Looking for some online art classes for kids? Read through this Sparketh review to see if this program is a good fit for you.
You might be like me… I love art. I greatly admire people who can draw or paint. It’s so amazing how someone can take an idea from their mind and bring it to life.
However… I can’t actually do it.
But despite that, I want to make sure that my kids have the opportunity to explore their own creativity and artistic talents. Which is why I’m really pumped that I heard about Sparketh.
Sparketh is a program that offers online art classes for kids. In this Sparketh review, I’ll tell you all about how the program works and our experience using it, so you can decide if you want to give it a try.
Let’s dive in!
I was compensated for my time reviewing Sparketh and writing this post. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided.
Sparketh: Online Art Classes for Kids
Sparketh is a platform that offers online art classes for kids. They provide courses in drawing, painting, baking, and more. The company was founded by Dwayne and Tim in 2015.
Something neat about Sparketh that differs from other art courses is that the program was designed with homeschoolers in mind. The program initially launched at the Southeast Homeschool Expo and has grown from there.
The program was designed to be fun, easy, and engaging for kids. It’s self-paced so you can go as fast or slow as you’d like. Plus, there are lots of video tutorials and activities to help your child learn at their own pace and really explore the art world.
Each course is broken down into easy-to-follow lessons with step-by-step instructions.
What’s included
With your Sparketh membership, you’ll get access to their library of video courses. You get unlimited access to all their courses and can explore them however you prefer.
Sparketh includes hundreds of courses in drawing, painting, and baking. That ends up being 1000+ video lessons and they’re continually adding more courses.
Your membership includes up to 2 separate student accounts.
Price
Next in our Sparketh review, let’s talk about price. One of the great features of Sparketh is that it’s really affordable.
One of the company’s missions is to make the next generation the most creative generation and I think they help demonstrate that by keeping the program affordable at just $25 a month with the monthly plan.
You also have the option to try the monthly plan FREE for the first 30 days so you can really dive in and try out the program.
The annual plan is $250 a year. If you purchase the annual plan you get $50 off your subscription compared to the monthly plan and you can request courses to be added to the program.
To learn more about pricing and take advantage of the 30-day free trial head to their website here!
Age Range
Sparketh offers classes for kids 6-18 years old. The lessons are explained simply with plenty of demonstration, so I think kids 6 and up could easily follow along.
I think they would work well for older kids too because the videos aren’t too cutesy or watered down. The instructors do a good job of clearly explaining the lessons without being overly patronizing, so I think teens would still find it entertaining and learn a lot.
How Sparketh Online Art Classes for Kids Works
The next part of this Sparketh review will be talking about how the program works. I’m happy to say that the platform is really easy to navigate.
Once you register, you’ll follow a link to create separate accounts for your students. Each student will get their own login and password.
Once your child signs in, they can search for different courses they would like to take. They can search for courses based on:
- skill level
- subject
- type
- number of videos
- course length
- instructor
- materials
I liked how they made it really easy to search the platform if they’re looking for something specific.
Once they choose a course, they simply have to click “Join Course” and start watching the videos. The lessons will let them know all the supplies they need and provide step-by-step instructions from start to finish.
Course type
The courses are broken down into 3 different types:
- Activity: These are one-time projects with a specific outcome. (Ex: Rainbow Feather)
- Challenge: These courses are where you’re given a prompt to create something, but you have more freedom in how you do it. (Ex: Shiver Shapes – take a basic shape and turn it into something cold.)
- Technical: These courses teach you different art techniques. (Ex: Drawing Textures Part 1)
I like that they offer lots of options to create and learn about art. My younger daughter was very interested in the activities, whereas my older daughter liked learning the different drawing techniques.
Tracks
If you’re looking for a more cohesive or guided experience, they also provide several tracks. The tracks are collections of courses centered around a certain topic.
For example, one track is called Art Style Portraits and it’s all about how to draw portraits in different art styles. The tracks vary in length depending on the topic.
The tracks offer a nice alternative if you want something a little more structured and focused.
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Our Experience With Sparketh
Next in this Sparketh review, let’s talk about our experience using the program. I had both of my daughters try out the classes.
My oldest is an avid drawer, so she was very excited to dive into the drawing courses. My other daughter loves to bake, so she did the Red Velvet Cupcake course.
Here are some of our finished products:
What we liked about it
Overall we really enjoyed using Sparketh. Here are some of the things that we enjoyed most about it:
Friendly and encouraging instructors
The first thing that stood out was that the instructors were really friendly and encouraging. Art can often be a sensitive subject for some kids.
It’s so easy to compare your artwork to others and maybe feel like it’s lacking somehow. I feel like the instructors do a great job of providing positive reinforcement and helping the student stay motivated.
Easy to access lessons
Something else we liked about Sparketh is that the lessons are easy to get started with. You click on one that appeals to you, click “Join Course” and from there you’re ready to go.
