When we first moved here last year, I was eager to find a community of moms. I spent hours searching for activities to take my ever-social little one to. Finding Atlanta activities for kids under 3 proved to be a far more difficult (but not impossible!) challenge than I realized.
One year later, we’ve finally got a schedule worked out. Here’s what we tried, and what I learned:
Music Class
I highly recommend any kind of structured class (music, language, etc.) for kids under 3. My son loves music, and I’m so glad we spent our money here. He’s developing skills in something that interests him, and he’s learning a lot about rules, routines, and how classrooms work. Some of the routines from class have helped with transitions, chores, and more at home. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see the same families each week, so a structured class is also a great place to meet other parents and caregivers.
Gymnastics
Do an internet search for your town + gymnastics for a list of gymnastics & community centers near you. A few may offer open gym time for parents and toddlers. This is a great way for your little one to explore what his or her body can do in a safe (cushioned) environment. I especially recommend this if you have a small group of moms and kids to go with. Going solo didn’t work for us. There isn’t much structure, there are lots of kids, and you can’t always tell which grown-up came with which child. Because I didn’t know the other kids and parents, it was difficult to try to teach my son about sharing and taking turns. We recently discovered several cities around Atlanta offer Mom & Me gymnastics classes for kids under 3–we’re signed up for one that starts in a few weeks and can’t wait!
Swimming
This is another great option for a structured class, especially since it teaches a life skill. There are plenty of swim schools that offer classes for kids of all ages year-round. Summertime is a great time for swimming lessons as most other places that offer activities switch from their regular class schedules to summer camps that serve older kids.
Library & Bookstore Story-Times
These are everywhere. Story-times are great because they’re free, short (great for in-between nap times), please a wide age-range, and give you a chance to get out of the house for a bit. We’ve been to several in our own neighborhood and they are all different. If your library’s story-time isn’t convenient or doesn’t suit your child, try a different library or bookstore.
Mommy & Me Exercise
I’ll admit I didn’t try these, but I wish I had. Exercise classes were often recommended to me as a way to meet other moms. At the time, the price-tag and images of other very-fit, love-to-workout moms intimidated me. Truthfully, the cost per class was about the same as any structured class for my little one (and at such a young age, he wouldn’t have noticed the difference). These exercise classes are a great place to start with kids under 1 when they aren’t as eager to run around.
Toddler Time at Museums
There are lots of museums and nature centers around Atlanta that offer activities for toddlers. Although many of these are for kids who are 2 and up, the Georgia Aquarium and Children’s Museum of Atlanta each offer regular programs for the under-three crowd. These activities are most economical if you have a membership. But if the museum is of high-interest to your toddler, a membership is worth it to be able to visit and only stay for an hour or so.
When it comes to Atlanta activities for your kids under 3, there are some great options available! I recommend choosing one and going regularly. You’ll be impressed by how much your child learns from the repetition!
