The Premier Guide to Classes & Activities for Kids in Columbia, SC

Offers outdoor music classes with instruments for babies and toddlers through 4-year-old children. Music memberships are available.

Learn more about Tempo Music and Arts in our KA review!

Weekly cooking classes for preschool age through teens. Master Chef advanced classes are available for teens.

Birthday Parties: Flour Power has several birthday options that include treats and cooking instructions. They offer parties for ages 3-17, for up to 11 participants; parties last for 1 1/2 hours.

Summer Camps (and school breaks): Cooking camps when school is out for kids. Learn new skills through cooking. 2024 Camps are out. Camps are available for kids ages 5 to 8 and kids ages 9 to 12.

Kids Night Out: Cooking classes and activities for kids on Friday nights, perfect for parents to plan a date night.

Classes: H. Haney Golf Academy offers lessons for juniors (kids 6 to 16), groups, and adults. Lessons are offered during the week and on Satrudays.

Summer Camps: H. Haney Golf Academy offers one-week camps for ages 6-16. Campers learn to improve their golfing skills through assessments, drills, and training.

An outdoor class for little ones to roam, explore, and learn about the outdoors. Check it all out in our Kidding Around Review of Tinkergarten.

Classes: Shelby Nord Piano Studio offers private and group lessons for piano. Group lessons are grouped by age, including Elementary, Pre Teen/ Teen, and Adult. Shelby Nord is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in piano.  Group lessons are 14 weeks long and are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday.

Child Care Services

Bring the kids any time Studio Cellar is open for “Freestyle at the Paintbar.” Just pick a package option and get painting.

Classes: Instructor-led family classes on the weekends!

Birthday Parties: Bring decorations and food, and celebrate while painting at Studio Cellar. There are paint package options to choose from, and you also have the option of selecting a private party when the venue is closed or a separate party area while the venue is open.

Classes: Offers cooking and baking classes for children. Class themes change regularly.
Classes are offered at various Kroger Grocery stores.  Registration is required.

Dream Riders is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship  (PATH) accredited facility that offers Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) horseback riding lessons to individuals with special needs.

They offer therapeutic fun through physical, emotional, and recreational interaction with the animals. Instructors are PATH certified.

The official training center of Ann Brodies Carolina Ballet. CDE offers dance classes year round for infants through adults in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary. Morning/mid-day homeschool classes also available.

Classes: Offers multiple leagues, including youth soccer, youth baseball, youth flag football, and adult soccer.

Youth soccer is offered in early Fall and early Spring
Youth baseball also has t-ball, coaches pitch, and kids pitch divisions
Youth flag football is offered for K5 – 6th grade.

Classes: TNT offers kids SKILLZ martial arts classes for ages 3 to 14, broken into age groups. Contact the facility for specific pricing information.

They offer both recreational and competitive soccer programs and have multiple facilities around Columbia.

Ballet school offering classes for ages 3 – 20 in ballet, tap, and contemporary dance.

First Turns: Ages 3 -6
Emerging Artists: Ages 7 – 10
Advanced Dancers: Ages 11- 20

Classes: Multi-season soccer program that offers mini (ages 2 – 3 years old), classic (pre-K), and premier (5 – 8 years old) soccer programs.

Classes: Offers horseback riding lessons and equine education to all ages. The facility is open afternoons Monday – Friday, and Sunday.
Contact the facility for additional information about pricing, age groups, and specific information about lessons.

Classes: Offers instruction in musical instruments to ages 3 and older. Instruments include violin, viola, cello, and classical guitar.

Classes: Spartan Academy offers classes for children through adults: Child and youth classes include Kids BJJ, Youth BJJ, and Kids/Youth MMA.

They offer free trial classes.

Classes: Sawyer Equestrian offers riding lessons all year for all ages and skills. Lesson ages begin at age 2 with private lessons for 3o minutes per week. Additional packages are available for hour-long lessons for older riders.

Summer/Winter Camps: Day camps are offered and involve grooming, tacking, riding, and horse education. Art projects are made and team-building games are played. Camps are available for ages 5 – 15.

