Jabberwocky Studio in NDG, QC

I had seen advertising for the opening of the Jabberwocky Studio in NDG, QC for awhile now. When I saw they were hosting a “Paint Crawl” Workshop, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to check out this new spot. Located at 5833 Sherbrooke Ouest, Jabberwocky Studio is the perfect place for children to play in a creative setting.

“Acting on the principle that creativity and sensory exploration foster physical and mental growth, Jabberwocky Studio’s mission is to fuel the imaginations of babies, kids and their caregivers. Featuring a hands-on, interactive and sensory play area as well as an art studio offering programming designed for children ages birth to 8, Jabberwocky Studio focuses on learning through play, with emphasis on early childhood development.” -via Jabberwocky Studio Facebook

The Studio

What I first noticed as we walked into the studio, was how open and bright it is. When you walk into the building, you are in the area where you leave your bags, and your shoes. It is a sock only zone- there are no shoes allowed. If you forget your socks, they have some available to purchase at the front.

To the left, is an area of tables, which are perfect for the caregivers/parents to sit at to enjoy a snack. Outside food is not allowed on the premises, as it ensures it is a nut-free zone. However, they do have food and beverages available to purchase.

The rest of the studio is devoted to creative space for the children to play. There is a baby zone, a nice slide set, and a reading area with nice chairs for the children.

The whole space was so nice and clean, and well put together; I loved it right away.

Our Experience

As soon as we entered the space, Liam was mesmerized by all there was to play with. He had to touch, and play with everything. The employees were immediately welcoming, and very polite.

Since we got there with a few minutes to spare before the workshop started, Liam had time to explore his new surroundings. His favorite area was the one that contained the play kitchen set. I thought we would have to buy the toy shopping cart; he did not want to let it go.

Once everyone was accounted for, the animator of the workshop, Sonia, gathered us in a circle with a multi-colored parachute. Each caregiver had their turn of introducing their little one’s name.

By this stage, Liam was so enthralled with the toys, that tantrum #1 erupted when we tried getting him to participate. The workshop was held from 10:45-11:45, so it was approaching his nap time, which didn’t help. We were told the kids could stay in their clothes, or could choose to be in just their diapers.

The Paint Crawl Workshop

At this point, we were brought into the back room. It is a very nice space for the 10-12 babies/toddlers, and their caregivers. There was a large sheet of paper taped to the floor, with numerous paints set up.

I have to say, seeing so many babies experiment with paint may have been more entertaining for us parents; the kids were so cute. Liam, took no interest in the paint. He once again had to investigate everything in the room, excluding the materials that were provided for the workshop.

Sonia was incredibly kind, and continued to offer Liam different brushes, and showed him other ways he could play with the paint. Liam was just more interested in playing with a toy lawn mower he found. At one point, he did get curious about an easel that was set up with pencil crayons. He had fun coloring for awhile. We managed to get him to watch us put trucks through the paint so he could see how the wheels made tracks on the paper. His interest didn’t last long, though.There was a sink prepared for clean-up time, with several cloths ready to wipe the children off. It made clean up super easy, and it was nice to not have to worry about bringing all of the supplies with us.

Liam progressed to having tantrum #2, and so we decided it was time to go. As we were leaving, the animators were extremely kind. Liam noticed bananas on the counter, so of course he wanted one. They were kind enough to give it to him free of charge to try to make him smile. He was a happy, yet tired, camper after that.

Our Thoughts

While it was unfortunate that the workshop started right when Liam was beginning to get tired, we were still happy we went. It was a good opportunity for him to interact with other young children.

The Paint Crawl was recommended for 1-2 year olds, but perhaps Liam (22 months old) would fit in better for a workshop geared towards an older age group. I would definitely bring our next little one to the paint crawl, but probably towards when they first begin to crawl.

They offer many workshops for different age groups, so there will be other workshops for Liam. To see their full calendar of events, click here. You can reserve your spot online, or take your chance at dropping in, but it is first come first serve.

We paid $25+ tax, which seems like a lot for an activity that was an hour long, especially since Liam barely participated. However, I completely understand why they charge what they do, and it’s not their fault Liam wasn’t in the right mood. When you think of all the preparation it takes to get the non-toxic, edible paint ready, the room set up, the supplies together, and the time given by the animators, $25 really is not bad at all.

The staff are very kind, and were understanding of Liam’s tantrums. They didn’t make me feel bad, and remained super sweet towards him. Many people assume that if people work with children, then they are prepared for all the moods that can come with them, but that’s not the case. It can be surprising the reaction you get from others, so being in a non-judgmental environment was really nice.

Other Services

Jabberwocky Studio offers more than the workshops. It is a space for children and caregivers to drop-in whenever they feel the want or need. Prices vary depending on how many children are there, but there are also drop-in packages. You can find more information here.

Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook. They have a list of events listed, and will keep you up to date of any giveaways they are having. If you have any questions, I can attest that they answer you as quickly as possible. I had messaged them past 11 P.M to see if there were any spots left for the workshop and Emily responded to me almost instantly.

I look forward to other workshops they hold, and would definitely recommend them to any parent/caregiver in the Montreal area. It’s definitely worth checking out.

You can reach them on their Official Website, e-mailing [email protected], or by calling 514-KID-PLAY (543-7529).