The questions parents ask first.

Yes, always - and that's by design, not just policy. A parent or guardian attends every session, regardless of the child's age. You're not dropping your child off; you're spending an hour watching them learn something real from someone who's spent years doing it. Every session is also logged with start/end times and an in-app check-in, and mentors carry liability insurance through the platform.

Before a mentor can list a single session on Heirloom, our trust team works through this checklist with them. Nothing on it is optional.

• ✓
  Government photo ID + live selfie match

  Confirms the person you meet is the person we vetted.
• ✓
  Multi-state & federal criminal history search

  Covers every county they've lived in for the past 7 years.
• ✓
  National sex offender registry screening

  Cross-checked against all 50 U.S. states and territories.
• ✓
  Working-with-children clearance

  State equivalent of a DBS / WWCC, including child abuse registry checks.
• ✓
  Two non-family references

  We actually call them - usually a former employer and a community contact.
• ✓
  In-person interview with our trust team

  A 30-minute video conversation about safety, boundaries, and teaching style.

Re-checks · Identity, criminal history, and registry checks are re-run automatically every 12 months. Any new charge between checks pauses a mentor's profile the same day.

Wherever makes sense for the craft or skill. Woodworking and pottery usually happen at the mentor's home studio. Baking and writing often happen at the family's kitchen table. Gardening can be either. Public-space options (libraries, community centers) are flagged on every profile for parents who prefer them.

Tell us the skill, your child's age, your neighborhood, and any preferences (quiet teacher, hands-on style, allergies in the kitchen). We surface a shortlist of vetted mentors near you. You read profiles, watch a 60-second intro video, then request a free 15-minute video meet-and-greet before booking your first paid session.

One hour is the minimum. Most parents book 90 minutes - long enough to actually finish a loaf of bread, a small carving, or a planting bed. Mentors and families can extend in-app at the same hourly rate.

Either side can end the relationship after any session, no penalty. Your first paid session is also covered by our fit guarantee - if it doesn't click, we refund it and help you re-match.

Mentors provide their own materials for sessions, and those costs are built into their booking fee. You never need to buy supplies separately—everything needed for the craft or skill is included in the rate you see on their profile.

Siblings are welcome only with the mentor's advance approval. The general rule: a sibling who's just present - sitting in, watching, not using materials - joins for free. A sibling who wants to actively participate is treated like a second student and priced (and approved) accordingly, the same way a hands-on parent would be. Let your mentor know when booking so they can plan for space, materials, and supervision - and so everyone is on the same page about cost before the day of the session.

Yes. Mentors can choose to teach one-on-one, in small groups, or both - whichever fits their space and craft. Group sessions are priced per child, which often means stronger total earnings for the mentor and a lower cost per family.

Yes - every child's own parent or guardian attends, even in a group. The difference is that in a group setting, parents aren't expected to actively participate the way they might in a one-on-one session. You're welcome to join in if you'd like, just let your mentor know in advance.

Mentors set their own rate within their tier (Apprentice $25–$35, Craftsperson $35–$50, Master $50–$75). You see the exact rate on every mentor profile before booking - no surprise fees, no tipping expected. Heirloom keeps 15% to run the platform; the mentor keeps 85%.

Direct deposit, weekly. Payments release 24 hours after each session ends, giving parents a window to flag any issues. Mentors see total earnings, upcoming payouts, and tax documents in their dashboard.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the session, both sides. Inside 24 hours, the mentor is paid 50% to protect their reserved time. Emergencies are reviewed by our trust team case-by-case.

No - you need craft or skill experience and patience. Most Heirloom mentors have never taught professionally. They've spent years doing something they love - woodworking, baking, sewing, gardening - and want to pass it on. We help you shape that knowledge into a session a child can follow, and the parent is always present to help with behavior and attention.

You never have to handle it alone. Parents are required to stay for every session, so they manage behavior in real time. If a pattern emerges, you can pause or end the relationship in-app with one tap - no awkward conversation required. Our trust team reviews every ended relationship and will block a family from the platform if needed. Your safety and comfort come first.

Yes, with separate profile sections. Many mentors list a primary craft or skill and a secondary one - for example, woodworking and leatherwork, or baking and pastry. Each skill gets its own rate, bio, photos, and intro video, so parents know exactly what they're booking. You can add or remove skills anytime.

You provide your own materials for sessions, and those costs can be built into your booking fee. Parents see your all-inclusive rate on your profile, so there's no awkward separate charge for supplies at the end of a session.

Absolutely. Many mentors ask a family member or friend to sit with them and help with the computer part - it's a great way to do it. Just make sure the information is about you: we'll still verify your identity, talk to you on a video call, and run your background check personally.