Foreign Language Playgroups for NYC Kids

Whether you want to preserve your heritage, develop your child's brain, or prepare them for the eventual Chinese world dominance, there are many foreign language playgroups in New York City, ready to help you out. Studies show that even brief, regular exposure to a foreign language at a young age can help your child's ability to pick up languages later in life as well as developing their ability think abstractly and to focus.

Here are some foreign language playgroups to try out:

Mandarin Treehouse
What started out as a coupl eof mothers hosting Mandarin playgroups in their own homes, has grown into a business with three locations; UES, UWS and Downtown plus afterschool programs. Children learn Mandarin language and culture through immersion (80% of class time is conducted in Mandarin) while participating in a wide group of activities including art, science, movement and music. Children learn to write traditional Chinese characters as well as participate in Chinese dance, folklores and festival celebrations. Classes oare offered for children aged 6 months to 7 years.

Let's Play in Japanese
NYCNDA, or NYC Let's Play in Japanese, is inspired by the Japanese hoikuen preschool model. Children ages 0-6 years learn Japanese language and culture through participating in play, music, arts and crafts and reading. Located in the East Village NYCNDA offers Mommmy and Me, Playgroup and Kana Afternoons for older children who can learn to read and write in Japanese. Walk-ins are accepted or buy a pack of discounted group passes.

Bright Minds Center
Located at the Synagogue for the Arts in Tribeca, Bright Minds Center offers a Russian language immersion program for those who are interested to preserve their heritage or add a new cultural experience to their child’s life. In the nursery school class format children 2 to 5 years old are immersed in Russian language and culture. The classes are conducted using unique methods of presenting Russian as a second language to kids age 2-6 developed by their teacher who has published works on the field and her methods are actively used in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

Mommy Poppins Deal: Free trial lessons (up to 3 hours) when you mention Mommy Poppins.

¡Hola! A Playgroup in Spanish
¡Hola! offers many different classes for children ages 12 month to 8 years. From the young toddler program to after school programs to special classes where children can explore Spanish culture, learn yoga, flameno dancing, ballet or even radio; all immersed in Spanish—classes at ¡Hola! are packed with fun and excitement.

Little Language Playhouse
Children learn Italian through musical play, immersed in Italian while learning classic Italian nursery rhymes and traditional songs as well as a wide array of different activities. Little Language Playhouse is in Dyker Heights Brooklyn, but has also opened locations in Park Slope and Staten Island. Classes are offered for children aged 0-12.

German Language School
Tucked away at East 23rd Street on the FDR is the German Language School of New York which offers Saturday morning German classes for kids of all ages. New this year is their Playgroup "Knirpse" a Mommy and Me class for children aged 1 and up.

Musical Kids International
Musical Kids International offers music or language classes in French, Hebrew, Mandarin, English, Spanish , French, Japanese and Korean and FLAMENCO for 4-10 year olds . The Alternative Preschool Immersion program focuses on developing the entire child through an arts based curriculum. Classes are offered on the UES, Brooklyn Heights, Gramercy, Battery Park City and Queens.