Five Cool NYC Mommy and Me Classes

8/26/08 - By Anna Fader

Mommy and Me classes can be salvation for new parents. At the least, they get you out of the house, build structure into your day, and help you meet other moms and dads. But even if you can't picture yourself singing nursery rhymes and skipping around at a typical Mommy and Me class, here are some of the best, cool and unique mommy (or daddy) and me classes that you might even enjoy just as much as your baby or toddler will.

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Infant Massage Instruction
14th Street Y
344 East 14th St
212-780-0800
For ages 4 weeks-7months
Infant massage comes with lots of wonderful benefits, from aiding your baby's digestion and helping their sleep, to stimulating brain development. If that doesn't get you to one of these drop in classes, then consider this; if you did get your sleep and you are feeling rosie, this is a great opportunity to gaze and coo and bond with your baby, if not, this is a good time to do something nice for your baby while you bond with other parents and get a little support. Please bring a towel or blanket.

Mess it Up! I and II and III
Kids at Work NYC
242 West 27th St
Suite 4A
212-488-8800
For ages 18 months-4 years
Mess it Up I and II are more than just art classes for toddlers and young children, they're "anti-craft" classes. Combining sensory play, science concepts, and messy process-oriented, sensory-based art that even the youngest children can participate virtually without the help of parents. And all classes are lead by professional early childhood professionals.

Peridance Young Movers Program
Peridance Capezio Center
126 East 13th St
212-505-0886
For ages 18 months-5 years$17
Peridance is one of the top places to study dance in NYC and you just can't start them young enough. Classes start at 18 months with a Parents & Toddlers Class, which focuses on motor skills, and will take you and your tot up to 2.5 years, at which time they will be ready to take on a bit of dancing on their own. Peridance has a whole range of classes to meet your child at every development level, and they strive to make every class age appropriate, but it's nice to know that when your peanut is little, you can take class with them.

MoonSoup Early Childhood Development Studio
Sadly, MoonSoup closed in August 2013.
For ages 1-2 years
These super creative classes are wonderful rich learning experiences for children: Lots of hands on fun; kids mush and mix colors, squish and smear, explore and create. Messy art, music and dance in every class. Every class has sensory play and music as an integral part of class. Moon Soup also has host of other great classes for tots and kids.


 

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About the Author

Anna Fader

Founder of Mommy Poppins

A fourth-generation Brooklynite, Anna started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to help families find the best things to do with kids in NYC, with a particular emphasis on sharing activities that are free, affordable, and enriching. The site, used by millions of families, has grown to become the ultimate resource for parents in the major US cities, plus travel guides for 100s of destinations.

Anna is a believer in the magic of summer camps, traveling with kids, and that you can raise kids on a budget and still have a rich life full of amazing memories. Anna's first Mommy Poppins book, The Young Traveler's Journal and Activity Book, published in 2025 and co-written with her daughter, Amelia Eigerman, brings that ethos to life, in addition to this website.