From $70Proto Thursdays
Boerum Hill Studio · Boerum Hill
ProtoToto is a design and architecture studio for kids who love to draw, build, and make things. In the same way that a theater program is the right fit for a kid who loves to perform, ProtoToto is perfect for kids who gravitate toward art and making — if your child lights up with a Posca pen, cardboard, or tape in hand, this is their kind of after-school program. Here, kids learn to think and create like designers and architects. It's a hands-on, playful, and experimental way to explore how our built environment works — the objects, buildings, information, and stories that shape everyday life. Along the way, kids develop real-life skills: creative problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. They leave more confident and more comfortable taking on open-ended challenges. Every session is different. Some weeks we experiment with materials — clay, cardstock, wire — to test new design approaches. Others we turn to fundamentals: sketching, prototyping, and craft. We toggle between 2D design and 3D building, thinking about how objects hold weight, how people move through space, and what makes something functional. And some weeks we put on our inventor hats, using design thinking to tackle real-world needs and pitch ideas like young entrepreneurs. Activities range from structured and technical to open-ended and expressive, yet always hands-on , and always playful .
