Classes with Toddler
If you don’t have your toddler enrolled in daycare or preschool, it’s good to involve them in extracurricular activities to help them socialize with other kids their age. good release of energy and engage their minds in the process. Since they are still very young and do still require assistance and parental supervision, there isn’t a ton of options. But here are some that I have tried with my toddlers and you can probably find in your area.
Gymboree
Mix of learning and free play!
Toddler gymnastics
Gymalaya: Obstacle courses with some group sing time
Music classes: You can probably find some toddler music classes at your local library or private institution. It’s mostly for them to sing songs, dance, play along with other toddlers, toys and also bonding time with their parent. If your toddler loves listening to music or dancing, this class will definitely be for them! My girls really enjoyed these classes!
Gymnastics: These classes are fun, but also a pain in the butt since you have to run around and help your toddler every step of the way. But it is a very good way to burn some of their energy especially during the colder months. Gymnastics for toddlers generally entails the kids warming up, partaking in obstacle courses (trampoline, climbing soft structures, tunnels etc) followed by some group activity like parachute time, bubbles, singing/dancing etc. Gymnastics can be good and very engaging for a seasonal session, but I would try to space out the sessions so they wouldn’t get too bored with doing similar obstacle courses time and time again .
Sports: They do have some multi-sport classes for toddlers especially if you look at your city/town classes. They also sometimes have some soccer summer classes for toddlers (like little kickers) or other more specific sports seasonally if you look in your area. They are typically just an introduction to the sport itself, opportunity for them to burn some energy and another chance for them to socialize with other kids. Don’t expect them to actually learn any complex sport skills in the process ;)
Swim lessons: These are mostly designed for the toddlers to get comfortable with the water and get some bonding time with their parent since you will be holding them for most of the class. And it is important for kids to be comfortable in water settings early on so they don’t have fear or anxiety later in life to be around water. Especially if you don’t have regular access to a pool or lake/ocean.
Gymboree: This is a more a ‘specific’ class, but they do have many gymboree locations all over! I’ve been to the classes midtown Toronto and my toddler loved it there. It’s basically like a hybrid between music class and gymnastic classes. They get the obstacles to climb and explore, but with more freedom for them to do as they please (choose what obstacle they want to do). Also the instructor has a weekly theme they talk about and try to show the kids in a non strict and loose way if they want to listen and participate. For example: learning about shapes and bringing out circle stomp pads they can play with. And they have some sing along music throughout the class with some group time at the end to do parachute, bubble time and singing/dancing to songs.