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Apart from playgroups, libraries, parks etc., there is a huge variety of baby, toddler
and children's classes and activities -- drop-in as well as paid-in advance -- in or close to NW3. Many of the classes
follow the Camden School schedule and most close for the summer. Waiting lists are not uncommon.
Before age 2, classes focus on signing, music and mother/baby fitness classes.
Don't fool yourself into thinking any of these classes will make your baby smarter or better prepared
for life -- this is for you to enjoy your time with your child, get out of your living room and meet people.
Music, dance, cooking, art and some sports classes that do not require a lot of coordination are
available from about age two. For this age group, gymnastics and dance are almost always a
safe bet while football and tennis are a bit of a gamble.
From about age three, there's a lot more choice, but that doesn't mean all
children are ready for drop-off, teacher-led courses. Some children enjoy challenges and can concentrate and follow instructions very
well. For others, being left behind is very stressful. Whenever possible, ask the activity leader to give a free
trial -- they almost always will. But don't be surprised if your child looses interest half-way through the term. I never
really figured out when to push my children and when to give up on an activity. Like most parents I was a lot tougher
on the older one and pretty lax with the second.
While it may sound tempting to enroll your child in lots of different classes, personally,
I think that for this age group, any more than two or three activities a week is pushing it. And if your
child is entering full-time nursery -- especially a state/religious pre-school where the average class size is 25 -- you
can pretty much forget afternoon activities for the first term. They will be exhausted -- and done with being told what
to do by a grown up. I speak from experience!
Please refer to the "A to Z" for telephone numbers, websites and addresses.
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Birth to six months:
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Gymboree Play and Music is the world's leading play, music and arts programme for newborn to under
5s. Gymboree Hampstead is conveniently located in the O2 Centre on the Finchley Road. Call us today to book your FREE TRIAL CLASS 020 7794 8719
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Music:
Culture Kids: small classes held at the Pizza Express on Heath Street
in Hampstead. Babies to 4. My sons really enjoyed it and if you have a baby and a toddler, it's one of the few activities
you can all do together.
Gymboree: Art, music and movement classes for children and parents
from birth to 5.
Caroline's Singalong "Minibeat": A very, very popular Belsize Park
institution, Caroline entertains babies and pre-schoolers alike with her guitar-accompanied singalongs.
Monkey Music run classes from age 3 months to 4 years in Primrose Hill, Belsize
Park, Hampstead Village, West Hampstead, Queens Park.
Songsters with Neal: Guitar-accompanied old favorites. (Tuesday Wednesday
morning sessions 9:30 am and 11 am).
Perform: Music, movement and play sessions for children from
0 to 4.
Exercise:
FitnGiggles: One-hour fifteen minute classes (with baby, of course 0-15 months)
also includes relaxation and weekly discussion topics on health and fitness.
Mums With Tots Pilates classes with crèche provided.
Pushymothers: A buggy work-out fitness program for postnatal moms in Hampstead and Primrose Hill. Lots of praise from all around!
Belsize Health: Belsize Health offers many different types of therapists,
for children and adults, including individual yoga classes where you can bring baby.
Triyoga: One of the best in Europe, from what I hear. Various pregnancy and new mum yoga classes as well as a kids class from 4+.
Swimming:
Aquababies: Held at the Marriott in Swiss Cottage (128 King Henry's Way, NW3 3ST),
swimming class for parents and babies on Tuesdays. Can start from about 6 weeks but most around 3 months.
Aquatots at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Registration starts on July 28
for this new swimming class on Mondays. For babies and children 0-4.
Six Months to Two years:
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Dance, Rhythm, co-ordination, Storey telling, Imagination , FUN!
Children age 16 months to 8 years. Classes in Hampstead, West Hampstead and Primrose Hill.
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(Also see above for Aquababies, Aquatots, Culture Kids:
Gymboree: Caroline's Singalong "Minibeat", Monkey Music,
Songsters with Neal, Perform)
Creative Movements: From 10 months, classes incorporate dance (i.e.
running around for the wee ones) with storytelling.
