# stART Studio > Therapeutic art studio for children aged 5 to 12 in Bukit Timah, Singapore. Through guided painting, we build emotional well-being, confidence, and resilience, not just art skills. Founded by Elfin Ng (20+ years in early childhood education). stART Studio is located at #B1-06, Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, Singapore 588996. Open Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 6pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am to 6pm. Closed Mondays and public holidays. WhatsApp +65 8751 6850. Email hello@startstudio.sg. Rated 4.9 from 86 Google reviews. ## What is therapeutic art Therapeutic art is a guided creative practice that uses the act of painting to help children process emotions, build self-belief, and find their voice when words fall short. Each session blends art-skill instruction with therapeutic reflection. Classes are kept small (4 to 6 children per session) so every child gets individual attention. This is different from a regular art class. A regular art class teaches drawing and painting technique; success looks like a technically correct artwork. At stART Studio, we build emotional well-being, confidence, and self-expression; success looks like a child who feels seen, brave, and proud. Class sizes are 4 to 6 children rather than the typical 10 to 20. Teachers are therapeutic art practitioners with 20+ years in early childhood education, not generalist art instructors. Children leave with both an artwork and a stronger belief in themselves. The studio's approach aligns with the American Art Therapy Association's framing of art therapy as a creative profession that uses art-making to support emotional, social, and psychological development. It is also informed by Singapore's Ministry of Education Nurturing Early Learners framework and research from Harvard's Center on the Developing Child showing that resilience in children is built through stable, supportive relationships rather than being innate. ## The Child Confidence Discovery Session The signature offering is the **Child Confidence Discovery Session**: a 1.5-hour guided therapeutic art experience for $45. Includes all materials, a 20x30 cm canvas painted by your child to take home, and a special gift token celebrating their courage. The Discovery Session works in four steps: 1. **Guided Therapeutic ART Session.** Your child is gently guided through a painting session that blends creativity with emotional expression. No experience needed. 2. **Safe Creative Space for Expression.** A calm, supportive environment where children feel free to explore, experiment, and express their inner world through colours. 3. **Artwork to Bring Home.** Your child leaves with a finished 20x30 cm canvas masterpiece they created with their own hands. A proud moment every time. 4. **Gift Token for Your Little Artist.** Every child receives a special gift token to celebrate their courage and creativity. A keepsake to remember the day they started. There is no obligation to continue after the Discovery Session. For families who continue the journey beyond it, founder Elfin Ng offers a complimentary 15-minute 1-to-1 Parent Insight Sharing call. She shares a personalised Growth Profile Observation about your child: their natural strengths, possible growth areas, and practical ways for you to communicate more effectively at home. Booking page: https://discover.startstudio.sg/trial.htm ## Frequently asked questions ### Does my child need any art experience? Not at all. Most children who join stART Studio have never picked up a brush before. Teachers guide every step, from mixing colours to the final brushstroke. The focus is on the experience and emotional journey, not technical perfection. Many of the most confident students started with zero art experience. ### What age group is this suitable for? The Growth ART Coaching programme is designed for children aged 5 to 12. The studio also welcomes teens and adults in Skills-in-ART and Drop-In ART sessions. Classes are kept small at 4 to 6 children per session, so every child gets individual attention. ### How is this different from regular art class? Regular art classes teach technique. stART Studio builds emotional well-being, and therapeutic art is the tool. Each lesson pairs skill-building with therapeutic reflection in a safe creative space, led by founder Elfin Ng (20+ years in early childhood education). Children leave with both a finished canvas and a stronger belief in themselves. ### What's included in the $45 Child Confidence Discovery Session? A 1.5-hour guided therapeutic art experience where the child paints a 20x30 cm canvas of their choice in a safe, supportive creative space. All materials provided. They take home the finished painting plus a special gift token celebrating their courage. No obligation to continue afterwards. ### Where is stART Studio located? #B1-06, Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, Singapore 588996. Basement level, easy access from the main entrance, parking in the building. Open Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 6pm and Saturday-Sunday 10am to 6pm. Closed Mondays and public holidays. ### What is the Parent Insight Sharing session? A complimentary 15-minute 1-to-1 call where founder Elfin Ng shares a personalised Growth Profile Observation about your child: their natural strengths, possible growth areas, and practical ways for you to communicate more effectively at home. Offered to families who continue the journey beyond the Discovery Session. ### How does therapeutic art help shy or anxious children? Painting gives shy children a non-verbal language. They express what they cannot yet say in words, and small classes (4 to 6 