Create custom bling at these child-friendly jewellery classes

Get crafty indoors with these Beijing jewellery-making classes, suited for both parents and little ones. A great birthday party idea, too.

For birthday parties JZ Atelier

At bright and spacious 798 studio JZ Atelier, workshops run the gamut from beading to silversmithing and stone setting, however the shop’s speciality is enamel. During our visit, owner Samantha’s grade three son is busy creating an enamel pendant for himself proving that even though it’s meticulous and delicate work, youngsters are more than capable.

Enamel courses start at 800RMB and the space can accommodate birthday parties (and has a dedicated area for cake and snacks). JZ also has a small storefront where students can put their work up for sale. Find JZ Atelier on WeChat (JZatelier) for more.

For beginners Augusmith

If your little ones wants to pick up an artistic new hobby but don't know where to get started, Augusmith offers 90-minute metalworking courses from their studios inside Chaoyang Joy City and Haidian’s Jinyuan Mall (from 588RMB). Students are taught introductory design skills and then get to work firing up the blow torches.

The company has workshops in Chongqing and Shanghai, but is headquartered in Beijing’s arts enclave Caochangdi where a massive loft workshop is also set up for students to create anything from fine jewellery to more practical objects like pet tags, brass bookmarks and spoons. Workshops are recommended for kids five years and above. Find Augusmith on WeChat (augusmith2005) for more.

For tech-savvy kids 3D Roundhouse

A transplant from New York City and Hong Kong, 3D Roundhouse Beijing offers jewellery-making classes for families. First, students learn how to create a 3D model using free and open source programmes – note that you’ll need to download them before your class and then bring a laptop along on the day.

The three-hour workshops (880RMB for a family of three) walk students through a series of basic tools, like how a 2D image gets turned into a 3D one, and then it’s to the printers where baubles are brought to life. At the end of the workshop, objects are printed in plastic (the same kind used for Lego bricks), however if it simply has to be gold, 3D Roundhouse will send your model out of house to have it made in a higher quality metal from a printer around town. Find 3D Roundhouse on WeChat (YCW_3DR).

For more fabulous things to do with kids in Beijing, tap '阅读原文' at the bottom of this page.

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