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It is easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with entertaining a child in the city. It gets even more overwhelming when you're doing said entertaining on a budget, and even worse when you start to feel you're doing your child a disservice by just sitting around the house worrying about the expense. Truth be told, trying to take a class with a baby or even a toddler is a gamble. Is the baby going cry the whole way through? Will your two-year-old even LIKE playing the drums in music class or will she be more interested in hitting her own head with the drumstick? Will YOU like any of the other moms—'cause lets face it, at least half the reason we join any of these classes is to meet other moms and to have a conversation with someone who can use the potty without asking for wiping help. Who wants to pay a crazy amount of money only to find out that your baby hates whatever you signed up for, all the other moms are asshats, and there is never any parking?
Don't worry—I'm not just asking these questions to bum you out. I've got a solution.
Before you drop a chunk of change, check out some of these great local classes offered for the low, low price of free.
- Nurture, a fantastic boutique in Ardmore, is offering a free baby massage class running Tuesdays at 10:30-11:30 beginning June 16th. This five week class will focus on the benefits of infant massage (which includes deeper, longer sleep) and is open to all parents with babies aged birth to a year. Now here's the really great part: you don't need a sitter because older siblings are welcome to attend. Nurture, in order to give moms with newborns and infants a real break, will provide a "play corner" in the room, equipped with toys, coloring books, and tons of other goodies to keep your older children occupied while you get to spend some real one on one time with your baby. All Nurture wants you to bring is a baby blanket and bed size pillow—oh! And for you to call ahead. Registration is limited, so give them a call at 610.649.0424. For directions and more information about the lectures, yoga, pilates, and the beautiful products Nurture offers, visit their website.
- Both the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Independence Branch are offering a fantastic blend of art, literature, and drama all rolled into one great hour of Elmer glue and glitter covered fun. Starting June 9th, Tuesdays at 10:30 are dedicated to introducing children to seasonal stories, songs, and finger plays. Toddlers also get to create "adorable take-home crafts"...and with a promise like that you KNOW pine cones and googly eyes are involved at some point! Intended for children ages 2 to 4(ish—I'm pretty sure if you child's five he won't be thrown out of the library) and their caregivers, this is a great chance to allow your little one a chance to messily express him/herself far away from your home and new carpeting. For live person help and information, call 215.686.5322 for the Central Library or 215.685.1633 for the Independence Branch.
3.) So you have a little one...a REALLY little one...and you don't quite know what to do. Somehow cooking classes and art lessons just don't make sense for a 10 month old. Well don't worry, there's something for us new baby moms and dads as well. Mother Goose Time at the Falls of Schuylkill Library begins on June 30th. Designed for babies (up to 15 months), this class features "books, bounces, tickles, and nursery activities". And quite frankly, I'm hoping that the tickles and bounces aren't just for the children. I could use a good bounce. This is another class where older siblings are welcomed, so really, why not go? Unless 10:15 is naptime...then for the love God, get some sleep, but if everyone in your house is up and awake, then GO! What other time do see a library asking you to BRING YOUR BABY!? Your loud, drooling, book ripping baby?! For more information call 215-685-2093.
4.) Do you have a mover and a shaker? The Walnut St. West branch of the Philly library is offering a "Moving to Music" class for young children. Meeting Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m., starting July 7th, this is a great opportunity for your little one to try out the basics of dance before you drop three hundred bucks on ballet lessons and then find out that YOUR Billy Elliot WOULD rather work in the coal mine than dance in the big recital. The Walnut St. branch is located at 201 S. 40th St here in Philly, for additional information call 215 685 7671.
5.) The Maternal Wellness Center is offering a free New Moms Support Group every Monday at 10:30. This is a great alternative to joining an expensive "parenting class" just to get some face time with other adults. Save the hundred or so bucks and venture out to this wonderful facility. It is important to note that this class is designed for pre-crawling babies only-this fact appears bold and in all caps on their website, so my guess is this rule is strictly enforced. While we're on the topic of The Wellness Center, let me just say this. I love the Wellness Center. Here's why. While this group's focus is obviously centered around the emotional, physical, and psychological changes every woman faces when they become a mother, the center serves as the meeting place for several other groups (i.e. stay-at-home-mom/dad group or breastfeeding support) as well. Though not all services are free, The Wellness Center provides a sliding fee scale for those who need a little help. The classes offered here are incredibly diverse-there really is something for everyone. Visit their website for more information about the New Mom's Group and extensive list of other great classes.
6.) I'm going to end this list with a shout out to the La Leche League. I looked for a free breastfeeding class to put in this column, I really did. I searched EVERYWHERE, but I just couldn't find a class or even a support group that listed their services as free of charge. What I did find is contact information for Philadelphia's chapter of the La Leche League. I have had no experience with this group so I can't comment in either a positive or negative fashion. What I do know is they seem to be the ONLY group offering free support to women with breastfeeding questions or concerns. The meetings are currently held on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room at Essene Natural Foods Market at 719 S. 4th St, but if you need help immediately the Philadelphia Area Helpline is 610-666-0359. As a mother who went through her own trials and tribulations with breastfeeding, I urge anyone who is having an issue or just feels unsupported or overwhelmed to give these ladies a try. Things can get a crazy when you have a little person hanging off your breast. Sometimes you need help. Seek it.
If you have a tip on a free or next to free class or activity, email me at amym@phillyist.com. I encourage you to be as honest as possible with your description and feel free to let me know if there some places/events/classes to avoid! I'm only one person and can only expose so much awesomeness or suckitude. Help a mother out.
Image credit: Flickr user M.ADA
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