Creativity blooms

A devoted mom to two young children, Adaeze Elijah, founder of Bloomfield Kids Arts & Crafts Studio, 610 S. Kelley Ave., Suite Y, in Edmond, knows that art and creative activities boost academic performance and support mental health. 

A 2019 report by Houston’s Arts Access Initiative stated, “Students with access to arts programs report lower levels of stress and higher levels of engagement and well-being. Students in schools with increased arts education experienced improved school engagement and reduced disciplinary infractions.”

Elijah also knows how hard it is for parents to consistently incorporate art into everyday life.

“I have two kids, ages 6 and 4, and my 6-year-old son is very artistic,” Elijah said. “I struggled to find resources. I struggled to find things that he could do.”

Finding age-appropriate projects, gathering supplies, helping when necessary and then cleaning up can often feel daunting, especially when considering the prep-work-to-reward ratio for little ones with short attention spans.

“One of the things that really threw me off with art projects was the mess that comes with it,” Elijah said. “I would find myself restricting him a lot when we did activities. I was not letting my child express himself through art, and I think part of the concern was the mess. I was trying to work, trying to parent and trying to keep a clean house.”

She’s not alone. Most parents can identify with the tension between wanting to encourage their kids’ creativity and wanting to keep a clean home. Paint, glitter, slime, clay, glue and ink are in direct conflict with protecting countertops. But just like so many aspects of parenthood, just because it’s challenging doesn’t mean you should skip it.

According to Professor Peter Fonagy, CEO of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, “The arts take us to another world where we can explore our thoughts and feelings free of fear of stigma or judgement. They help children and young people to express things that they sometimes cannot say in conversation, and to celebrate feelings and thoughts that previously troubled them. The creative process can also be a curative process.”

Artistic education

Elijah founded Bloomfield to provide a supportive space for children’s creativity and to help busy parents encourage their children’s artistic endeavors. The art studio offers diverse programs, including sewing, crochet, ceramics and painting. Bloomfield opened in November 2024 and has been steadily adding classes, programs and instructors as word spreads.

The instructors are mostly students working toward art education degrees at the nearby University of Central Oklahoma. Many also have experience in child care or as camp counselors.

“It is a good part-time job for our instructors,” Elijah said. “They are getting more experience teaching and managing a classroom. Our students are getting the best teachers, who bring a wealth of knowledge into our programs.”

There is something for every interest and age group, although Elijah notes most of the students are age 12 and under. Visual arts classes cover drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed-media techniques. Sewing introduces both hand- and machine-sewing through projects that build real skills over time. Digital media uses kid-friendly tools to teach basic design by creating posters, digital collages and simple layouts. Crochet introduces basic loops and stitches as kids make small, fun yarn projects. 

Most classes include a one-hour trial session where instructors evaluate a new student’s skill level. Depending on the trial, the instructor may recommend a different class. This sets students up for success from the beginning and minimizes frustration. It’s not a question of talent; in many cases, a student’s fine motor skills simply aren’t advanced enough. 

The programs emphasize critical thinking, creativity and hands-on learning. Instructors focus on encouraging children to think independently and solve problems. According to an article in National Geographic by McKenna Becker, “Making a masterpiece — or just a stick-figure drawing — is actually a problem-solving project for kids. In practice, children survey materials, plan how to build, adjust as they go and even cope with disappointment.” 

Elijah and her team have also worked to meet the needs of busy families. Every parent who works outside the home has struggled to figure out what to do with their children when school is not in session. Short breaks, like this month’s impending fall break, are often the most challenging. Bloomfield has these breaks covered and offers flexibility not always found in other programs. There are full-day and half-day options, as well as two-hour sessions. Aftercare is available, and there are multi-day and sibling discounts. Elijah plans to offer similar camps throughout the year. 

In addition to these options, Bloomfield offers a Friday evening class, where parents can leave their children for two hours — long enough for a date night dinner or a chance to run errands without dragging the kids along. Children age 3 and up who are fully potty-trained can stay without the supervision of a parent. The dream of going to Target without your kids is alive and well in Edmond. 

Parent–child classes are also available for younger children in a separate classroom. No longer limited to “mommy and me,” this parent-child art time builds core skills. As early childhood resource group Zero to Three notes, “Creative activities help children learn to solve problems, come up with their own answers and discover the cause-and-effect of their actions.” 

Digital detox 

Perhaps because Elijah is currently parenting her own young children, she is very aware of toddlers’ limited attention spans. Just off the parent-child room, a playroom is ready for breaks between projects or for a tot who is simply not feeling the macaroni necklace circuit. It’s one of the many thoughtful touches that make Bloomfield special. 

Parents everywhere are concerned about the amount of time today’s youth spend glued to screens. Kids may love to build universes in Roblox or Minecraft, but Bloomfield provides a safe space for building of a different sort: a chance to take those ideas out of the digital world and use their imaginations to make tangible creations. A digital detox can often feel like punishment, but when it is paired with a thoughtful, engrossing activity, unplugged hours can become something kids look forward to. 

Elijah uses a special framework, BLOOM, to ensure students get the most from their time: 

B – Build Skills: Children learn to use their hands: cutting, gluing, measuring, building and more. 

L – Learn With Purpose: Projects teach focus, patience, sequencing and follow-through — skills that transfer to everyday life. 

O – Open Expression: Kids explore creativity, tell stories and communicate their unique voices. 

O – Own Achievements: Each completed project is a win. Children see their progress, take pride and build confidence. 

M – Make Connections: Working side by side, kids share ideas, encourage one another and celebrate together. 

Today’s children are living through stressful times, but art can help. A study by Drexel University professor Girija Kaimal cited by Becker found that “creating art for 45 minutes had a significant reduction in cortisol, the main stress chemical in our bodies.” Bloomfield’s classes are designed to maximize this benefit. 

It’s a stressful time for adults, too, which is why Bloomfield also offers an adult craft club on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as an adult beginner sewing class. Bloomfield provides an escape from the trappings of daily life for the young or the young at heart. 

Visit bloomfieldarts.com.

This article appears in Celebrate the season across OKC.