Our Top 7 Tips for Running a Successful After-School Craft Club in Schools

Here’s the truth: teaching an after-school arts and crafts program in schools is the #1 fastest way to start and grow your crafting business.

Schools have kids ready to learn (a built in audience!!), free (or low fee) venues, and they even help market your classes for you!

By starting a craft program in schools, you can:

• Earn a steady income: Gain a dependable revenue stream while pursuing something you love.
• Enjoy flexibility: Manage a program that fits into your lifestyle and schedule.
• Make a positive impact: Enrich students' lives through fun, educational after-school activities.

Keep reading to find out how to set yourself up for success and make your craft program an essential part of any school’s extracurricular offerings.

 Tip #1: Make It Easy for the School to Say YES 

To get schools excited about your program, solve a problem for them and offer something fresh and unique that stands out.

Schools are busy places, so the easier you make it for them to say yes, the better. 

Here’s how to make your program irresistible to schools:

☑️ Highlight the educational value.

Explain how your activities encourage creative problem-solving, support academic growth in subjects like math and science, and enrich the school’s overall learning environment.

☑️ Show them what you’ll teach. 

Include pictures of fun, hands-on crafts like jet packs, rockets, sailboats, and flying discs. Visuals make it easy for schools to see the excitement and value your program brings.

☑️ Keep it simple. 

Create a clear proposal that outlines:

• The age groups you’ll work with
• How your crafts align with the school’s educational goals
• Reassurance that your program is low-maintenance—you’ll handle everything from setup to cleanup

A proposal that’s easy to understand and backed by exciting visuals makes it much easier for schools to say, “Yes, we want this!”

Click here for more tips on How to Set Your After-school Craft Club Apart from Other Programs.

 Tip #2: Transport Supplies Efficiently 

One of the top reasons people in our community miss out on the opportunity to teach at schools is the belief that carting supplies around is a hassle—but that’s simply not true!

Being prepared and well organized with supplies makes everything easier—from wheeling your supplies into the school to setting up and cleaning up.

It also shows the school that you’re professional and reliable when you’re not needing to run back and forth fetching extra things you forgot you needed!

Here are some tips to make managing your materials effortless:

• Use rolling carts or sturdy totes to transport your supplies with ease. Try to pack in such a way that you don’t need to make multiple trips
• Label everything clearly so you can quickly find what you need (and kids can know which supplies go in which bins without needing to ask!)
• Pack a few extras to handle mishaps or last-minute additions. You will often find extra kids who want to join in the fun!
• Group items by activity to keep everything in order and save time during your sessions.

By keeping your supplies neat and easy to carry, you’ll not only streamline your setup but also leave a positive impression on staff and students.

 Tip #3: Simplify Your Classroom Setup 

Believe it or not, you actually don’t need to get to class super early or stress about setting up everything in advance, and this method even helps with student engagement. Yes, really!

With a simple plan, you can make setup quick and easy.

Start by laying down plastic sheets or disposable tablecloths to protect the tables. 

“You can get cheap, thin, painting sheets that are disposable, so at the end of the class you can literally just wrap it up and toss it.”
- Club Owner Natalie

Next, only lay out the material needed for the first step of the activity. This keeps things manageable and helps the kids focus on one task at a time.

Tip: If you give kids all the materials at the start, they’ll quickly lose interest. Instead, introduce each item as it’s needed to keep their attention and excitement high throughout the lesson.

Sometimes, you don’t even need to lay out any materials right away. You can choose to begin your class with a group discussion or a game instead of jumping right into the craft, so you can wait until the kids are seated and ready before handing out supplies.

This step-by-step approach minimizes mess, saves time, and keeps your session running smoothly—no extra effort required!

Click here for more tips on how to Skyrocket Class Engagement.

 Tip #4: Keep the Classroom Tidy 

Make it a goal to leave the room in better shape than you found it. This small effort goes a long way in building goodwill with the school’s staff.

When you do get to cleaning, remember that you don’t have to go it alone. Kids are used to assisting with cleanup in classrooms, so they won’t mind helping out.

“Enlist the kids to help you with the cleanup. They help mess up, they help clean up!”
- Club Owner Natalie

Cleanup can also be part of the fun! Play some music and get the kids excited about the challenge of making the room cleaner than they found it.

Give kids small jobs like being the "Glue Collector" or the "Trash Collector". You can even make it a game—who can collect their items the fastest?

Cleanup games are a great way to teach responsibility while leaving the space neat and ready for the next use.

An extra tip from Club Owner Natalie: If your craft project is a toy and needs one final piece to make it work, keep that piece as a reward for those who have cleaned up their area. 

“There might be one element of the toy that we made that they don’t have yet, like if we’re doing something with magnets, I might have given them the metal piece but not the magnet yet, so to get your magnet you need to show me a clean work spot.”

 Tip #5: Build Strong Relationships 

Success at schools isn’t just about the crafts—it’s about the connections you make. Remember, you are only there for a limited time each day, so make your impact memorable! 

Spend time getting to know the kids, chatting with staff, and saying hello to families during pickup time. 

If your schedule allows, also try to join in with school events like fairs or open days to show you’re a real part of the community. This helps with longevity–The more the school sees you as part of the ecosystem the stickier you become!

Being involved helps parents and staff see the value you bring, building trust and making your program an even more welcomed part of the school.

An extra tip from Club Owner Natalie: Small gestures, like a simple thank-you note or some holiday treats for the staff, can make a big impact. 

“I give out $10 Amazon gift cards to the custodians and some of the administrators to say thank you for supporting my business, and that’s all tax deductible!” 

 Tip #6: Leverage Your Program to Offer More Fun 

As part of the registration process, have parents tick a box to say that they are happy for you to use their contact information to share promotional offerings from time to time.

“Some schools offer to take the registrations for you, which is convenient, but make sure you can get the contact information of the parents so you can retarget them. It’s important to gather that information for marketing later on in your business.”
- Club Owner Natalie

Here’s how your communication with the parents would typically go:

☑️ Keep parents in the loop

Share updates about what their kids are doing in your classes. Send photos of the process and the final result, and let them know how much fun their kids are having. You can even include a short writeup of the skills learned in each lesson as a way to emphasize the educational benefits.

Parents love seeing their kids’ creativity and progress—it’s a great way to show the value of what you offer.

☑️ Retarget them for additional offerings

Once parents see how much their children are loving your program and getting totally immersed, contact them about additional offerings like birthday parties, weekend workshops, or holiday craft camps. 

Parents are often very interested in keeping the creativity going throughout the holidays, plus, arty birthday parties are all the rage!

By offering extra activities to families who already know and trust your program, you won’t need to spend extra time or money on marketing to find new customers.

 Tip #7: Create a Partnership That Benefits Everyone 

Running a school-based craft program is all about working together with the school and creating something meaningful for everyone. 

When you stay organized, focus on what the school needs, and build strong relationships, your program becomes more than just an activity—it becomes a highlight for students, staff, and parents alike.

With thoughtful preparation and a commitment to making a difference, your program can become a favorite part of the school community and something everyone looks forward to.

If starting a craft program at schools feels like the right next step, we'd love to help you get started!!

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