it's heART time!
creatively engaging hands and hearts
WHAT IS IT?
it’s heART time! is about creating space for kids to engage their hands and their hearts for the sake of healing and wholeness
What is it?
In the age of heightened anxiety, depression, trauma, and the overwhelming influence of social media and technology, it’s heART time! is passionate about celebrating and nurturing the child-like, wonder-filled , relentlessly hopeful heart that's in need of love, encouragement, and joy. This is a screen-free, heart-centered space where creativity, kindness, imagination, and wonder reflect the heart of Christ and invite kids to grow in character, curiosity, and connection.
one-on-one
sessions
Creative counseling through conversation, art-making, and prayer,
As a substitute teacher in the Harrisburg public school system, I have learned one thing for certain: kids need someone who cares more about the condition of their heart than their grade point average.
With fewer and fewer opportunities for stillness, attunement, and meaningful conversation, these one-on-one sessions provide space for kids to breath and share what's on their heart as they step away from the noise of their daily environment.
Organic conversation is prioritized as we work on a creative art project that they can leave with after the session.
group
sessions
Group crafting that prioritizes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and bearing "good fruit"!
thinking outside the box through creative exploration!
spending time with other kids in an anxiety-free atmosphere!
learning resourcefulness by using household items to create spectacular things!
making space for heartfelt conversations
participating in activities that are not performance-driven!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
GALATIANS 5:22-23
WHAT DOES A
SESSION LOOK LIKE?
What does it look like?
it’s heART time! is a laid-back cozy creative craft space for kids located in downtown Mechanicsburg - in Joy's personal art space.
It is also mobile and can take place through a local library, a public community space or event, in partnership with various human services agencies, and by way of in-school behavioral support programs.
One-on-one sessions are typically 90 minutes. Group sessions are a 3-hour time frame designed to allow kids an outlet to create and connect with each other while also giving parents a much-needed break in their day. Parents need simply to drop off and pick up their kids after their session.
HOW MUCH
DOES IT COST?
How much does it cost?
GROUP SESSIONS
There is no cost to attend it’s heART time! but parents must sign up their child at least 3 days prior to confirm a spot. Each group is limited to 6 kids. Sign up form is below.
ONE-ON-ONE
There is no cost for one-on-one sessions. If you are aware of a specific child who is in need of non-traditional counseling, emotional healing, and prayer, please contact Joy with the below form. Donations are appreciated and welcome.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Please consult Joy for pricing with regard to setting up an art table for your community’s street festival or fair. Pricing for this type of event will vary based on hourly commitment and providing materials for an incoming flux of children throughout the duration of the event.
Schedule Your Kid!
it’s heART time! is every Tuesday during the summer from 10am-2pm
UPCOMING DATES
check back soon for fall after-school dates, upcoming weekend dates, and pop-up booths at community festivals
COME!
GENERAL QUESTIONS?
it’s heART time! Gallery
"Joy brought a positive attitude and a lot of energy into every interaction with my children. She would always come up with fun interactive projects for them to work on. She listened to their thoughts and ideas attentively creating strong bonds of trust and making them feel safe and validated. At the same time she was good with setting up healthy boundaries and saying no when necessary."
Angela C. (Pittsburgh, PA)
Joy has an amazing, easy-going presence around our children. We love having her take care of our children and trust that they are being taken care of when she is here. She provides well rounded care, and is so creative with thinking of things to do with the kids. She keeps their bodies active and their minds creating!
Alisan B. (Philadelphia, PA)
We felt blessed that Joy shared her time with our daughter! She encouraged the creative side of my daughter while boosting her self esteem, all in a lighthearted way. Joy is a true teacher, she is able to pick up on what is happening with children in the moment and adjust the lessons accordingly. My daughter always looked forward to their time together and has learned skills that she will carry with her for life.
Calli B. (Philadelphia, PA)
the backstory
the backstory
Hello! My name is Joy Ike. I’m what they call a “Creator”. As a professional artist of almost 20 years, my specialty has been creating moments for people to tend to their heart through the arts.
Since 2005 I have lived as a singer/songwriter/storyteller traveling across the country performing concerts in theaters, libraries, art galleries, traditional music venues, college campuses, homes, and art festivals.
As the years have gone by, I’ve learned two things
1. Nobody likes art as much as kids!
2. The only thing better than watching someone make art, is making it yourself!
Shortly after the pandemic, while still living in Philadelphia, I was contracted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to take visual art projects to various CHOP-sponsored community centers across the city, giving children opportunities they were no longer being afforded in their school environments.
The 3-month project was modeled after a 1-year program I had begun in my neighborhood called “Paint on the Porch” - a personal labor of love meant to engage kids who were aimlessly roaming the block during the day as a casualty of post-pandemic boredom.
Engaging in weekly art projects with the kids created an opportunity to give them a safe space for healthy attention, heart attunement (connecting to their emotions), and FUN!
With this, I realized my years making music for an older demographic was transitioning into my true passion - making visual art with the little ones!
In this current season, i have served as a substitute teacher within the Harrisburg Public School system. I have learned alot - but primarily that kids want and need adults who care more about them than their grades.
It’s heART time! is a personal labor of love because my heart came alive through art and I love watching kids experience that same 'joy'!
I am looking forward to creating with your young one(s) and I can’t wait to meet them!
FORMAL BIO
Joy Ike is a recent graduate of Global Awakening's 2-year ministry school located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She has been trained in walking individuals through emotional healing using the Connect Up model created by Katie and Mitch Luse. She has ministered through Global in various churches, conferences, and outreach events over the years and considers art one of the most transformative means through which healing can happen. Through it’s heART time! Joy pairs her vocational work as a professional artist with tools learned through her time in ministry school. "I believe people don't and shouldn't have to wait until they are adults to get free from things that have bound them since childhood. God has done so much healing in my own life and it is a joy to be able to share that with others. I believe creating space for kids to heal is really a ministry of presence - welcoming the Holy Spirit into the room and loving children with the love of God. There is no agenda. My only aim is to love and to love well. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!
The arts truly are the window to the heART!
