Entertaining kids on the weekend can be tough, and doing it on a budget seems nearly impossible. Thankfully, the Home Depot kids workshop provides a free, fun weekend entertainment option for families with kids ages 5-12.
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What Is the Home Depot Kids’ Workshop?
The Home Depot kids’ workshop is held at most Home Depot locations on the first Saturday of each month. Some locations may hold more workshops throughout the month, but they always fall on a Saturday. The event is completely free.
The average workshop includes:
When?
The events start at 9:00am and end at 12:00pm. You do not have to arrive at 9:00am to participate; most kids are able to complete their craft within an hour or two. However, you do need to register your child or children for each event. You can easily do this on the Home Depot website.
Make sure to do it a day in advance. Arriving early will help ensure there are enough supplies for your child (and some special goodies for participants that they won’t want to miss out on!)
What?
There are different themes for each kids’ workshop, which are usually seasonal. Past crafts have included making a birdhouse, scarecrow planter, tow truck, kaleidoscope, mini hockey game, or Christmas tree ornament.
Each Home Depot location requires that you sign your child up before the event to make sure there are plenty of supplies and snacks for each participant (complete instructions are below). Although each store offers different snacks, popcorn and bottled water are common.
Why?
What makes these free Home Depot kids workshops worthwhile for busy parents, besides the chance to build a craft, snack on free goodies, and meet other local kids? That’s what we’ll address next.
Who?
Children ages 5-12 are welcome to participate in these workshops, but many parents report that this age rule is more of a guideline and not strictly followed. Guidelines vary by store. But we can’t image a store turning away a child interested in doing a craft. Check with your local store to see if they’ll accept your child.
Tip: Find your local Home Depot, upcoming kids workshops, and instructions to register your child here.
Benefits of Attending a Workship
Home Depot stores aren’t the only retail locations offering fun, free workshops for kids, but they’re one of the most widespread and well-known. Why should your child attend one of these workshops? There are so many benefits, from learning lifelong skills to building confidence.
Social stimulation
Sure, kids interact with others all day long at school and in extracurricular activities, but being social in a “volunteer” setting–one where everyone is there because they want to be and may have something in common–can be especially beneficial for kids.
While parents are required to stick around for these free activities, most will take a step back and allow their children to work with the other kids, develop new friendships, and bond over the act of learning something new.
Skill building
From building fine motor skills and the ability to focus to learning lifelong skills like using a screwdriver, children walk away from these workshops with more than just their completed craft. Stores teach hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and spatial awareness.
Free family fun
There aren’t many family events that are truly free and fun. Because these events don’t cost a dime, more families have the opportunity to do something enjoyable and memorable with their children on weekends without breaking the bank.
A day at the zoo, water park, or theme park can be very expensive, but a free workshop is a great way to set the tone for a relaxing, enjoyable family weekend. If you have shopping to do, it’s like a free babysitter!
Other Program Benefits
Don’t worry, the benefits don’t stop there. In fact, we could write an entire book on why kids should do arts and crafts. Here are a few more reasons to take your child to your local store.
Tangible results
Skills and life lessons are great, but your child will be most interested in the tangible results they get from completing these workshops! Kids workshop attendees will receive:
- Their completed craft
- Free certificate of achievement
- Home Depot kids workshop apron
- Commemorative pin or patch
The commemorative pins are available “while supplies last,” so make sure you arrive at the event on time to ensure your child gets one. Your child will be proud to come home bearing their craft, certificate of achievement, and bright orange apron with commemorative pins attached!
Promotes creativity
Each child is encouraged to use their imagination and creativity. There is usually a custom component of each craft, like choosing different colors of paint, lettering, or using different shapes.
Something new each time
Kids would quickly bore of these events if they did the same craft, in the same location, with the same snacks, every time. Their continual changes are what make Home Depot workshops so enjoyable for children!
The craft is always different, even year after year. The location of the workshop may be inside on cold days or outside on sunny, warm days.
New Jersey mom Jessica Lopa says that some days, popcorn and juice or bottled water may be offered, but next week, you may arrive to find cookies and a balloon artist!
Registering for the Home Depot Kids’ Workshop
Visit HomeDepot.com to select your nearest store location. Enter your zip code to see all nearby locations and choose the one you’d like to attend.
After you select your store, you’ll be able to scroll through a list of their upcoming workshops. Yes, these include free workshops for adults too. You can choose the one you are interested in registering your child for by clicking the orange “register” button.
It’s free, so you’ll just enter your basic information. It holds a spot in the class for your child and ensures there are enough project kits, aprons, pins, and snacks for everyone.
What happens if you don’t register?
If you forget to register and your child wants to try to attend the workshop anyway, you can bring them to the Home Depot location. Just try to do a “drop in registration.”
We recommend that you don’t rely on this option because children are often turned away due to a lack of extra kits. Some workshops may be cancelled if they don’t receive enough registrations before the date, so registering in advance ensures Home Depot knows there is interest in the class.
Home Depot Kids’ Workshop Recap
As long as you register in advance and remember the following, all you’ll need to do is load your family up on the first Saturday of the month and arrive at the next Home Depot kids workshop! Here is the essential information in condensed form:
- First Saturday of the month, from 9am-12pm
- Kids ages 5-12 welcome
- Take home craft plus freebies: Certificate, apron, and pin
- Free refreshments offered for kids and parents
- Parents must stay for the workshop – no drop offs
- Register early and arrive on time, limited spaces available
Home Depot kids’ workshops are a great way to foster your little ones’ creativity and hone their motor skills. They are free, fast, and fun, so there’s no reason not to go. Even better, our favorite home improvement store hosts the event. So hop online and register for your local workshop now–your kids will thank you.
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