Finding fun and enriching kids activities in NYC is no easy feat. First, you need to research all of the options near you, then you need to decide what your child might actually enjoy doing. Finally, you need to figure out how your schedule works with the classes offered!
Lucky for you, the team at Sawyer knows your struggles. We were started for and by parents with the goal of making it easier for parents to find enriching activities for their children so their little ones can discover their own love of learning. We have thousands of vetted educators on Sawyer who offer great classes and activities in your neighborhood.
We’ve rounded up some of the best kids activities in NYC so you can find the right classes for your family! And check out our full list of kids activities in Brooklyn for more fun ideas.
Kids activities in NYC
Drop-in classes for kids in NYC
Sometimes, you just need to find a class right now. Or, maybe your child wants to try a new activity before committing to a full semester or camp. Drop-in classes are a great way for children to explore new classes and topics and they are perfect for busy families who cannot fit a full semester of classes into their schedules. Here are some Sawyer educators who offer drop-in classes for kids in NYC so that you and your child can find their next favorite activity.
Private Picassos
What is Private Picassos?
Private Picassos offers art activities for children of all ages. Children learn about mixed media art and different styles of art like comics, prints, contemporary, and more. Most of all, children learn how to be creative and explore their own adventures in art.
What age group can take Private Picassos drop-in classes?
1.5 to 14 years old
Where are Private Picassos’ classes?
Private Picassos offers indoor & outdoor art classes all around Brooklyn. Their studio is in Park Slope.
Book Private Picassos drop-in classes for kids
Move
What is Move?
Move teaches dance, yoga, and other fun movement classes to young children. Their goal is to help children in the community get in touch with their bodies, minds, and hearts. There are so many benefits of kids dance classes, which Move helps uncover.
What age group can take Move drop-in classes?
1.5 to 7 years old
Where are Move’s classes?
Move offers outdoor classes in Cobble Hill Park, Prospect Park, Fort Greene Park, and Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn.
Book Move drop-in classes for kids
FunFit Kids
What is FunFit Kids?
FunFit Kids is an interactive sports program focused on helping children develop physically, mentally, and socially. Children practice gross motor skills, coordination, sportsmanship, and teamwork while building self-esteem and confidence. Learn more about the benefits of team sports for kids in our article.
What age group can take FunFit Kids drop-in classes?
0 to 8 years old
Where are FunFit Kid’s classes?
FunFit Kids offers indoor and outdoor classes in Manhattan. Their gym is on the Upper West Side.
Book FunFit Kids drop-in classes for kids
The Craft Studio
What is The Craft Studio?
The Craft Studio has been offering arts & crafts activities and classes to children (and adults) for almost 30 years. With a large variety of drop-in classes and events, The Craft Studio provides opportunities for children to explore art, be creative, and have fun - some of the many benefits of art classes for kids.
What age group can take The Craft Studio drop-in classes?
0 to 18+ years old
Where are The Craft Studio’s classes?
The Craft Studio offers indoor and outdoor classes in Manhattan and in the Hamptons. Their main studio is on the Upper East Side.
Book The Craft Studio drop-in classes for kids
The Play Lab
What is The Play Lab?
The Play Lab is a Montissori-style play space for children to explore all different types of play, including physical, critical thinking, pretend, sensory, and more. They even have a section specifically for babies and toddlers so they can participate in the right level of play for their age. Learn about the stages of play development in our article.
What age group can take The Play Lab drop-in classes?
9 months to 7 years old
Where are The Play Lab’s classes?
The Play Lab is located on the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.
Book The Play Lab drop-in classes for kids
Toddler activities in NYC
Keeping your toddler active and having fun can feel like a daunting task. Toddlers often have trouble staying engaged in classes, so you definitely need to find activities that they are interested in. Here are some of our favorite toddler activities in NYC and classes for 2 year olds in NYC to keep your little one learning, growing, and more than anything, busy!
- Gymnastics, STEM, preschool prep, and more enrichment classes | NY Kids Club (Locations all around Manhattan & Brooklyn)
- Ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and more dance classes | Midtown Movement & Dance Club (Indoor and outdoor classes in Midtown)
- Group music classes | Musi Bambino Music Program (Located on the Upper West Side)
- Language discovery classes (French, Spanish, Hindi, and more) | Tribeca Language (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan & Brooklyn)
- Themed art classes | City Kids (Located in Williamsburg)
- Performing arts classes | CenterStage (Indoor and outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Soccer classes | Creativity Soccer Pros (Outdoor classes in Brooklyn)
- Outdoor adventure classes | Backyard Explorers (Located in Park Slope)
- Art classes | The Painted Cloud (Located in Williamsburg)
- French language immersion and arts education | The Language and Laughter Studio (Indoor & outdoor classes in Brooklyn)
Baby classes in NYC
There are so many benefits of baby classes for both the baby and the parent or caregiver. Classes for young children help establish bonds, develop fine and gross motor skills, improve their language skills, and advance their social skills. To help you find the right activities for you and your little one, we’ve rounded up some of the best baby classes in NYC, including mommy and me classes in NYC.
- Educational music classes | Lavender Blues (Indoor & outdoor classes in Brooklyn)
- Interactive puppet shows | Puppetsburg (Indoor & outdoor classes in Brooklyn & Manhattan)
- Creative music & ballet classes | Juliette & Ella’s Play Date (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Russian immersion mommy and me classes | ZPlaySchool (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Multisport mommy and me classes | FunFit Kids (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Music mommy and me classes | Ramblin’ Dan’s Freewheelin’ Band (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Art & music mommy and me classes | PLAYDAY (Locations in Brooklyn & Long Island City)
- Open play and enrichment classes | Little Lola & Tots (Indoor and outdoor classes in Bed Stuy)
- Music-based enrichment classes | Funkiijam World Music and Movement (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan)
- Interactive music classes | Music with Corey (Indoor & outdoor classes in Manhattan and New Jersey)
We hope this list of fun things for kids in NYC has provided you with some inspiration for your child’s next favorite class! If you are looking for even more in-person and online activities for children, there are classes and activities from thousands of educators on the Sawyer marketplace. We can’t wait to see what your family chooses!
