But the Gingerbread House Workshop isn't just for kids with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. Budding architects and designers will get the chance to show off their skills at one of six workshops -- today, Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. -- at the Palos Verdes Inn, 1700 Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.

"I can't tell you how many kids say, 'I want all yellow gumdrops on this side, and I want all Red Hots on this side,'" says Art to Grow On Children's Art Center owner Lauren Perelmuter. "We actually do some teaching. We show them how to do the roof, but it's very free for them. We take the philosophy form our programming and apply it to the houses."

The cost to participate is $45 per house. This fee includes the bare gingerbread frame, premade by Ramona's Bakery, and all the fixin's. "They're big houses, so from a child's point of view -- and even an adult's -- it's this massive thing," says Perelmuter. "When the kids walk in, they're beside themselves. I never thought it would be such a traditional part of this business, but it makes sense because it's like how we offer our supplies and our classes."

"[The workshop] is well-organized, and Lauren makes it very fun, even fun for the boys," says Rancho Palos Verdes mom Tania Moore, whose two sons have attended the workshop every year. Moore and her sons have even participated in other workshops of the same nature, but claim that Perelmuter's "is the best by far."

Outside of the gingerbread series, Perelmuter's company hosts classes for various age groups and is contracted with several area schools. "[Schools] are pulling back on the arts. And we come in as an enrichment vendor," she says.

"Lauren's philosophy and teaching style is wonderful -- she has won the hearts of many of us moms who are looking for a way to introduce art to our young children," says Nina Abdo of Rancho Palos Verdes.

"All classes for ages 2 to 5 are based around art stations, so it's based around movement. You have painting walls, a collage station, drawing station and a Play-Doh station. So that first 25 minutes, children choose where they want to go," says Perelmuter. "If you have one child who loves painting, they can do five paintings. But then another child does a quick stroke, and he's done. So he goes to the Play-Doh. And it's all OK. We encourage that. Then the last half of the class we come together for the lesson. So you have the freedom in the beginning, and then you have the structure."

The gingerbread workshops offer this same freedom and have been part of the program since the company started in 200, though its rise in popularity did not come until the following year. "It really took off, to be honest with you, around Sept. 11, 2001 -- that Christmas. It was family-oriented, and we promoted families getting together. And it has snowballed," says Perelmuter. "What's happening is people are making it a tradition. It's a very community-driven event.

"We teach [the kids] with real pastry bags and the tips. They can hold it with their parents and swish [the frosting] out," she continues. "It's really very nostalgic."



< back to main News page