Above image: Shannon Merenstein’s toddler son paints with a brush attached to a drill, courtesy of Shannon Merenstein.
New makerspaces — where the DIY ethos of craft meets STEM experimentation — are popping up every day in schools, libraries and museums. But with the right tools and materials, you can create an inviting makerspace in your own home.
“If we want our children to grow into innovative thinkers and problem-solvers, the place to start is at home at the dining room table,” says Shannon Merenstein, the owner, creative director and lead educator at Hatch Art Studio in Point Breeze. “Children innately use art and making to express themselves and are generally in love with the process of constructing — and sometimes deconstructing — from a young age.”
Parents and teachers can encourage creativity by giving children a say in the tools they…