Classes: The ICRC Children’s Theatre offers a theatrical arts and performance program for youth. The theatre performs several theatrical productions throughout the season. Children can sign up to be in the productions, assist with technical, and more!

Summer Camp: Capital City Gymnastics offers a summer camp experience for children ages 4-13. Activities will include games, crafts, science, mobile library, snacks, and of course, gymnastics!

Classes: Offers preschool, recreational, and team gymnastics. They also offer a free trial class.

Classes: Offers group classes for Level 1 – Level 5 in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Lyrical/Jazz, Adult Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, and Variation. They also offer private lessons.

Summer Camp/ Summer Intensives: Summer Intensive camps are offered based on age and skill for ages 3 and older. There are multiple dates to choose from.

Classes: Equine facility that offers horseback riding lessons, including group, private, and semi-private mounted lessons for ages 4 and older.
They also offer safe fundamentals and basic horsemanship lessons.

Contact the farm for specific pricing, schedules, and more.

Classes: Empire Gymnastics offers the following classes:

• Parent and Tot Gymnastics
• Pre-school Gymnastics
• Beginner Gymnastics
• Tumbling
• Intermediate Gymnastics
• Boys’ Gymnastics
• Ninja

Summer Camps: Empire Gymnastics offers a Summer Camp for rising kindergartners – 8th graders. Activities include crafts, games, field trips, gymnastics, outdoor time, and more. Visit their website for more information.

Classes: Star Music Academy offers private musical instruction half time (30 minutes once per week) or full-time ( 60 minutes once per week) for students. They work with beginner, novice, and expert musicians. A showcase in Fall and Spring allows students to perform what they have learned.

They teach a multitude of band and orchestra instruments.

Locations:

Magnolia – The Nature Club offers outdoor nature-based workshops for children of all ages.

Pong Gang offers equestrian classes year-round. Classes offered include Western riding, English riding, and a Tiny Tots class.

Summer Camp: Pony Gang is a private residential and day camp for ages 6-14 years old. The camp is focused on helping campers build self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-acceptance. Campers will spend lots of time outside. No horse experience is necessary. There are limited spots available so be sure to register quickly. There’s also an overnight option (girls only).

Classes: Offers gymnastics classes for toddlers and preschoolers as well as school-aged children. In addition to gymnastics, they also offer Ninja classes.

Birthday Parties: 1 1/2 hour long party with instructional gym time, foam pit, trampoline, and lots more. Option to add cake service.

Summer Camps: Carolina Gymnastics has a partial-day Summer Camp for children ages 3-12. Activities include gymnastics, crafts, a foam pit, games, snack, and trampoline. There are also themed dress-up days to make the experience even more fun and memorable for kids.

Classes: A Basketball specific training facility that offers training groups for youth ages 10 and older that are based on skill level to improve basketball skills through confidence building, fitness training, strength and conditioning, speed and agility, sport-specific training, and massage therapy.

Classes are offered in 1-hour increments,

Culinary service that offers full-service catering, private chef, meal prep/prepared meals, and cooking classes for groups. Classes can be held at The Food Academy, or they can come to you! Please contact 803-404-8618 or email  thefoodacademy15@gmail.com for booking information.

Classes: Offers classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and more for kids. Classes are for kids starting at just 1 year-old (with an adult) on up through teens.

Summer Camps: Summer dance camps for kids ages 2 to 12. Partial day camps are available at a wide variety of times, including evenings. Styles of dance include ballet, jazz, tumbling, hip-hop, and creative movement.

Classes: The USC School of Music offers piano lessons for ages 5 and older at the Music Center for Piano Studies.

They offer beginner, elementary, young artist, and advanced young artists piano programs for K5 – 12th grade

Classes: Mud Club, art classes for kids after school.

Summer Camps: Mad Platter offers camps for young kids ages 3-6 and older kids age 7 and up.

Classes: Legacy Martial Arts offers classes for young children beginning at age 4, all the way through teens and adults.

Birthday Parties: Legacy Martial Arts birthday parties are fun for all kids, whether they have marital arts experience or not. Parties include some basic instruction as well as activities and all set-up and clean-up.

