Exploring Life & Business with Jessica Pitts of The Kids Creative Space

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Pitts.

Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A few years ago, I had a session with my therapist where I told her about my heart’s dream of having a space for children to come and explore creativity. I promptly put it out of my mind after that, thinking it was really just a pipe dream.

Fast forward to the pandemic and all of a sudden this heart dream of mine would not exit my brain. The pandemic really affected me as it did so many and I knew that it was now or never.

Life is beautiful and also very fleeting and I knew that I had to at least try. So I quit my job teaching an early childhood music program and in January of 2022, The Kids Creative Space was born.

My background is in music therapy and I maintain my board certification. The ideology of The Kids Creative Space was a very natural progression for me given my professional and personal experiences.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a fast and furious road, but not smooth. I feel like every week I’m stepping out in faith that this is going to work, that there are people who are interested in what I’m offering. It was terrifying to quit my job teaching early childhood music (where I had been since the fall of 2017) and it was a program that I loved, working with families I adored.

To leave that in pursuit of the unknown was straight-up scary. However, I’m so much happier now, doing what I love in the way that I value doing it, even if I still don’t know how this will all play out. It’s exhilarating and anxiety-producing putting myself out there and trying to get the population to understand what experiences I’m offering and building for their children.

Additionally, there are all the challenges that come with owning a small business solo. For example, 8 weeks ago I had no idea how to build a website. But after much googling and YouTubing, I did it and I’m really proud of that.

It was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I’ve also had to actively search for site partnerships and in that, I’m trying to explain what my vision is for my programming. It’s bravery at its finest. I’m supremely thankful to all the businesses who are taking a chance on me and letting me pilot my program in their spaces.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Kids Creative Space?
The Kids Creative Space is a place for children (birth through elementary) to explore creative arts experiences in the modalities of music, movement, and making. I offer classes and summer camps in partnership with local businesses. I have summer camps that will be at the Shawnee Civic Centre through Shawnee Parks and Recreation.

I’m also offering classes at Inspired Play Cafe in Leawood and Wyld Roots Wellness Studio in Shawnee. In a nutshell, I center each class or camp around a specific theme. For example, I just did a Rainbow-themed class at Inspired Play Cafe this week. We then structure our time in thirds.

We spend a third of our time in active music-making experiences (e.g. singing, instrument play, songwriting), a third with movement (e.g. gross motor stories, movement with props, parachutes, free dancing), and a third with making (e.g. painting, building, stamping, coloring). I like to call it making instead of art because I prefer the open-mindedness of the word.

Sometimes our making moment will be art, but sometimes it won’t. Sometimes it will be building with blocks or playing with playdough. Also I just really like the alliteration of the words Music, Movement, and Making. My whole programming really is about helping our children find and express their own innate creativity. To be creative is to be brave.

I believe in the accessibility of the modalities I have chosen. You don’t have to be elite to make music, move your body, or create.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Children. And their families. Creativity. I want to help children and families connect to each other in meaningful ways while also maintaining and growing their creativity.

I want our children to be creative. Creativity is how problems get solved and the world changes. It can be so easy to lose that spirit. But it matters. And I believe it is essential for the future.

My tagline is “because to create is to be brave.” I can think of nothing braver than when someone makes something (no matter what that something is: music, art, dancing, websites, books, new businesses) and puts it out in the world, all while knowing the world may not receive it well.

You all. That’s powerful.

Pricing:

• $75 for a 6 Week Preschool Class @ Wyld Roots Wellness Studio starting April 13th.
• $75 for a 6 Week Toddler Class @ Wyld Roots Wellness Studio starting April 13th.
• $90 for a 5 day Summer Camp @ the Shawnee Civic Centre
• $30 for a 3 hour Kids Day Out @ the Shawnee Civic Centre
• Tuesdays @ Inspired Play Cafe – Included in daily play price

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.thekidscreativespace.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thekidscreativespace
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thekidscreativespace