East Bay:

Color me Mine: (ceramics studio) 1950 Mount Diablo Blvd.
Walnut Creek, California 94596
925-280-2888
Email: angie@colormemine.com

With literally hundreds of objects to paint, fire and glaze, there is something for all interests and ages.  There is a studio fee, plus the cost of the object.  On Tuesdays, they waive the fee for kids.  Additionally, they have a Mother's Day special going on through the month of April where anyone painting a gift for Mom will get $5.00 off their visit.  These offers cannot be combined.

Artopia: (ceramics studio)
55-D Crescent Drive
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone number: 925-671-2345

Moms & Tots Class – Every Tuesday morning, Artopia gives moms with little ones a chance to create memorable art works together. Special hands-on projects designed for you and your little ones make it easy, and we clean up the mess! A Special “drop-by” class for Moms and Tots. Drop-by any Tuesday between 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Class fee – free studio fee; art prices vary.

Art 'n' Play: (ceramics studio)
21001 San Ramon Valley Blvd., #C-8, San Ramon, CA 94583
925.479.0222
info@artnplay.com; http://www.artnplay.com

Art 'n' Play is a children's imagination play area and ceramic art studio. From their website: Children, age six and under, love playing in our imagination workshop. Your child will imagine while creating at an arts & crafts table, playing at the train or Lego® table, or participating in pretend play in a tea party house, fire station, pirate ship, and grocery store. And our seasonal activities allows your child to make the most of their imagination and creativity.

Lafayette: Let’s get crafty
Thursdays, 3 – 4 pm. (Storytime doesn’t include crafts during the summer)

Habitot Children's Museum: (children’s museum)
2065 Kittredge Street, Berkeley
phone: 510 647-1111; www.habitot.org

The museum offers a variety of classes for a variety of age groups.  These classes are generally 10 weeks long and members receive a discount.  Spring classes include: Clay Play & Ceramic Sculpture (Ages 3-6), Crazy Collage & Other Recycled Creations (Ages 4-7) and Tot Art (Ages 2-3).  These classes began in April, but many of them will be offered in the summer as well. Descriptions below or on their website.

Clay Play & Ceramic Sculpture:
Clay work builds many skills in young children: visual, spatial, and physical skills to name a few. The changeable nature of clay helps young children learn cause and effect, whether rolling it flat or round, or glazing it to make it hard and shiny. Children, ages 3 to 6, will be grouped together into skill levels for projects ranging from clay play to ceramic sculpture. Older children will learn how to make objects using the coil, slab, and bas-relief methods. All pieces will be fired and glazed. Class takes place in Habitot’s Art Studio. Wednesdays, 3:15 - 4:15; 10-week series begins April 6; $185/$175 members Crazy Collage & Other Recycled Creations
Art can be made from anything! Rather than relying on traditional art materials, in this wild mixed-media class, 4 to 7 year olds will use wood, fabric, buttons, shells, foil, leaves and other materials to make 3-D multimedia collages mosaics and found-object sculptures. Karen’s enthusiastic creativity will help children learn to regard art as non-restrictive, with unlimited possibilities. Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:00; 10-week series begins April 7; $145/$135 members

Tot Art:
The special needs and interests of 2 to 3 year olds are explored in this hands-on, "messy play" art class for toddlers. Focused attention to each child’s creative talents builds on the art experiences children have in Habitot’s drop-in Art Studio. Parents will come to appreciate the developmental approach used to guide each child’s self-expression in mixed media, recycled art, painting and drawing. Parents or care-providers may participate. Fridays, 10:00 - 11:00; 10-week series begins April 8; $150/$140 members  

Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA – Museum)
538 Ninth Street
between Washington & Clay
Oakland, California 94607

Offers artistic opportunities for all age levels.  Most are free to members, and small fees for others. 

LITTLE STUDIO - looking for something for really young artists? the little studio is for young artists 18 months to 5 years. Tuesday through Friday: 10am to 3pm. $5 per child.

FAMILY WORKSHOPS - in our family weekend studios, we feature drop-in art activities for the whole family, all ages welcome. Weekends: noon to 4pm. $5 per child [includes adult admission]

San Francisco:

Zeum 
Little Z’s - Fridays at 1:30 and 4:30 for kids 2 to 5 accompanied by an adult.  Contact them for the current theme.  

San Francisco Children’s Art Center
Fort Mason, Bldg. C, Marina Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94123
415-771-0292

The classes follow an organized open studio format and introduce the children to a wide array of media: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, collage, clay, and photography.