Toddlers World: Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (Adelade Rd 0207 974
2012) Drop-in gym sessions from walking age to 5. Inflatables, rockers and soft-play equipment.
Sing and Sign: baby signing music groups. Ages 7-24months.
Gymnastics at the Armoury: Fitness club that also has gymnastics for 3-4, 5-6 and
7 to 12 year-olds as well as baby session.
Two to three years:
(Also see above for Aquatots, Culture Kids: Gymboree:
Caroline's Singalong "Minibeat", Monkey Music, Songsters with Neal,
Perform, Creative Movements, Toddlers
World, Yoga at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Little Kickers, Debutots,
Sunshine Play Group, Swiss Cottage School of Dance, Crafty
Kids)
Dance, Drama
Debutots- Interactive storytelling and dramatic play classes. Early
Years Drama for 2-4 year olds. My son does the program at his school and enjoys it.
Swiss Cottage School of Dance: Ballet classes for ages
2 and up.
Sports and Fitness
Yoga at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre drop-in classes for 2 1/2 year-olds to
4.
Little Kickers: Little Kickers classes enable pre-school children to develop theor co-ordination, balance and agility through football. From age
2.
Art:
Sunshine Play Group
Free play with arts and crafts, music and cooking. Drop off or drop in depending on age. From age 2.
Crafty Kids:
Art workshops for ages 2-4 on Debbie builds rockets and paints with toothbrushes, makes glove monsters and pasta jewelry.
My children enjoyed it.
Three to four years:
(Also see above for Aquatots, Gymboree: Caroline's
Singalong "Minibeat", Songsters with Neal, Perform,
Creative Movements, Toddlers World, Yoga at Swiss
Cottage Leisure Centre, Little Kickers, Debutots, Sunshine
Play Group, Swiss Cottage School of Dance, Crafty Kids)
Sports:
YogaBugs: classes for 3 to 5 and 5 to 7 year-olds.
League One: Foot ball from age three
Sports Galore football from age four.
Globe Tennis Club: Very popular half-hour to hour-long classes for
3 1/2 to 5 year-olds.
Tennis at Talacre Sports Centre: for 3s and older.
Football at Talacre Community Sports Centre: A variety of football classes during
the week and on Saturdays from age 3 and up.
Gymnastics
at the Armoury:
Fitness club that also has gymnastics for 3-4, 5-6 and 7 to 12 year-olds.
Talacre Community Sports Centre: Gymnastics classes, which start at age 3, are so popular that parents
(including me, dear reader) queued for hours in the dark, cold winter to get a spot.
Gymnastics at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Gymnastics program fom age 4.
Triyoga: One of the best in Europe, from what I hear. Various pregnancy and new mum yoga classes as well as a kids class from 4+.
Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club Pretty booked up and you
need to call often to find out where your child is on the waiting list. Non-parent attended swimming lessons
from age 4.
UCS Active Lessons and kids' splash time for members.
Dance and Drama:
Centrestage School: drama,
singing and acting for 3 to seven year-olds.
Dramarama,
Dramatots: Drama from age 3
Hampstead
Ballet School: Ballet classes for kids 3+ as well as adults at various venues in NW3.
Solomons
School of Performing Arts: Ballet, jaz, tap from age 3.
First Steps Dance: Pre-school ballet.
Various:
Cooking with Karen: Children's creative cooking classes in your own home -- ages 3-5. Nurtures interest in healthy
eating; classes tailor-made. Three-hour classes for up to 4 children.
Jolie Ronde: small classes, role play, songs and conversation for 3-11
year-olds taught by local nursery teacher - recommended by one mother as being gentle and fun.
Age
Five and Up: Also see previous entry
Trampoline at Talacre Community Sports Centre: Drop-in from age 5.
Hwarang Academy holds classes Teakwando from age 5.
Martial arts from age 5 at the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre.
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