Why Our Afterschool Clubs May Not Be For You (And That's OK)

Let's be honest from the start - Create98's afterschool clubs aren't for every child or every family. If you're looking for your child to come home each week with a neat, finished project, you'll probably be disappointed with what we offer.

If you want guaranteed "Instagram-worthy" results that you can proudly display without explanation, our approach might frustrate you. And if your child thrives on clear, step-by-step instructions and gets anxious when faced with open-ended creative choices, they might initially struggle in our environment.

That's completely okay. There's absolutely a time and place for structured, guided creative activities - and we offer plenty of those in our one-off workshops. But our afterschool clubs operate on a fundamentally different philosophy, and it's important you understand what you're signing up for.

In our clubs, paint will drip unexpectedly. Clay will crack. Colors will mix in unplanned ways. We treat these as learning opportunities rather than problems to fix.20.

What We Do Differently (And Why It Might Not Work for You)

we focus on process, not product

In our afterschool clubs, your child might spend a couple of weeks experimenting with different techniques before they even start their "proper" project. They might try something, decide it doesn't work, and start again. They might finish the term with something that looks "unfinished" by traditional standards but represents genuine learning and growth.

This might not be for you if:

• You want to see clear progress each week
• You need something "displayable" to justify the cost
• You prefer activities with predictable timelines and outcomes
• Your child gets frustrated without seeing immediate results

we encourage individual expression over uniformity

When, for example, our Studio Sessions finish, you'll see 12 completely different artworks. Some might be bold and colorful, others subtle and detailed. Some might look "realistic," others completely abstract. We celebrate this diversity rather than trying to eliminate it.

This might not be for you if:

• You want your child's work to look like the examples we show
• You're concerned about your child's work being "different" from others
• You prefer activities where success is easily measurable
• Your child feels more comfortable when everyone's doing exactly the same thing

we let children make mistakes and learn from them

In our clubs, paint will drip unexpectedly. Clay will crack. Colors will mix in unplanned ways. We treat these as learning opportunities rather than problems to fix. Your child might come home with paint under their fingernails and stories about "happy accidents."

This might not be for you if:

• Mess and unpredictability make you uncomfortable
• You prefer activities with minimal risk of "failure"
• Your child becomes distressed when things don't go according to plan

we take our time

Our afterschool clubs work on substantial projects over 6-7 weeks. There's no rushing to finish something each session. Some weeks your child might come home having spent the entire time experimenting with one technique or exploring different approaches to a problem.

This might not be for you if:

• You want something to take home each week
• You prefer activities with clear weekly milestones
• You're looking for quick skill development
• Your child needs the satisfaction of completing something regularly

"There's no "right" way to approach children's creative education. Some children thrive with structure and clear expectations. Others flourish when given freedom to explore and experiment. Most children benefit from experiencing both approaches at different times."

Where You CAN Find Structure and Step-by-Step Learning

We absolutely believe there's value in guided, structured creative activities. They're excellent for:

• Learning specific techniques
• Building confidence in nervous beginners
• Creating gifts for special occasions
• Enjoying a relaxing, predictable creative experience

That's exactly why we offer them in our one-off workshops. We are also amazingly lucky that we live in such a creative region and there are many companies and individuals that offer wonderful afterschool and homeschool classes.

What Your Child Will Actually Learn in Our Afterschool Clubs

If you do choose our afterschool clubs, here's what your child will genuinely develop:

creative problem-solving skills

When their original plan doesn't work, they'll learn to adapt, try alternatives, and find new solutions. These skills transfer to academic work, social situations, and future challenges.

resilience and persistence

Working on projects over multiple weeks teaches children that worthwhile things take time. They learn to push through frustration, work with setbacks, and see projects through to completion.

authentic self-expression

Rather than copying someone else's vision, your child will develop their own artistic voice. They'll learn to make choices based on their preferences, interests, and creative instincts.

confidence in uncertainty

Our clubs teach children to be comfortable with not knowing exactly how something will turn out. This comfort with ambiguity is increasingly valuable in our rapidly changing world.

technical skills through exploration

While we don't follow rigid curricula, children naturally develop technical skills as they pursue their creative goals. They learn to use tools properly, understand materials, and master techniques - but in service of their own creative vision.

critical thinking

When faced with creative challenges, children learn to analyse problems, consider multiple solutions, and make informed decisions about their work.

The Results You Can Expect

Children who complete our afterschool clubs typically:

• Feel more confident expressing their ideas
• Are comfortable taking creative risks
• Can work independently on creative projects
• See mistakes as opportunities rather than failures
• Have developed their own artistic preferences and style
• Can persist with challenging tasks
• Are comfortable with open-ended problems

Making the Right Choice for Your child

our afterschool clubs might be perfect if:

• Your child loves experimenting and trying new things
• You value creative thinking over neat results
• Your child enjoys challenges and doesn't mind uncertainty
• You want to develop your child's individual artistic voice
• You're comfortable with mess and unpredictability
• You believe the creative process is as important as the outcome

our one-off workshops might be better if:

• Your child prefers exact instructions and predictable outcomes
• You want to learn specific techniques or skills
• You're looking for a relaxing, guided creative experience
• You want something beautiful to take home each time
• Your child is new to creative activities and needs confidence-building
• You prefer shorter commitments without ongoing expectations

You Might Want to Try Both:

Many families find that their children benefit from both approaches. They might attend our structured workshops to learn specific skills and build confidence, then join afterschool clubs to apply those skills in more open-ended ways.

The Bigger Picture

There's no "right" way to approach children's creative education. Some children thrive with structure and clear expectations. Others flourish when given freedom to explore and experiment. Most children benefit from experiencing both approaches at different times.

What matters is matching the approach to your child's needs, your family's values, and your current circumstances. A child who's feeling overwhelmed at school might need the predictability of structured workshops. A child who's bored with conventional approaches might be ready for the challenge of our afterschool clubs.

Our Honest Recommendation

Before committing to our afterschool clubs, we'd suggest:

1. Try our Halloween taster sessions (free during October half-term) to see how your child responds to our approach
2. Attend one of our structured workshops to experience our teaching style in a more guided format
3. Talk to your child about what they enjoy in creative activities
4. Consider their current needs - do they need confidence-building or challenge?

The Bottom Line

Create98's afterschool clubs are designed for children who are ready to embrace creative uncertainty, who enjoy making choices about their work, and who find satisfaction in the process of creating rather than just the final result.

If that sounds like your child, we'd love to have them join us. If it doesn't, that's perfectly fine too - our workshops and pottery painting sessions might be exactly what your family needs.

The most important thing is that your child continues to engage with creativity in whatever form works best for them. Whether that's through our afterschool clubs, our workshops, or somewhere else entirely, we're just happy when children are creating, exploring, and expressing themselves.

Because at the end of the day, there's no single "right" way to nurture creativity - there are just different approaches that work for different children at different times.