Taking a class together is a great way to bond with your child. Teach your little one to swim, play instruments, make friends and more at these NJ parent and me classes.
British Swim School
Multiple locations
Parent-assisted classes include the Tadpole (3 months-3 years) and Swimboree (3 months-3 years) programs. Tadpole lessons help babies and toddlers get used to water and teach them to float, submerge and more. In Swimboree, they’ll work on water independence skills through games, songs and more.
Elite Gymnastics
80 Fifth Ave., Hawthorne
973-423-4040
There are several programs for Mommy & Me, including infant exercise (3 months to walkers); Toddlers (6-30 months) where you both explore, do physical activities and learn manipulative skills; Munchkins (2.5-3.5 years old) to help your kid become more skillful and independent; Kinderkiddies (3.5-4.5 years old) which is their transitional class.
Fit4Mom
Multiple locations
866-FIT-4MOM
You got that jogging stroller for a reason! Hit the road for full-body Stroller Strides while baby stays tucked in her carriage. Try safe Fit4Baby workouts during pregnancy, or Body Well for a postnatal challenge.
Goldfish Swim School
Multiple Locations
It’s never too early to teach baby to swim. Mini (ages 4-35 months) teaches them basic swim skills and water safety with mom in the water.
Gymboree Play & Music
Multiple locations
415-604-3094
Infant classes go from birth to 8 months, focused on the senses and visual and auditory development. Baby classes (6-18 months) support growth, communication and self-esteem. Toddlers (10-28 months) can share in the fun, too, solving problems through games, play and music.
Kidville
Multiple locations
Choose from themed options that focus on music (newborn and up), gym (6 months and older), art or dance (18 months+), and dance, and even STEM (2 years and older). Kids can take part in free play, too, with their grownup.
Kindermusik
Multiple locations
1-800-628-5687
Your mini me will play with instruments, groove to his favorite tunes and develop cognitive and social skills. Kindermusik Foundations (up to 12 months) teaches exploration and movement using sounds, objects and a sensory-rich environment, while toddlers work on memorization, numbers and pre-literacy (12 months to 3 years).
Little Dolphins Swim Academy
424 Vosseller Ave., Bound Brook
732-560-8000
The first time Bathtime Baby class is free for parents and babies ages 2-6 months old, so take the opportunity to get your baby adjusted to the water. Baby & Me is a 30-minute option for kids 2-24 months, where fun songs accompany breath control. Toddler & Me (12-24 months) is another half-hour option focused on independence in the water.
The Little Gym
Multiple locations
Chances are your toddler’s already testing her limits and trying to climb to new heights—it’s better to have her do it at a gym filled with soft surfaces and colorful inflatables. Parent Child classes (4 months – 3 years) focus on cornerstone topics like motor skills, color recognition and sharing, while Pre-K Gymnastics will help her hit every developmental milestone (3-6 years).
Little Rockers
Shrewsbury and Wall Twp.
732-530-8600
Sign him up for Baby Band (birth to 9 months.), a 45-minute class that’ll have you both grooving to the beat. Move on to Tot Rock (3 months – 5 years) to meet new moms, toe-tap at tummy time, massage baby and teach him to hold and use small instruments.
Mima Create & Play
881 Main St., Ste. 14-15, Sayreville
732-952-8444
Although this is geared toward older kids, caregivers can join their 4-year-olds and up for Zumba Kids, a chance to dance and play while getting a good workout.
Montclair B.A.B.Y.
113 Walnut St., Montclair
973-370-0765
On top of NJ parent and me yoga classes tailor-made for you and your little one, take a specialized session all about helping you and baby bond. Choose from holistic Lamaze, breastfeeding, new mom support groups and more. Hypnobirthing classes help expectant mamas get through delivery.
Musical Munchkins
105 Cottage Pl., Ridgewood
201-891-1807
Your mini me will love gathering in a circle for live guitar. Sign up for Baby Munchkins (6-12 months) to engage them through music, games, baby massage, prop play and chants that stimulate and mimic natural baby sounds. Move on to the mixed age class (1-5 years) to add more instruments to their repertoire.
Music Together
Multiple locations
800-728-2692
The teachers here believe making music is a basic life skill, just like walking or talking. Minis up to 8 months old can make tunes in Babies Music Class. They’ll get all the inspo they need with musical activities (and older role models) in Mixed-Age Music Class (up to 5 years).
My Gym
Multiple locations
800-469-4967
There are plenty of options for Tiny Tykes (5-12 months) and Waddlers (13-20 months). Start by teaching visual, audial and spatial exploration through baby exercise, song and dance, then progress to mobile activities as baby learns balance and agility. Work up to fine and gross motor skill activities like riding a tricycle and building.
NJSwim
Multiple locations
Suit up for Water Babies (3-30 months) and hit the pool for a safe, fun intro to splishing and splashing at these NJ parent and me classes. They’ll learn balance and buoyancy, then swim skills and water safety. When they’re ready, they can take a dive on their own in the preschool class where they’ll learn floating and breath control.
Oh! Canary
513A Valley St., Maplewood
973-307-7401
If your little creative is between ages 1 1/2 and 3, she’s just the right fit for The Toddler Collective. This playgroup allows budding artists to explore creative and sensory experiences with their caretaker by their side.
Rockness Music
Multiple locations
732-205-1971
Through seasonal, music-infused sessions your kids will love, this school incorporates drumming, dancing, foreign language, pretend play and more. There are classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
United Soccer Academy
Multiple locations
732-563-2525
Brush up on your footwork while your 2- to 3-year-old trains in the NJ Parent and Me classes for soccer. She’ll develop her motor skills, play imaginative games and help the team in the cutest soccer games on the planet. Once she’s gotten the basics down, send her to Soccer Squirts (3-5 years) for more games and activities.
Wompy’s World of Music Play
Scotch Plains, Warren
908-279-3030
These 45-minute classes focus on making noise and music, but also sharing, taking turns and other life skills. Students 6 months to 4 years will learn basic puppetry and rhythmic movement. Wompy’s emphasizes blending art, theater, literacy and the body to teach kids all the pre-K essentials.
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