The lessons easily move from video to video so you always know exactly where you need to be. There’s no confusion or guessing at all.
They also have made the lessons very easy to search. You can filter by subject, skill level, course type, number of videos, length, and instructor.
You can also search by materials, so you can be sure to find a lesson to do, even if you don’t want to run by the store for supplies.
Step-by-step instructions for each project
Another great thing about Sparketh is that they provide step-by-step instructions for each project. They don’t just tell you what to do, but also go into detail on how to do it.
This makes the whole experience much more enjoyable and ensures that your kids are getting a complete understanding of the process.
My daughter liked how they added a lot of different details about pressure and how to use the pencil in her drawing lessons. They were little things that helped her really understand the techniques they were teaching.
Wide variety of courses and subjects to choose from
Sparketh also offers a wide variety of courses and subjects to choose from. My daughters had no problem finding something that they were both interested in.
They also have an area of the program where you can request new lessons. I like that there are plenty of lessons to choose from and that they’re constantly adding new ones as well.
Gallery of artwork
The last thing that we really enjoyed about Sparketh is the Gallery. The Gallery is where students can post the artwork that they created from the lessons.
My daughters love looking at the artwork they created and seeing what their peers have made too. It’s a great way for them to stay inspired and motivated to continue learning.
Who Sparketh Online Art Classes for Kids Would be a Good Fit For
Just like with all curriculum, some are a better fit for some families than others. Here is who I think would get the most out of using Sparketh:
Non-creative parents
If you identify as a non-creative parent, I think Sparketh is a great option. They do all the hard work in planning and teaching art activities.
All you have to do is purchase the supplies and your kids can take it from there. Plus, Sparketh actually teaches your child new techniques and skills that they wouldn’t learn from just following directions in a book or on a website.
They make it easy to include art into your child’s homeschool day without you having to be an expert in the subject.
Children who like to learn independently
If your children like to learn on their own, this is a great program. My daughter loves to draw, but she likes to explore topics that interest her. She doesn’t want someone telling her what to draw.
Sparketh allows her to explore her interests at her own pace and without having to worry about being critiqued or judged.
Art curriculum for homeschoolers
If you’re just looking to add some art to your curriculum, Sparketh is a great choice. With all the different lessons, there is more than enough to explore to get you through a full year of homeschooling.
Plus, the lessons are all self-paced so your students can go at whatever speed is best for them.
Kids who need help with motivation
I think Sparketh is a really great choice for kids who like the idea of art, but are maybe a little intimidated by it. My daughter loves to draw, but as I mentioned, she’s a little sensitive about her artwork being judged by others.
The encouraging way the instructors teach the lessons helps her feel confident and comfortable in exploring different techniques and methods. It was a great boost of motivation for her too!
Kids who want to learn a new creative skill or hobby
Lastly, if your child just wants to learn a new creative skill or hobby, Sparketh is a good option. They have classes for beginners and lots of fun challenges to explore.
Even if your child doesn’t have any prior experience, they will be able to dive in and learn something new.
FAQs About Sparketh
Still have some questions about Sparketh? Here are some frequently asked questions about these online art classes for kids:
How many students can you have on one family plan?
The membership allows up to 2 students for one account. However, you can add additional students to your account for $5/month each.
Do they provide a material list for the projects?
Some lessons provide a material list on the main page of the lesson. All of the lessons will explain what materials are needed in one of the videos at the beginning of the lesson.
How can my child add their artwork to the gallery?
When they finish a lesson, there will be a button to the left that says “Submit Artwork.” A form will pop up asking for the title, description, and a photo of the artwork.
Once submitted, the pictures will appear in the Gallery. For this part, my daughter took a picture on my phone and uploaded it to the website.
How long are the lessons?
The length of the lessons varies. Some are quite short and only last about 10 minutes while some of them last up to 90 minutes.
Is there any interaction between the student and the instructor?
No, there is no interaction with the instructors. All of the lessons are pre-recorded and there is no chat function on the site.
Final Thoughts on Sparketh Review: Easy & Fun Online Art Classes for Kids
Overall, we had a great experience with Sparketh. We found that the art lessons were engaging and easy to follow, and my kids really enjoyed learning new skills. The instructors were encouraging and patient, which helped to keep my kiddos motivated throughout the projects.
If you’re looking for an easy and fun way to introduce your children to the world of art, Sparketh is definitely worth a look. Visit their website to learn more about this program!
What did you think of this Sparketh review? Are you ready to give their online art classes for kids a try? Let us know in the comments or email me at admin@atouchofhomeschooling.com.
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Candice is a mom of 3 who has been homeschooling since 2013. She has an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Studies and cares deeply about helping other parents get the information and resources they need to help them homeschool their children with confidence.