Stir Crazies

I’ve been so pleasantly surprised to discover the number of people and places offering fun parent-child activities across the Valley. Here are a few

About this time last year I was blogging about how hard is was to be pent up in the house with a six-month-old. Ha! That was a walk in the park (on a sunny, 75-degree day) compared to this year. Winter with a social and high-energy toddler is something, and by something I mean tough. Between the single-digit temps that keep Coraline from her beloved “wee” (read: park), and all the snow days that keep mama from her beloved yoga class, most days we’re like a couple of firecrackers popping around in a shoe box.

This winter, it’s tricky figuring out how to get Coraline the social interaction and physical activity she needs around her naps, my work schedule, and of course, tight finances. Slowly but surely we’ve found our way, though, and hopefully now my busy toddler will be engaged and entertained all the way into spring. I’ve been so pleasantly surprised to discover the number of people and places offering fun parent-child activities across the Valley. Here are a few, for those of your with stir crazies of your own:

Illuminated Baby (518-965-2044)
Palenville-based mama Jessica Walsh offers baby classes and community groups in Hudson, Woodstock, and Catskill starting in March.

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Waddle n Swaddle
Check out the Web site for the extensive list of classes offered at their Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck locations — everything from free breastfeeding support groups to mama-baby yoga. (Come join me and Coraline at the new Toddler Playgroup in Rhinebeck, Tuesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.!)

The Little Gym
This Kingston kiddie hotspot offers parent-child classes for little ones four months to three years. It’s a great place to meet other moms and let cabin-feverish kiddos get the ya-yas out.

Jai Ma Yoga
In addition to children’s classes and a postnatal series, this New Paltz studio offers a parent-child class for ages 16 months to five years.

The Bee’s Knees
This new baby boutique in Hudson, which opened this past December, offers classes like pre- and postnatal Pilates and Emotional Freedom Technique (also known as “tapping”).

Kid’s Kingdom Play Center
This Poughkeepsie romper room specializes in birthday parties, but has open-play sessions everyday for kids aged one-to-nine.

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Catskill Mountain Music Together
Offers weekly parent-child music classes from birth through five years old in Kingston, Woodstock, Saugerties, and Rhinebeck. Mid-Hudson Music Together offers classes in New Paltz, Poughkeepsie, and Stone Ridge.

Barnes & Noble
Coraline and I have spent many, many hours in the children’s section where she finds innumerable temporary playmates (and playthings).

And rumor has it there’s a free indoor play space hosted by Kingston Parks and Rec (and one in New Paltz, too?)… if anyone knows where it is, please comment below!

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