Summer Camp: Legacy Martial Arts offers a Summer Camp for kids with fun and active educational activities of all kinds.

After School Program: Legacy Martial Arts offers an after school program that provides a positive place for kids to spend time after school.

Four locations: 

5225-C Sunset Boulevard, Lexington, SC
7579 St. Andrews Road, Irmo, SC
494-4 Town Center Place, Columbia, SC
4711 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC – Suite 10

Classes: Offers a multitude of youth sports programs, including Dixie Youth Baseball, Youth Football, Youth Softball, Youth Soccer, Youth Basketball, Lacrosse, Track and Field, BMX, Cross Country, Wrestling, Girls Youth Volleyball, Summer Basketball, Cross Country, Little Tikes Sports Programs, Family Junior Golf Program

Classes: Workshop Theatre offers classes for all ages in Audition Workshop for Beginners, Private Voice Lessons, and Private Acting. Classes for ages 16 and older include Private Directing.

Classes: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers gymnastics classes for all ages of children, from just walking through the 12th grade. Classes are offered during the school year and summer. They also offer Ninja, Cheer, and a parent’s night out program.

Birthday Parties: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers birthday parties that include one hour of time in the gym with balance, foam pits, trampolines, and more, plus 30 minutes in the party area.

Summer Camps: Lake Murray Gymnastics offers summer camps for preschoolers to school-age where campers will train in small groups and practice gymnastic skills. Kids will also participate in arts & crafts, games, and strength training.

Parent’s Night Out: Ages 4 and up on Friday nights from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Register in advance.

Classes: Offers private volleyball lessons to ages 14 and older. Player must be a member of Threes Up Volleyball Academy for lessons.
Youth Academy: Offered to girls ages 3rd through 8th grade to increase there knowledge and technical abilities in volleyball.

Classes: Offers Western Riding lessons to all ages. Training is available on-site and off-site around the Columbia area. Contact the facility to learn more about pricing, schedules, and age ranges for riders.

Classes: Offers theatre classes in dance and voice for musical theatre. Auditions are required for the musical theatre company and occur in Summer.

Additional lessons for company members include Private; Duo; Trio; Quartet; and Small Group, Junior Ballet Group Classes, Ballet/Contemporary Group Classes, and Acrobatics Classes. Private to Quartet singing lessons are also available.

Classes: Biblical based dance classes. Instructors are professionally trained dancers. Classes are available for ages 3 and up, with Tutu’s and Tippy Toes, Beginner Levels, Building Technique, and Graded Technique offered.

Classes & Programs: ACRO B.O.S.S., Broadway Baby, Performance Company, The Company, Musical Theater, Tiny Rockstars, and Star Dance Classes.

Camps: They offer a variety of camps throughout the year, see website for details.

Classes: Offers classes in Creative Movement, PreBallet, PreTap, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, PreJazz, Jazz, Lyrical, and Adult Ballet. Classes are for ages 3 through adult.

Classes: Cayce Gymnastics Center offers classes in recreational and competitive gymnastics for youth. Contact the gym for more information about age grouping and specific classes.

All Star Gymnastics offers a Gymnastics classes for a range of ages along with Summer Camp. Please call the gym for more information.

Classes: Offers music lessons for beginners and up for Guitar, Piano, Singing, Voice, Drums, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Violin, and Ukulele. Lessons are offered daily.

Locations:

Columbia: 3630 Rosewood Drive, Columbia
Irmo: 1061 Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo
Lexington: 226 Barr Road, Lexington

Classes: In addition to full-scale productions, Village Square Theatre offers Junior Arts workshops and classes. Classes include musical theatre, dialect workshops, audition workshops, performance workshops, acting for adults/teens, kids acting for a range of ages, and more.

The ages for classes are 5 and up.

Brussell’s Gymnastics offers several classes for children of all age levels as well as programming throughout the year. They also have Sprouts Morning Out for crawlers through 5 years old (this is returning in Fall 2022) where kids can play and bounce around in the padded play areas.

