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Best Preschool and Toddler Classes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Kids can draw, paint, and use clay at Oodle Monkey. Photo courtesy of the studio
Kids can draw, paint, and use clay at Oodle Monkey. Photo courtesy of the studio
9/11/23 - By Katherine Dhurandhar

There are tons of preschool and toddler classes to pick from in Westchester and the Hudson Valley that help kids get their energy out while learning valuable skills.  

We've rounded up 21 toddler and preschool classes in the area that range from school skills and STEAM classes to dance and sports classes for preschoolers. One class even combines horseplay–with actual horses!–and literacy learning. All of our picks are drop-off classes that foster independence and prepare children for the first day of school.  

For more classes for toddlers and preschoolers, see our picks of the Best Mommy-and-Me Music Classes in Westchester and the Best Mommy-and-Me Classes in the Hudson Valley. 

For even more after-school programs, check out our full Classes Guide for Westchester & Hudson Valley Kids. 

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STEAM Works Studio is uniquely focused on fostering and developing essential STEAM skills. Photo courtesy of the studio
STEAM Works Studio is uniquely focused on fostering and developing essential STEAM skills. Photo courtesy of the studio

Best Toddler and Preschool Classes in Westchester

Oodle Monkey Art + Discovery Studio

Rye Brook
Children can get creative (and messy) in classes, workshops, or camps. Oddle Monkey's Beginnings art class, ages 3-5, is all about nurturing budding artists' creativity, curiosity, imagination, self-expression, fine motor skills, vocabulary, collaboration, and confidence through fun, hands-on process- and sensory-based art experiences with drawing, painting, clay sculpting, and more. Classes are held Tuesday-Friday in the afternoon.  READ MORE

STEAM Works Studio – Preschool Enrichment

Scarsdale
Spark creativity and bolster a deep interest in science, math, and arts in children and young adults through hands-on practical learning by making. STEAM Works Studio is designed to provide Pre-K budding scientists or engineers (4-6 years old) with an early advantage in hands-on science, technology, art, and math. The enrichment sessions are 3 hours per day in the morning or afternoon.  READ MORE

Bach to Rock Music School Mamaroneck

Mamaroneck
Bach To Rock's Rock n' Roll program offers music classes for preschool children ages 3-5 as well as for babies and toddlers ages 1-3 with a caregiver. The baby and toddler classes classes include fun activities like sing-alongs, storytime, and instrument exploration. The preschool music classes use the power of storytelling to teach musical concepts and allow kids to explore instruments like the chimes and recorder. READ MORE

City Center Dance - Children's Classes & Workshops

White Plains
City Center Dance offers classes in multiple dance styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, and tap. Toddler and preschool classes are for kids ages 18 months to 5 years and include Creative Movement, Itty Bitty Ballerinas, and Mini Hip-Hoppers.  READ MORE

Scribble Art Workshop -– Preschool Classes

Dobbs Ferry
Scribble Art Workshop offers multiple classes for toddlers and preschools to get creative and explore artmaking with their peers. The Mini Scribblers program for 1.5- to 3-year-olds is a parent-child class, while the preschool art school for 3- to 4-year-olds is a drop-off program that includes open sensory play, painting, sculpture, and socialization. Private art lessons are also available for ages 2-4, as well as classes devoted entirely to sensory open play.  READ MORE

Dance for Joy

Mohegan Lake
Dance for Joy's BlippityBop1 class is a fun introduction to ballet for kids ages 3-5 that includes creative movement, imagination (pretend costumes, pretend makeup, pretend props, etc.), pantomime, body awareness, spatial awareness, and familiar songs and music as well as an introduction to classical musical and learning about story ballets. The kids perform a story ballet in a recital at the end of each session.  READ MORE

Best Toddler and Preschool Classes in Orange County

YMCA of Middletown - Preschool Programs

Middletown
The YMCA of Middletown offers numerous programs for toddlers and preschool-age kids (ages 3-5), including family music & movement, gymnastics, dance, painting, acting, sports, and swimming lessons.      READ MORE

Dance & Music Design School

Cornwall
The Dance & Music Design School provides ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, music, piano, guitar, singing, voice, song & dance, and acting classes. Music classes start at ages 0-3. The Music Adventures class for ages 4-5 incorporates more advanced techniques, including note identification, hand placement, rhythms, ear training, and basic piano playing. Ballet classes start with mommy-and-me at ages 2-3.  READ MORE

Orange County School of Dance

Monroe
Toddlers can get an early introduction to ballet in the preballet class designed for ages 2.5-4. The studio also offers private lessons in art, music, and theater, as well as a yearly performance of The Nutcracker. READ MORE

