Year-round swimming lessons are a great way to help New Jersey kids develop a love of swimming and instill confidence around the water. These swimming classes teach water skills in a safe and age-appropriate way, and most allow children as young as 6 months old to participate. Many of the swim programs listed below include programming up to age 12 or beyond and some even offer competitive swim teams.

For the youngest swimmers, check out our post on baby swimming lessons in New Jersey.

You can find more swim and sports programs for kids–and even book a class online–in our directory of classes and listings. Check out our New Jersey Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Looking for special needs programs on Long Island? Read on for some of the options in Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

Finding proper care, schooling, activities, and services can be frustrating for Long Island parents with children who have special needs. Special needs children often want to–and can do–many things other children do, they just go about it in different ways. Schools and classes that focus on those with special needs, or offer an inclusion setting, are an important part of a special needs child's circle of care. 

For more information on programs, classes, and more for Long Island kids, check out our classes and enrichment guide and our Long Island Special Needs Guide.

The best cooking classes in Connecticut are a great activity for kids. Cooking classes provide healthy enrichment, giving kids hands-on experience in the kitchen. Cooking lessons are a great way to enage a fussy eater; whatever their skill level with cooking, kids are more likely to eat cuisine they have prepared themselves. There are skilled professsionals at these kid-friendly culinary schools in Fairfield County, Hartford, and New Haven Connecticut. These instructors reinforce the importance of practicing safe cooking techniques and trying new foods. For teens, younger kids, even toddlers, these cooking programs are sure to spark creativity and expand palates, inviting your child to try something new. Kids cooking classes might even inspire your junior chef to lend a hand in your own kitchen. So, get those aprons ready and sign your child up for a kids' cooking class! And read on for our guide to the best cooking classes for kids in Connecticut.

You can find more cooking classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Connecticut Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

The best swimming lessons for kids in Boston are open for infants, toddlers, and kids of all ages. These Greater Boston swimming lesson locations cater to all skill levels as well. Swimming classes provide children with proper foundations for a life-saving skill. Swimming lessons are wonderful ways to provide a major confidence boost for a child; a child learning to swim sees success with every kick, stroke and splash! Besides being a great enrichment activity for exercise and physical development, swimming classes are downright fun at any age. And baby & me swimming classes let a parent and child take swimming lessons together, easing the child into the pool and creating precious memories. These classes can help adults learn to swim too. So read on for our guide to the best swimming lessons for kids in Boston.

You can find more swimming classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Boston Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

As much as parents would like to be home and attentive to their children at 3pm every day, it just isn't always possible. And the cost of daycare or after school camps and classes can really add up. Parents who need those extra few hours after school lets out each day can find a variety of fun and educational programming to keep their kids occupied from 3 until 5 (or beyond). Just because they're free or inexpensive doesn't mean they can't be fun. We found lower cost and free after school programs featuring academics, sports, creative writing, art, and even circus performance for kids throughout the city. 

Want to continue the free fun into the weekend? Check out our best free things to do this fall and free days at museums and other attractions, or search for free events in our Chicago event calendar.

Giving your little one a head start at a quality preschool can build a solid foundation in social and pre-academic skills, readying them for kindergarten and beyond. In the state of Florida, all children 4 years of age (as of September 1) are eligible for VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten), a state-funded program that is FREE for families. Most preschools in Orlando offer VPK for eligible 4-year-olds. Plus, several Orlando preschools offer programs for 2- and 3-year-olds as well. Finding the right fit of preschool can seem daunting, so we've asked local families and rounded up a list of the best preschools around Central Florida.

Touring preschools? Here are the top questions you need to ask during your tour. If you would like articles like this delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our email list.

Classes for babies (and toddlers) can solve one of the biggest parenting hurdles: getting out of the house! Especially in the early years, a Parent and Baby class might be the only outing you manage all day—even all week. From classes for babies who can barely lift their heads to classes for toddlers who are tottering around, these Mommy & Me classes (and Daddy & Me classes, too!) focus on activities that babies and parents can do together, from swimming to sign language and yoga to folk music. Find your tribe, bond with your babe, and get out of the house to reclaim a little sanity with these amazing baby classes and toddler classes in San Francisco. 

Check out our other lists of awesome classes for kids in San Francisco Bay Area, including Cooking Classes for Kids and Swimming Lessons for Babies and Toddlers. And did you know you can now book classes and more activities directly from the Mommy Poppins calendar? Find events with the "book it" button or filter for classes for simple registration in just a few clicks!