Make & Take: Calming Creations™
Before & After School Mindfulness & Sensory Enrichment for Kids
Serving Mounds View • White Bear Lake • Roseville, Minnesota
March enrollment is now open through Community Education programs.
Small group spots fill quickly.
If your child struggles with transitions, big emotions, or winding down after school, this program was created for them.
What is Make & Take: Calming Creations?
School days can be demanding, both before the first bell and after the final dismissal.
Make & Take: Calming Creations™ is a before and after school mindfulness and sensory enrichment program designed to help children feel calm, focused, and emotionally supported through hands-on creative projects.
Each session blends:
• Mindful art
• Sensory play
• Simple emotional regulation tools
• Gentle breathing and grounding strategies
Every project is intentionally calming, engaging, and meaningful — and goes home with your child so they can continue practicing at home.
This is more than a craft class.
It’s emotional skill-building disguised as fun.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN MOUNDS VIEW SCHOOLS
Make & Take: Calming Creations is currently enrolling in select Mounds View School District locations through Community Education.
This program supports students by:
• Easing transitions from structured classroom time
• Encouraging relaxation after a full day of learning
• Providing screen-free creative enrichment
• Building focus and confidence
Available at participating schools including:
Island Lake Elementary
Pinewood Elementary
Valentine Hills Elementary
Turtle Lake Elementary
Bel Air Elementary
Spots are limited to maintain a calm, supportive environment.
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT IN WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOLS
Families in White Bear Lake choose Make & Take because it provides structured, nurturing enrichment that supports emotional development and creativity.
This class helps students:
• Unwind after school in a calm environment
• Develop self-regulation tools they can use independently
• Build confidence through hands-on success
Offered through White Bear Lake Community Education.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNITY EDUCATION ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
In Roseville schools, Make & Take: Calming Creations is offered before or after school depending on location and session.
This enrichment class is especially helpful for children who benefit from:
• Gentle transitions
• Hands-on learning
• Creative emotional expression
• Small group support
Parents appreciate that this program teaches real-life calming skills — not just crafts.
What Kids Will Experience
In Make & Take: Calming Creations, kids will:
Both before-school and after-school formats offer the same high-quality experience — tailored to the moment kids need it most.
Many families who love Make & Take also enroll in our summer mindfulness camps and school break retreats for continued emotional growth and creativity.
Sample Project Line-Up
Each session features a calming project paired with a mindful moment:
✨ Worry Stones
Children design pastel worry stones to use as grounding tools when big feelings show up.
✨ I Spy Sensory Bottles
A focus-building sensory bottle filled with tiny treasures for mindful observation.
✨ Flower Garden Play Dough
A soothing tactile activity that supports relaxation and creativity.
✨ Calm Down Bracelets
Wearable reminders of breathing techniques and self-regulation skills.
Projects vary by session and season.
Looking for calming tools at home? Explore our printable mindfulness resources and SEL tools for kids.
DESIGNED FOR BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL
Before School Benefits:
• Helps children arrive calm, focused, and ready to learn
• Gentle, grounding activities ease morning transitions
After School Benefits:
• Supports emotional regulation after a full day
• Encourages relaxation and creative release
Class times and formats vary by school and district.
Designed by licensed teacher Tara Willits
All Make & Take: Calming Creations classes are designed by licensed teacher and mindfulness educator Tara Willits, founder of The Mindfulness Movement.
Tara brings:
• Trauma-informed practices
• Developmentally appropriate instruction
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training
• Years of experience supporting children’s emotional growth
Parents trust this program because it goes beyond crafts, it teaches skills children can use in real life.
WHY FAMILIES LOVE MAKE & TAKE
✔ Supports emotional regulation
✔ Encourages creativity and confidence
✔ Helps with school transitions
✔ Screen-free and thoughtfully structured
✔ Small groups for individual support
“This is the calmest enrichment program we’ve ever enrolled in.”
– Local Parent
“My child still uses their worry stone every night.”
– White Bear Lake Parent
This is enrichment that feels calming, purposeful, and joyful, for kids and parents alike.
Families often pair this program with our Mindful Movement Kids Yoga Clubs for year-round support.
