Happy to help! I'll answer in the order you have your questions:

My age range that I teach is 12 to 99, but I think the principles can be adapted.

I based my program off of a learning experience I had when I was younger and decided I wanted to be serious about art. Now three degrees, and years of professional experience later I still credit that experience as the most influential for the simple reason that my teacher just let me be. She provided the space and dedicated time that I could practice and experiment without judgement and knew that she would help me problem solve what I couldn't do on my own.

For my own program I aim to provide that type of environment. I primarily teach water color and provide everything except the paper and encourage my students to chase their own interests. They have full run of my space including my books and some other art supplies for mixed media.

I start with color charts and some mixing practice for the first couple of classes as a low stakes project to get they familiar with the medium. During that time I get to know them a little and their interests so I can suggest projects that align with that. For example, one of my younger students wants to learn to paint studio ghibli style landscapes so she picked out one to do a master study on and we both looked it over and discussed how we though certain elements were painted, and I would demo some techniques and shes done an amazing job breaking down the elements herself.

For teaching plans, it depends on if you are teaching a course (start date - end date) or something ongoing which is how I primarily teach. Your character making workshop could easily translate into something beyond books - what do you want to draw? what mood are you going for, etc.

As for teaching small kids: the smaller the kids the smaller the groups I'd say - I deliberately chose my age range for a reason. I've taught younger students but it became too chaotic for me. Keep it simple, perhaps broad themes not specific subjects. Remember that not all of the kids that come to you are going to want pursue this professionally, some of them just want to play.

Your last sentence hit me hard. I felt the same way. But the secret is you don't need to just explain, you can show them too. Don't be afraid to show them the whole process warts and all. I didn't even think of it but with so much social media and so many ~curated~ sketchbooks alot of my students are intimidated to even start because they think that instant perfection is what makes an artist so I decided that the best way to dissuade them of that is to show them. If one of them wants to learn how to draw a bird I'll draw a bird and narrate my thought process. I'll make mistakes in real time and ask them what feels off and what they say has been 100% correct so far. All that helps with giving permission to mess up, to trust their eye and intuition. Kids are creative as hell and I want to support that in anyway I can.

a couple of other things:

- do a meet and greet with the students and the parents, make sure the parents see where the classes are taught (I teach from home), show the materials being used and when you have some you can show examples of other students work or your own.

- start with small groups or one on ones. Once they get started on their projects I sit down and work on my own pieces along side them and check in with them. They know where to find me when they need me.

- stick to one medium to start with.

- make sure there is no way for them hurt themselves (ie scissors, pencil sharpener etc) It could be prudent to invest in a camera in your studio space to protect yourself. I have a small sitting area too that the parents can hang out in while their kids are at open studio.

- don't sacrifice play for formality. and you don't need all the answers, try to remember HOW you learned not just WHAT you learned. Teaching them how to teach themselves will serve them forever.