Summer Camp: Brussell’s Gymnastics is offering a Summer Day Camp for rising kindergartners – 7th graders. Activities will include Arts & Crafts, Science & Cooking, and Games & Fitness.

Classes: Offers music lessons in strings, guitar, banjo, keyboard/percussion, voice, general music, folk instruments, woodwinds, and brass instruments.

Kindermusik: Carolina Academy of Music offers Kindermusik, classes geared toward young children and preschool-aged children to explore a multitude of instruments.

Summer Camp: Twinkle Camp is available as a week-long summer camp, with daily group lessons, arts and crafts projects, arts enrichment, and a final concert.

Classes: Irmo Music Academy offers lessons in guitar, piano, voice, singing, drums, bass, banjo, violin, ukulele, and mandolin. Lessons are available every day of the week.

Locations: 

Columbia: 3630 Rosewood Drive, Columbia
Lexington: 226 Barr Road, Lexington
Irmo: 1061 Lake Murray Blvd, Irmo

Offers private music lessons, Rockband class, Theatre classes, and Mommy and Me style music PLAY.
Music lessons are offered for all ages, skill level, and almost any instrument.

They offer six locations throughout the Columbia area.
Locations: Cayce, Downtown, Lexington, Irmo, Northeast, and Sims Music.

Classes: Ballet classes are offered for beginning through advanced students, or age 3 through adult.

Summer Camps: TBA – Check back soon!

Offers: Preschool and recreational gymnastics classes for ages walking to 6 and up.
Classes available include beginner, intermediate, advanced, tumbling, and ninja. Classes are 45-55 minutes in length.

They offer a free trial class.
The gym is open Monday – Saturday

Offers dance classes with competitive teams and recreational classes. They offer a free trial class. They offer a range of pricing for classes starting at 1 class per week for $65 monthly with an unlimited class option.

Classes: Premier Martial Arts offers kids martial arts, adult martial arts, Karate, Krav Maga, and Kickboxing.

Birthday Parties: Birthday party packages include martial arts games, board breaking, and cake cutting with a sword! Contact the facility for more details about party package pricing and additional details.

Classes: Offers Show Choir, Acro/ Tumble, Drama, Dance, and CSC and Me classes. Ages range from preschool and up. A free class trial pass is available for prospective students.

Carolina Show Company also offers Parent’s Night Out and Camps on select dates.

Offers art classes and workshops from beginner to advanced. Classes are geared toward teens/adults. Classes are typically 6 weeks long, with styles such as collage, realism, use of acrylics, watercolors, oil painting, and more.

Classes are offered throughout the week and Saturdays. You must register to attend.

Classes: Carolina Playmakers works with aspiring baseball players to improve their skills and player development. Private lessons are 60-90 minutes in length. Lessons focus on hitting, pitching, speed, and more.

Classes: Martial Arts classes for all ages, also self-defense classes for teens and adults.

Birthday Parties: BGR8 Martial Arts parties include games and a mini-lesson, cake cutting with a real sword, and a whole lot of fun!

Fine Art and Pottery studio

Classes: Art classes for kids and teens, adult classes, family events, and private art lessons.

Camps: Offers summer art camp, both half-day and full-day, pottery wheel camp, and teen camps.

After School: After-school program with pickup for all District 5 schools. After school helps with homework assistance and math tutoring.

Classes: Tony Thomas Family Karate offers after-school, children’s karate, advanced children’s karate, and teen/adult karate.

Programs are offered on various days of the week in late afternoon/evenings.

Classes: Offers martial arts classes to preschool to adult students. Classes are broken into age groups, including ages 4-5 years old, 6-10 years old, 11-13 years old, and adult classes.

Offers classes for young artists and teens on specific days of the week. All art supplies are provided to the student. Classes are themed.
You must sign up at least 24 hours before attending

Young Artists (ages 9 – 11): Thursdays 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Teens (ages 12 – 15): Saturdays 10 am to 12 pm

Prices: $20-$25 per class

Cheerleading and gymnastics gym that offers lessons for all ages. Contact the gym for additional information.