Best Classes for Toddlers and Preschoolers in Dutchess County

Compass Arts - Imagination Playhouse

Beacon
Compass Arts in Beacon offers music, dance, theater, and art classes for preschool-age children. In the Imagination Playhouse theater course (ages 4-6), young students play improv and theater games, sing, dance, create soundscapes and music through instrument exploration, and craft costumes and props to help them tell stories old and new alike.  READ MORE

Mindful Yoga with Liz

Poughkeepsie
Kids yoga classes are available for multiple age groups at Mindful Yoga with Liz, including the Baby Yoga class for ages 6 weeks and up with caregivers and the Youngster Yogi Adventures course for ages 3-5. The classes focus on balance and breathwork, as children learn asanas (yoga poses) with the encouragement of imagination and storytelling. READ MORE

Peak Gymnastics - Preschool Programs

Poughkeepsie
Peak Gymnastics offers preschool parent-and-me gymnastics classes for ages 15-24 months old and 2-3 years old as well as drop-off Prenastics classes for ages 4-5. The Prenastics class is a fun and engaging introduction to the sport of gymnastics, focusing on developing fundamental skills such as balance, coordination, and strength through a variety of gymnastics activities. READ MORE

All Sport Health & Fitness - Preschool Kids Programs

Fishkill
All Sport Fishkill offers multiple sports and fitness classes for kids. The preschool tumbling class is a fan favorite for kids ages 3-5. Group tennis lessons are also available for kids starting from age 4. READ MORE
Learn to swing from bars at The Little Gym. Photo courtesy of the gym
Learn to swing from bars at The Little Gym. Photo courtesy of the gym

Preschool and Toddler Classes in Ulster County

Madeline's Dance Center - Preschool Classes

Marlboro
Madeline's Dance Studio offers classes in dance, tumbling, fitness, and performance. Classes for preschool-age children include Princess Ballerinas (pre-ballet) for ages 3-6 years, Tumble Jungle for ages 3-6, Shining Stars for ages 3 & up, and a Combo class for ages 3-6.  READ MORE

SUNY New Paltz - Saturday Arts Lab

New Paltz
In Saturday Arts Lab, young people follow their curiosity to explore ideas, make discoveries, and create meaningful art! Artists are placed in classes with similar-age peers. READ MORE

The Little Gym - Kingston Preschool Classes

Kingston
The Little Gym of Kingston offers classes in dance, gymnastics, and sports preparation. The gymnastics program for ages 3-6 is designed to help kids channel their energy and reach developmental milestones while learning the basics of gymnastics. Dance classes are also available for preschoolers, including the Jazzy Bugs/Giggle Toes class for ages 3-5 and the Giggle Toes/Good Leaps class for ages 4-6.    READ MORE

Hudson Valley Horseplay

Kerhonkson
Hudson Valley Horseplay offers a variety of programs for kids that teach literacy skills in addition to basic horsemanship, including Read to Ponies and Reading with Horseplay classes. In Reading with Horseplay, students interact with horses from the ground while using toys and props to learn the five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Private or group classes are available for all ages.  READ MORE
JCC Rockland's Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center offers a preschool program for kids ages 3-5. Photo courtesy of the JCC
JCC Rockland's Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center offers a preschool program for kids ages 3-5. Photo courtesy of the JCC

Preschool and Toddler Classes in Rockland County

Gymboree Play & Music Nanuet - Preschool Prep

Nanuet
Gymboree Play & Music offers classes for children from birth to 5 years of age. Classes for preschoolers include music, art, and preschool prep. In preschool prep, students learn ABCs and 123s as well as social skills, independence, and early literacy and math.  READ MORE

JCC Rockland

West Nyack
JCC Rockland's Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center offers a preschool program as well as enrichment classes for kids ages 3-5. Classes include Baking with Books, Yoga Adventures, and Zumba for Kids.  READ MORE

Vicki's Dance Studio & Kreative Kids

New City
Vicki's Dance Studio offers dance classes for kids of all ages and abilities, with multiple time slots to choose from every day of the week and on weekends. Classes include jazz, ballet, hip-hop, a special boys' hip-hop class, gymnastics, and more. Kreative Kids preschool classes are also offered here, which include arts & crafts, music, tumbling, playground time, and more. READ MORE

ROCA - Rockland Center for the Arts

West Nyack
The Rockland Center for the Arts (ROCA) offers multiple programs for kids ages 3-9. In the Exploring Art class for ages 4-5, children experiment with various media as they create imaginative projects. The class emphasizes creativity while children learn basic art concepts and practice drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and 3-D construction.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz