Things To Do
With Toddlers
Chelsea District Library offers storytimes for
babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
(734) 475-8732
Visit Website
Parents As Teachers (PAT) offers regular playgroups,
parent education workshops, special events for families with young children
and more. Call
(734) 433-2206, and ask for Sara Champion.
Chelsea Community Education offers swimming lessons, itsy
bitsy yoga, and music classes.
(734) 433-2200
Visit Website
Chelsea Center for the Arts (CCA) offers music and art
classes.
(734) 433-2787
Visit Website
Chelsea Lanes Bowling - smoke-free bowling alley.
(734) 475-8141
Visit Website
Gourmet Chocolate Cafe - coffee shop with a small play area for young children
(734) 475-1071
Visit Website
The Chelsea TreeHouse
is an indoor playground for kids of all ages.
Visit Website
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What kind of activities are there in Chelsea for toddlers?
Q: I wanted to ask you about activities
for toddlers. I have a 15 month old and really want to do things
in the community but don't know where to look or go. I have done
parents as teachers with my daughter, but we didn't go back. Is there
any where else you'd recommend? My husband is very involved with
our daughter so MOPS doesn't work. I am worried
that we will miss events in the community.
A: My kids
are now school age now, but we have lived in Chelsea since my oldest
was an infant, so I have definitely been where you are now. That is
part of the reason I started this website, because I didn't know where
to find out about events in the community.
Here are some suggestions, based
on both personal experience and some research I've done for you. All
links and phone numbers are included in the left column of this page.
Classes To Take With Toddlers
- Swimming classes - Offered through Community
Ed,
you can take swimming classes with your little one. Their
"Pollywog" class is very low pressure and loosely structured, and consists
of getting your child used to the water and having fun. Take it
as many times as you like until your child is old enough to take a
swimming class on their own. We have done this with our kids, and they
really enjoy it.
- Music classes - There are a some music classes in
Chelsea for toddlers as well.
- Sound Babies - Offered through the Chelsea
Center for the Arts (CCA), this class is for birth to 24 months.
Uses music to stimulate, entertain and encourage parents to interact
with their little ones.
- Let's Play Music and Art - Also through the CCA,
this class is for ages 18 mo - 4 years,
where the instructor leads the group with singing and instrument
playing, and
does a craft.
- Music Together - Early childhood music class that
emphasizes adult involvement. Offered through Parents
As Teachers (PAT),
but open to non-members as well. All ages.
- Other Classes
- There are additional classes offered through
Chelsea's Parents as Teachers (PAT) program. They are free for PAT
members, but are also open to the public through Community Education.
- Itsy Bitsy Yoga - These parent-child yoga classes
are for ages 10 mo. to 21 months or 21 mo. to 4 years.
- Infant and Toddler Massage - Parents can bring infants
with them, but toddlers usually won't sit through the class, so
parents learn techniques on a doll.
- Baby Signs Workshop - Help your child learn to communicate
before they can speak verbally. We did some baby-signing
with our kids and it made life much easier when they could
ask for a drink before they knew how to say the word "drink".
Other Activities and Places to Go With Toddlers
- Parents As Teachers - We participated
in the Parents As Teachers program when my kids were toddlers.
The instructor-led playgroups were invaluable for us in the winter
time, when everyone was stir crazy. I appreciated the fact that they
could do messy crafts — which I was not keen on doing
at home! — or splash around at the water table, run around
to burn off some energy, and interact with other children.
There is a lot to be said for having
a support group of both experts and other parents to be reassured
that that your toddler is "not the only one" (who has tantrums,
won't give up the binky, is clingy... etc.) They provide support
services such as one-on-one visits from the parent educators,
parenting workshops, and family field trips. So, I would recommend
giving that a try again. The person to talk to about Parents as Teachers
is Sara Champion. You can get in touch with her through the Community
Ed office.
- Storytimes - The Chelsea District
Library has a weekly story time for babies (0-24 months)
and ages 2-3 (with a parent) in which they read a story,
interact with the kids, and do a craft.
- Bowling - Smoke-free Chelsea Lanes is a nice place
to go with kids. You'd be the best judge as to whether your daughter
would be old enough for this or not. Obviously with a toddler, you'd
have to help with the ball. They have bumpers and ramps to make
it more fun for the little ones.
- Gourmet Chocolate Cafe - A great place for Mommy
or Daddy to get a coffee break. They offer a little kid's corner
with toys so the kids can play, and they can
even put on a kids video if you ask.
- The Chelsea TreeHouse -
This indoor playground in downtown Chelsea is fun for both kids
and parents. They offer a baby/toddler area for the little
ones, plus a great kid-friendly menu that includes healthy options.
If you are planning to visit with a child under 2, I'd recommend
going in the morning, when the bigger kids will be at school.
- Playgrounds - We have some great playgrounds in
Chelsea, and it is also fun to play at the school
playgrounds when school is not in session or after 4:00 on school
days. Visit our
Places
to Go page for a complete listing of playgrounds in Chelsea.
TimberTown is one of our favorites, and they have a great area
with small swings and a sandbox for younger children.
As you see, there are quite a few options specifically geared toward
younger children. Also keep an eye out for community events [click
to go to Current Events page] that have Kid Zone areas, where you will often
find fun activities for both little and big kids.
Hope this answered your question! Feel free to contact me again if you
need clarification on anything, or if you come across any other ideas
along the way.
Take care,
Leslie
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