Purposeful Play, For Babies - And Grownups!

By Kimberly Kennedy

When your baby first arrives, it is easy to isolate yoursef, as you become consumed with the routines of baby care:  Feed.  Change diaper.  Wash—something.  Nap.  Repeat.  But there’s a cure for that.

One option is to join a Moms’ Club near you; search the Internet or community press. Services vary but usually include playgroups, Moms’ Night Out, and scheduled activities which will expose you to new play venues all around town. Don’t underestimate the advantages: You’ll get adult stimulation, and believe it or not, you and your child can make lifelong friends.

Another option is to enroll your baby in a class. Sounds crazy—but the benefits are twofold: Children learn through play; moms learn, well, what to do with their babies. Brian Kerstine, owner of Gymboree Play & Music, explains, “We work on the cognitive, creative, and social skills of children, but we also educate the parents about what’s going on with their children.” And a side benefit? “People become the best of friends and create tight bonds with each other because they’re basically going through the same thing at the same time.”

Along with its Mason location, Gymboree boasts a new Columbia-Tusculum facility. “From the moment parents walk in the door, they can see an environment where kids are free to move, play, and explore safely,” says Kerstine. But it’s not just physical activity; classes use play-based activities, from sensory stimulation to problem-solving games, to stretch body and mind. “Basically, it’s play—with a purpose,” asserts Kerstine. There are also art and music classes, to stimulate imagination and self-expression: www.gymboreeclasses.com.

Miss Amanda’s Music Garden (www.missamandasmusic.com) is a Clifton treasure where children as young as two weeks old can be found rocking and bouncing in their parents’ arms to music from around the world. Through singing and movement-based activities, Miss Amanda presents the joys of music to children from birth to age nine. Musical concepts are presented in simple, fun, age-appropriate ways, laying a foundation for musical training.

“Ironically, it’s the baby—who can’t move or sing, but whose brain is developing at such a fast rate—who gets the most from the music classes,” says director Amanda O’Bannon. After all, studies show that music improves cognitive function. But parents reap benefits too. “I try to engage both the child and the parent—at a time in their lives when both need connection, support, and validation.”