Families with babies and young children throughout Fairfield County now have some fun new Parent/Child Classes to participate in this fall.
Five new parent-and-child classes designed to give babies, toddlers and preschoolers fun opportunities to move, explore, learn and connect through play, are being offered in Stamford at the new Therapy Center at Abilis.
The Therapy Center is a state-of-the-art new facility that offers support for all abilities and offers a fabulous and fun sensory gym, classroom spaces and activities for babies and toddlers. The 10-week fall session will run from October 5 through December 23 at 78 Harvard Ave, 2nd floor, in Stamford. The classes are open to children of all abilities from throughout Fairfield County, accompanied by a parent or caregiver. No classes will be held during Thanksgiving week, November 23-27.
Registration is available at abilis.us/parent-and-child-
The fall Parent/Child Classes include:
Move and Groove: Mondays from 10:45am to 11:30am
For walkers to age 3 with a parent or caregiver
Children and caregivers will explore movement through music, dancing, bouncing, clapping, stomping, jumping, finger-play songs and rhythm activities. The class helps children develop large and small muscle groups, language skills and a sense of connection with others.
Little Movers: Tuesdays from 9:30am to 10:15am
For children who are crawling through early walking with a parent or caregiver
Age-appropriate physical activities will help children build gross- and fine-motor skills, coordination, independence and social development.
Baby and Me: Tuesdays from 10:45am to 11:30am
For babies from birth through crawling with a parent or caregiver
Music, stories, movement and play will encourage early developmental milestones, create movement and language opportunities, and support bonding between babies and their parents or caregivers.
Sensory Storytime: Wednesdays from 9:30am to 10:15am
For children from birth to age 5 with a parent or caregiver
Interactive stories and related multi-sensory experiences will encourage exploration, sensory processing, developmental milestones and caregiver-child connection. Activities will be adapted to meet the needs of the children participating.
Messy Plate Club: Wednesdays from 11:30am to 12:15pm
For children ages 2 to 5 with a parent or caregiver
Food-based sensory exploration and playful mealtime activities will help children expand their food experiences, practice positive mealtime behaviors, build independence, and develop fine-motor and utensil skills. All food will be supplied by Abilis and is covered by a $40 materials fee.
Each class costs $360 for the full 10-week session, plus a $35 registration fee per child. The additional $40 materials fee applies only to Messy Plate Club.
Classes are led by experienced pediatric therapists who specialize in early childhood development. The classes combine music, movement, stories, sensory exploration, food-based activities and purposeful play in a fun and welcoming group setting.
“We designed these classes as joyful, inclusive experiences for all young children and the parents and caregivers who love them,” said Jennie Miklautsch, director of therapeutic services at Abilis. “Families can sing, move, read, explore and even get a little messy together, while children build skills and confidence through play.”
For more information, call Abilis at 203-324-1880.
Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc. or Instagram @abilis_us.
