Learning and fun abound at these local programs for moms and young kids.
Whether you’re pregnant, taking care of a newborn or adding a sibling to your family, Orange County has a wide range of activities and support for moms, dads and little ones. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite “mommy and me” and “parent and me” classes around.
New Mom School
Entering motherhood is an exciting but also overwhelming time. At New Mom School in Costa Mesa, welcoming and knowledgeable instructors are ready to help women navigate the challenges of the first 18 months with science-backed education and support from the staff and other participants. Covered topics include maternal mental health, newborn sleep foundations, second-time moms and more. The classes are all in person and are divided by the baby’s age.
“We pride ourselves on emphasizing the impact that maternal mental health has on the well-being of the baby and providing evidence-based information that moms can trust,” said owner Becca Kushner.
The newborn and second-time moms series are so popular, moms are encouraged to sign up while they’re still pregnant.
The Mommy Center
The Mommy Center in Laguna Hills also helps new parents find their village even before the baby officially arrives. Experts, including nurses, lactation consultants, physical therapists, postpartum doulas and occupational therapists, lead the classes, which are organized by the baby’s age. Each class begins with joys and challenges to break the ice and promote bonding with other moms in a judgment-free environment. Later on, moms expecting their second child can participate in the program on dynamics of parenting multiple children. There are morning, afternoon and weekend classes to accommodate parents’ schedules, a daddy and me program, sensory playgroups for toddlers and little children, and free monthly events.
(The Mommy Center is offering a special $25 discount to all our readers with code “ocparentguide25”.)
Granola Babies
If natural living and raising your kids while being kind to Earth is your thing, you might find your tribe at Granola Babies based in Irvine and virtually. Granola Babies specializes in babies in their first year of life.
“I believe that when we care for mothers, we care for the world,” founder Giselle Baumet states on the website.
One-hour classes include a short discussion on a parenting topic followed by an interactive section covering gentle sleep routine tips or baby-led feeding. The last part has moms participating in a guided relaxation or a group conversation about motherhood challenges and ways to overcome them.
FIT4MOM
Moms who are ready to get moving and exercising, can find their community through FIT4MOM, which has several locations in Orange County. Although it’s mostly known for the Stroller Strides workouts, where moms of all fitness levels exercise and interact with their little ones at the same time, FIT4MOM has a lot more going on. Social events, family outings and playdates offer moms a chance to connect and make new friends who are at the same stage of their lives. Pregnant moms are welcome too.
“We’re not just about fitness, we’re about creating a village where moms can come together, support each other and form lasting friendship,” said Diana Marcin, fitness instructor and owner of FIT4MOM Ladera Ranch.
Mommy & Moi
If you’re looking to raise a multilingual child, International School of Orange County in Orange has you covered. Mommy & Moi is for children between 12 and 30 months old and offers an introduction to French language and culture for parents and toddlers. No prior French knowledge is required to participate in the hands-on educational activities that introduce as much French vocabulary as possible. Each session includes storytime, playtime, dancing and singing, games, arts and crafts and a break with healthy refreshments served. Mommy & Moi is separate from other classes on campus so your child doesn’t need to be enrolled at International School of Orange County.
Sounds of Color Studio
Sounds of Color Studio in Santa Ana also offers French parent and me classes. During the French and art immersion sessions, participants create artworks with instruction provided in English and French. The studio also has dance, music, piano, art and more parent and me classes. Children as young as 2 years old can participate with their parents or grandparents to bond through the different activities.
“With the busy life we as parents run, these classes are designed to sit and spend quality time with the loved ones, listen to them talking and exploring and sharing their interests,” said owner Bri Harb.
OC Music Services
At OC Music Services in Irvine, the Sing into Spanish parent and me weekly class exposes children ages 6 months to 5 years old to Spanish sounds through music, play and having fun. No prior Spanish knowledge is required.
“Early exposure is crucial to learning a second language so our course focuses on providing that exposure in a fun and engaging group led by a native Spanish speaker,” said founder Lety Castillo.
OC Music Services also offers Musical Sensory Play parent and child classes for kids ages 6 months to 4 years. The children get to work on their fine and gross motor skills and regulating their emotions. The sessions are designed to spark the kids’ interests in learning through musical, tactile, sight and smell inputs, among other things.
Farm School OC
At Farm School OC in San Juan Capistrano, young farmers ages 18 months to 3.5 years old learn about gardening, farming, animal care and healthy eating. The hands-on classes include storytime and music as well as a lesson on animals and planting and tasting seasonal fruits and vegetables. Farm School OC’s mission is to teach the young students the importance of taking care of the planet and expand their palates and healthy eating habits through the introduction of new foods. Registration includes access to Zoomars at River Street Ranch.
Ocean Institute’s Junior Naturalists
Ocean Institute’s Junior Naturalists parent and me program in Dana Point Harbor focuses on marine life exploration for toddlers. The classes are aimed at children 2 to 4 years old, but slightly younger or slightly older kids are welcome too. Each 60-minute class includes songs, movement and sensory activities to help children discover the ocean world. Half the class is led activities, the other half structured playtime. There’s a new animal theme every month (turtles in May).
By Magda Hernandez
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