Your Guide to the Best Toddler Classes on the Seacoast

Wondering how to tire your kids out enough so that they give you the Holy Grail of every mom’s day: a nice, long nap? We suggest enrolling your children in some Seacoast toddler classes. From music to dance, there are a number to choose from in this area.

The Rundown: Best Toddler Classes 

Music & Art 

• Encourage the Picasso or Mozart in your child!
  • Music Together: The national music program with the amazing reputation is a hit with kids from babies to preschoolers. While a bit pricey, your child(ren) will learn about music in a fun and comfortable environment. Classes are now held in Portsmouth, Kittery, South Berwick, and Exeter.
  • Sonatina Center: Located in Dover, the Sonatina Center offers Groove & Grow classes for children 6 months to 4 years. The classes are interactive and the caregiver joins the child for a session of singing, playing with instruments, and stories. Sonatina also offers classes weekly at G. Williker’s in Portsmouth.
    Aside from musical offerings, Sonatina Center provides an art class for children and their caregivers 12 months to 4 years old. Kids can explore textures, colors, and all things artsy while leaving the mess behind!

Swim Lessons

•  Learning to swim will not only tire your kid out, but will give him or her confidence and keep them safe around the water.
  • Granite YMCA for more swim lessons in Portsmouth
  • Portsmouth Indoor Pool for even more swim lessons in Portsmouth
  • The Works Health and Fitness Center offers swim lessons year round in Somersworth.
  • Dover Indoor Pool offers swim lessons starting at 3 months old in Dover.

Gymnastics Classes 

• Gymnastic classes are a great way for kids to play wildly in a safe environment. They can bounce off the walls in the comfort of NOT your own home.
  • Rumble Tumble Gym: Located in Portsmouth, Rumble Tumble offers gym classes for a variety of ages, including a drop-off for slightly older children. Sign-up for a class and get free play for your child during the duration of the class. 
  • Atlantic Gymnastics: With locations in Portsmouth and Dover, this gym offers open enrollment throughout the year. Perfect if you aren’t great with deadlines and cut-off dates. 
  • New Hampshire Academy of Artistic Gymnastics: This school of gymnastics in North Hampton offers various classes for preschoolers and even offers free play for siblings. 
  • Action Kids at Brentwood Commons: This year-round facility offers recreational and competitive gymnastics, tumbling classes, preschool programs, swim lessons, open gyms, summer camp, birthday parties, and much more.
  • Junior Gym: This gym in Northampton includes an array of class opportunities for kids ages 6 months to 5 years old including classes with caretakers as well as independent gym time starting at age 3.

Dance Classes

Does your little one love to dance? Sign them up for a class!

• LA Beatz: This is not your traditional ballet studio. Toddler classes, also known as “Little Funky Beatz,” introduces your child to music and rhythm. 
• Portsmouth School of Ballet: If your daughter is as obsessed with tutus as mine is, this Seacoast ballet school could be a winner. 
• Great Bay Academy of Dance: This is the dance school out of Kittery responsible for producing The Nutcracker in the Seacoast every year. They have Mommy & Me classes, as well as classes for preschoolers. 
• The Musical Arts Academy of Music & Dance offers an array of dance classes for little ones in Exeter. 
• Adagio Dance Academy is also based in Exeter. Its toddler classes include tap and ballet— one of the only tap offerings around for little ones. 
• Dance Innovations begins their toddler classes at age 3 in Greenland and puts on one heck of a recital every June.
• Sole City in Somersworth provides Mommy (or Daddy) and Me dance classes starting at 18 months old through 2 years old and independent creative dance lessons for ages 2 and beyond.
• Kb’s Center of Dance and Movement: Located in Hampton Falls, tiny dancers can get started from age 6 through 36 months at the Baby and Me classes. For children ages 2 -4 independent classes explore movement through creative dance and music.
• Releve Dance Studio in North Hampton offers tap and ballet classes for 3-5 year old and “tiny tot” classes for 2 and 3 year olds every Saturday morning.
• BKS Dance Program kids as young as 2in North Hampton has ballet, tap, and even hip-hop for . Plus, all students are invited to perform in the yearly Nutcracker performance mid-December. 

