The first rains of the season point ahead to long days indoors. Cozy, cookie-baking moments will be cherished, but limited. Before the kids start banging on pots and pans or creating experiments with the toothpaste, redirect them with some hands-on art-making at a museum near you. The following sessions are designed with parent participation in mind and offer flexible hours when you can’t commit to a class.

Drop-In Art at MOCHA
Just because it’s a drop-in program doesn’t mean you’ll be navigating the papier-mache and feathers solo. A museum artist at MOCHA’s Little Studio is available to guide parents and kids ages 18 months to 6 years during select hours every day the museum is open.

Cost: $8/child and $2/member
Find It: 538 Ninth Street, Oakland, Ca

Holiday Art at Asian Art Museum
From paper lanterns to traditional masks, make crafts that celebrate the season during a daily, drop-in art program for families at theAsianArt Museum. Available November 20 through December 30, 2012 during museum hours.

Cost; $8 to $12 admission. Kids under 12 free
Find It: 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, Ca

Afternoon Art at Randall Museums
This Saturday program is designed for kids under 8 and their paying adults. The theme changes weekly, and every session culminates with a cool project you can take home, like a wearable collage or a cityscape.

Cost: $6/kid and $10/adult
Find It: 199 Museum Way, San Francisco, Ca

Drop-In Art Lab at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
The schedule changes weekly, but always includes an Art Lab with in-depth instruction by a staff member. Find a program that catches your attention, like boat building or sculpting, and pop on by.

Cost: $11 admission
Find It: 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, Ca

Drop-In Pottery Studio at Junior Center of Art and Science
Grab some studio time to glaze your own designs into pre-made pottery, and museum staff will fire your art for pick-up.

Cost: $6/child and $8/adult plus price of pottery
Find It: 558 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, Ca

Drop-In Art-Making for Families at the Contemporary Jewish Museum
Every Sunday and on select school holidays, a special drop-in program for families lends new perspective on current exhibitions. Program changes with exhibition schedule and includes art techniques like collage and watercolor.

Cost: $10-$12, 18 and under free
Find It: 736 Mission Street, San Francisco

The Art Loft at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
In October, kiddos and caregivers made luminarias and glow bones. Themed, drop-in art activities change month to month at this flexible, day-long art program.

Cost: $12 admission
Find It: 180 Woz Way, San Jose, Ca

Did we miss your favorite, drop-in art class? Tell us about it!

–Renee Macalino Rutledge

Photos courtesy of Junior Center Facebook  and The Randall Museum Website!