Classes

The great thing about crafts is that anyone can do them. all ages, year-round, in any weather, and you don't have to sign up for an expensive class. Not only is doing crafts fun for kids, but it's good for them too. If you read our recent post about sensory toys for kids, you know how important it is for kids to do crafts to help prepare them for writing.

So what could be better than free craft classes and workshops? We've rounded up some great places to do kids crafts for free. And, we love crafts so much, we've got a whole series of crafts posts coming up for you, so stay tuned for lots more great finds.

We hear a lot about the benefits of cooking and eating healthy meals together as a family, but despite our best intentions, it can be tough to make that happen on a daily basis, whether for lack of time, energy, creativity—or all of the above.
 
You can get a little help in the kitchen and have fun doing it by taking a cooking class to learn easy, healthy recipes and techniques for getting food on the table for your kids. Despite what you might think, cooking classes don't have to be fancy or expensive, there are some casual options here in the city that are a good fit for parents for making family meals. 
 

If your couch regularly turns into a trampoline, curbs become balance beams, and chairs become vaults, get your kid into gymnastics!  Whether or not your child continues on to the Olympics or moves into another sport, gymnastics builds confidence, burns copious amounts of energy, and provides skills that translate across the spectrum of sporting activities.  We’ve rounded up a range of great New Jersey gymnastics studios and academies for you to consider–check ‘em out, then get your kids cartwheeling! (NOTE: Enrollment in gymnastics may actually increase amount of flips, jumps and spins executed in your home!)

We've been dying to check out the newest YMCA location that just opened to the public at the Park Slope Armory. We finally got over there to check it out. The great new space has lots of unique offerings for families and is really inexpensive. Find out what all the hubbub is about:

Naira recently moved to Queens with her new baby and the challenges of being a first time mother plus not knowing anybody are proving to be more daunting than she anticipated. She emailed looking for help figuring out how to meet other new mothers in her area of Queens.

Looking for cool and unique after-school activities for your child? If you're getting tired of the same 'ol gym classes, sport programs, or and music groups, you're not alone. Lucky for you, we've spent some time, checking out two of the latest children's classes to hit the afterschool scene: cooking classes and theater programs for kid. So, if you have  budding chef, or a future performer, or if you're just looking to add some diversity to your child's routine, check out our list of the top programs for cooking and theater for kids on Long Island: 

Chess is becoming a more and more popular program for children both in school and out of school as parents and educators see how learning chess can help children develop critical thinking skills and other positive academic and non-academic abilities. I recently sat down with Fred Wilson, who has been teaching chess to kids in Manhattan for 18 years and runs the chess programs at NYC private schools such as Grace Church, Little Red School House, City and Country School, and the Village Community School (no wonder he's a legend in the Viilage), to pick his brain on all that he knows about learning to play chess for kids in NYC.

Find out how to know if chess is right for your child, ane asy way to know if they are ready to play chess, why kids should play in tournaments and how to find a good chess program for your child:

As the weather turns cold and the playground is no longer an option, classes seem like a great way to schedule some fun time indoors. You can check out our Classes Guide here for lots of ideas, but in the meantime you may want to try and sample some classes and see what you like. We've rounded up trial and demo classes from lots of programs all over the city. Plus, remember that many places will let you try any class for free once. Just call and ask.

In “Tangled Up In Blue”, Bob Dylan sings of Montague St. that “There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air”. I’m not sure any of that is true of Brooklyn Heights in 2010 but there are certainly a lot of children’s music classes in the neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods of DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill and Red Hook. Maybe they can help your child turn into the next Bob Dylan . . . or maybe just bring some music to Montague St in 2035.

Yesterday we went to see the show Groovaloo, a hip hop dance performance at the Union Square Theater through January 3rd. The show was filled with amazingly acrobatic dance moves and my 6 year old loved it. The theater was actually filled with kids who were mesmerized throughout the performance.

Hip Hop dancing can be a great physical outlet for kids who might not otherwise be into sports and it is growing in popularity with children of all ages. If your child might be interested in trying out a Hip Hop dance class, here are some of the Hip Hop dance classes for kids around NYC.