Classes: Palmetto Performing Arts offers performing teams, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, and Acro. Classes are available for all ages and skill levels.

Birthday Parties: You can host your next birthday party with Palmetto Performing Arts. Contact the center for more information regarding pricing and details.

Summer Camp: Summer camps are available, and are based on themes. Camp ages range from 3- 18, and are grouped by age range.

Classes: Offers classes Tuesdays and Thursdays, in addition to workshops.
Class themes include Musical Theatre Dance, Group Voice, Acting, Dance A to Z, and Auditioning Workshop.
Ages are 3rd grade and up (some classes are for older students only).

Offers: Preschool, teams gymnastics, beginner and advanced tumbling, ninja, adult and adult competitive gymnastics, and adult stretching. Classes are offered once or twice per week depending on the level.

They also offer Smackdown Cheer twice per week.

Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission offer a variety of programs across 4 Columbia Parks: Crooked Creek, Melvin, Saluda Shoals and Seven Oaks Parks.  Sports rotate seasonally but include soccer, basketball, martial arts, Racquet sports and dance just to name a few.

Classes: Classes for kids beginning at 3 years-old through adults.

• Ballet
• Hip/hop
• Modern
• Acting and Improv
• Stretching/Strength
• Homeschool Performing Arts

Summer Camps: Aletheia Dance Inc. offers a 1-week Summer Camp Intensive for ages 3+. Campers are able to choose from one of 3 intensive tracks, and camp will also include enrichment classes.

Classes: Youth soccer programs based on skill and age. Programs are available for ages 2 through 6th grade.

Elite Soccer Training is offered at:

Classes: Capital Karate offers Family Martial Arts, Krav Maga/ Self defense classes. A free trial class is offered.

Birthday Parties: Set-up to clean-up is all covered. Capital Karate provides fun activities and more for the party.

Youth Aerial Silks Summer Camp! Your child can learn the basics of a fun circus art that gets their blood pumping! Taught by Ellie Blackwell, a certified aerial silks instructor!

Classes: Silver Jax All-Star Cheer offers cheer fundamentals, tumbling, and flexibility. Classes are grouped by levels and age, with 6 and under, 7 to 10, and 10 and older classes available.

Additional offerings include camps, school training, choreography, and ballroom dancing.

Classes: Puretone Academy offers private and semi-private voice lessons, as well as keyboard/piano lessons. Additionally, the Puretone Vocal Arts Academy offers artist development programs and a summer music video school.

Horse Crossing Farm has an almost endless list of offerings from birthday parties to mommy and me classes, horseback riding classes, farm tours, animal meet & greets, and lots more.

Check out Kidding Around’s Review of Horse Crossing Farm

Classes: Crooked Creek Riding Academy offers private and group horseback riding lessons. Beginner riders are required to take private lessons until they are able to walk and trot without assistance. Lessons include how to properly care for the horse, horsemanship, safety, and proper independent riding.

Riding lessons require a 9-week commitment.

Prices: weekly lessons are $65 per lesson; Individual lessons are $75 per lesson.

Offers recreational, competitive, and company competitive dance. Trial classes are available.

The studio also offers studio rental for small engagements for $35.00 hourly for instructors for clinics, workshops, pop-up shops, and dance parties.

Offers dance classes Monday through Friday, including tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and more.

Classes: In addition to theatrical productions, this professional theatre offers after-school classes, voice lessons, workshops, and summer camps for ages 3K and up in the performance arts. Classes involving various themes in drama and dance are available.

The Columbia Children’s Theatre is located on the 1st level of Richland Mall

Offers dance classes in hip hop (ages 8 – 18), ballet (ages 5 to adult), contemporary (ages 8 – 18), and Creative Movement (ages 3 – 6).
They also offer the Celestial Stars Dance Company for ages 8 – 18. An audition is required.

Mommy and Me dance classes are offered on Saturdays for ages 1 – 2

Classes: The Karate Dojo offers classes for kids and adults beginning at age 3.

Summer Camps: The Karate Dojo offers a Summer Karate Kamp that focuses on martial arts instruction, skill, and training. Campers will leave camp with newfound confidence.