Yoga 

Move and pose WITH your child in these yoga for toddler classes on the Seacoast.

• Childlight Yoga: Located in Dover, Childlight is the premier spot for child yogis and their parents. 
• Yoga East: Offering one of the only parent and child classes, Yoga East provides a fun and safe atmosphere for you and your child to explore the foundations of yoga. 

Miscellaneous Seacoast Toddler Classes & Drop-Ins

• BEAM Fitness & Tutoring: This spot in Stratham boasts a variety of Seacoast toddler classes. With drop-ins available for classes like Mini Ninja Warrior or Story Theater, there’s so much to do!
• Children’s Museum of NH: Every Wednesday morning, the Wee Ones program meets for stories and activities. Discounted pricing for museum members and you can pay by class. 
• Seacoast United: Children up to five-years-old can enjoy this open gym in Hampton. Kids can run around, kick soccer balls, and go crazy at PLAY TIME. 
• Seacoast Science Center: Every Monday morning, bring your children for exploration and fun. Children under three stay with their caregivers, while the ages three-to-five crowd goes outside (weather permitting) to explore.  
• Seacoast Waldorf School: Take this class, entitled “Lighthouse”, with your child, ages 1-3, to receive an introduction to the principles of a Waldorf education. Share songs, play games and enjoy the presence of other parents and children. 
• Tinkergarten: This outdoor class in Portsmouth gives your child the chance to “tinker”. Enjoy being in nature with your kiddos in this play-based experience. Location is always a local park! 
• Wiggles and Wisdom: This intergenerational activity class is one-hour long on Tuesdays. Taking place at Harmony Homes by the Bay Assisted Living/ Memory Care facility, children under 5 come to play, do crafts, sing and so much more– all while making new, senior friends. Undoubtedly, this unique class in Durham is bound to make an impact in many lives.  
• Rye Airfield: For your future bikers and skaters, the airfield open up every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30 for pre-k kids not in school yet. For only $5 a family, kids can explore the ramps, bikes, trucks, and race around til their heart’s content!
• Gym Heroes gym in Stratham has something for everyone! Besides sports and physical movement sessions, the also offers an adventure club and art and music labs for kids of all ages starting at toddlerhood.
• Relief Parenting in Hampton offers all kinds of classes, from tummy time to baby (and kids & preteen) yoga. There’s much more here for new parents including breastfeeding support and dads’ groups. 
• Seacoast United has a TinyTots class for children aged 18 months to 5 years. Expose them to the game of soccer early on with this fun class!

Free and Cheap

• Families First is an incredible resource for Seacoast Moms. From weekly playgroups to parenting classes, none of their programs cost much (if anything) and are top notch. 
• Hike It, Baby Seacoast: This online group meets up for weekly hikes around the Seacoast area. 
• Local libraries: Do not under-estimate story time at your local Seacoast library. Portsmouth’s story time is lovely and there are two options, depending on the age of your kiddos. Rollinsford public library also has amazing options. For a complete listing, visit our Guide to Seacoast Libraries. 
• Airzone Exeter Once or twice weekly, your under six-year-old can bounce for just $5. Look for WhippersnapAir on the calendar!
• NHSPCA Storytime: Every Thursday morning, experience story time with the animals of the SPCA in Stratham. Donation of $5 suggested.
• Kindergym with York ME Parks and Rec: Every Monday morning from 9:30-10:15 drop-in for $5 at the Our School Nursery School in York. Register on the Parks and Rec site, search “Kindergym.”
• Playgroup at Seacoast Waldorf School: Most Fridays from 9:30-11am, Seacoast Waldorf School in Eliot opens its classroom to kids under three. Visit their web site and sign-up for the newsletter for more information. 
• Kittery Community Center: If you have a toddler who likes to wake up early and ready to go, the community center offers open gym every weekday morning from 8-9. Kittery residents attend for free and non-residents are only $1 per child.
• Exeter Hospital: The hospital offers an excellent opportunity for socializing your crawler and learning about a variety of parenting topics from experts in the field every Monday morning from 9:30-10:45. And it’s free for all!
• White Pine Nature Playgroup: On Monday mornings, spend a facilitated hour with your little one outside with White Pine. 9-10am at Highland Farm Preserve in York, ME.