if you use your imagination!”

Orange Hippo: www.orangehippo.ca
292A  Danforth Avenue
416.406.4476