children) protect them from the social pressure of larger groups. Over weeks, parents commonly see their child speak up more, try new things sooner, and trust their own ideas. ### Will one Discovery Session be enough to see a change? One session is enough to see whether the child connects with this approach. Most parents notice their child's pride and engagement on the same day. Lasting change in confidence and resilience builds over weeks of consistent practice, which is why families who continue typically commit to a programme. ### Do you welcome children with special learning needs? Yes. Small class sizes (4 to 6 children) and the therapeutic-art approach work well for children who find regular classrooms overwhelming, including those with anxiety, neurodivergence, or sensory needs. Parents tell the studio about the child in the booking form and the team tailors the Discovery Session accordingly. ## Programmes - **Growth ART Coaching.** Therapeutic art blended with growth coaching for children aged 5 to 12. Builds resilience, self-awareness, and confidence through guided painting sessions. Each lesson includes two programme units: one for skill-building, one for therapeutic reflection. - **Skills-in-ART.** Hands-on art classes teaching drawing, colour theory, composition, and brushwork fundamentals in a supportive, no-pressure environment. Open to children, teens, and adults. - **Drop-In ART.** Relaxed creative sessions for tote bags, figurines, candles, and more. Perfect for mindful fun with no commitment required. ## The book: Bond. Build. Become. stART Studio's founder Elfin Ng wrote *Bond. Build. Become.*, a parenting guide on raising confident, resilient children through connection, not control. The book is built on a simple belief: when a child feels safe, everything else follows. It is a quiet invitation to see your child differently, supported by research from Harvard's Center on the Developing Child showing resilience is built through stable, supportive relationships. Available at Popular, Kinokuniya, and Amazon. Book page: https://discover.startstudio.sg/book.htm ## Companion resources For readers of *Bond. Build. Become.*, two companion resources extend the work into daily family life: - **5-Minute Parenting Reset.** A 21-day guided practice journey designed to help parents slow down, reflect, and practise small relational shifts in everyday life. In just five minutes a day, parents strengthen calm before correction, self-awareness before reaction, confidence-building responses, and steady leadership children feel safe within. Each week includes six daily micro-practices and one Weekly Family Connection Day. - **KiKnowa Family Conversation Cards.** A guided family conversation experience with thoughtfully crafted prompts to help families slow down, listen deeply, express feelings honestly, understand one another more deeply, practise respectful communication, and grow stronger through conversation. Resources page: https://discover.startstudio.sg/resources.htm ## Founder Elfin Ng is the Founder and Therapeutic Art Practitioner at stART Studio. She has 20+ years in early childhood education and ran an award-winning childcare centre for 13 years before founding stART Studio. She is the author of the parenting book *Bond. Build. Become.* Two decades of working with children and parents taught her something profound: the sensitive children who struggle most are often the ones with the deepest potential. stART Studio was born from a simple belief that every child deserves to feel safe enough to create, brave enough to try, and proud enough to keep going. In her own words: "I have watched hundreds of children walk into this studio feeling small. By the time they finish their first painting, something shifts. They stand taller. They smile bigger. That moment is why I do this every single day." ## Selected reviews - **Josephine Choo (Google review, 2025-01-15):** "Nicole is very attentive and encouraging. The small class size is perfect for my little one. I love how she engages with our child during lessons." - **Jaz (Google review, 2025-02-10):** "My son was having a hard time in primary school, until I met Teacher Elfin. She helped Jonas realise his talents. Even his school teachers gave wonderful feedback about his change." - **Ivan H. (Google review, 2025-03-05):** "I am an adult who has never painted before. The teachers introduced me to new techniques and the classes with pleasant classmates have been truly enjoyable." ## Referral programme Friends of current stART Studio families can be referred to a $45 Child Confidence Discovery Session. For each successful referral that converts to a programme sign-up, the referring family earns one bonus session unit (worth $48) added to their existing package. No cap on referrals. Referral page: https://discover.startstudio.sg/referral.htm ## Pages - [Home](https://discover.startstudio.sg/): Therapeutic art classes for children in Singapore. Overview, methodology, FAQ, and booking entry point. - [Book a Discovery Session](https://discover.startstudio.sg/trial.htm): Registration form for the $45 Child Confidence Discovery Session. - [Refer a Friend](https://discover.startstudio.sg/referral.htm): Referral programme details and share flow. - [Bond. Build. Become.](https://discover.startstudio.sg/book.htm): Parenting book by founder Elfin Ng. - [Companion Resources](https://discover.startstudio.sg/resources.htm): KiKnowa Family Conversation Cards and the 5-Minute Parenting Reset. ## Contact - WhatsApp: +65 8751 6850 - Email: hello@startstudio.sg - Address: #B1-06, Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, Singapore 588996 - Instagram: @startstudio.sg - Facebook: startstudiosg - TikTok: @startstudio.sg