Is your baby bored at home? Thinking of places where younger babies can play, learn and socialise?
While many parents have varying opinions about babies attending classes at such a tender age, I really do think that exposing them to some form of early education can be very beneficial to them. They say children are like sponges, but even babies absorb a lot from their surroundings. It really helps them to develop early motor skill and also social skills.
So apart from bringing your baby out for a stroll in the park, check out some of these edutainment and enrichment activities around the Klang Valley.
#1 Musikgarten
Musikgarten originates from U.S.A. and is a revolutionary early childhood music education company designed to enable teachers to understand how children from birth to age 9 learn music. Musikgarten provides teachers with the tools to help a child grow musically, as well as emotionally, socially and cognitively.
Newborn to 18 months
- For parents to attend with their babies.
- learn bonding & playing musically with their babies.
- Stimulate the development of babies's brain through Music.
- learning how to sing, move, dance, rock and bounce babies and play wiggle, tickle & peek-a-boo games with babies.
Class duration: 30mins, Once a week
18 months to 4 years old
- For Toddlers and parents
- fun musical activities that foster bonding and enhance the children's total development
- Activities include singing, chanting, moving, dancing, focused listening, rocking, bouncing and playing developmentally appropriate instruments.
Class duration: 30mins, Once a week
Their syllabus is used widely in various authorized Musikgarten centres all over the Klang Valley. To find one in your area, look here. They also have a list of licensed teachers here.
#2 Baby Sensory
The Baby Development programme
- aim to build up a vocabulary of sensory experiences (e.g. visual, auditory and tactile),
- enhance physical contact (massage, reflexology, touching, cuddling and rocking)
- promote the development of speech through the use of sign language, music, song and puppets.
Class sessions:
- birth to 6 months
- 7 months to 13 months.
The Toddler Adventure Play programme
Toddler Sense programme is more Adventure Play activity that has been designed to build on the skills acquired at Baby Sensory. Toddler Sense is an exciting introduction into learning through play and games. The main emphasis is on mobility, excitement and adventure.
Toddler Classes include:
- music
- equipment
- games
- new ideas
Class sessions:
- 13 - 18 months
- 18 months to 3 years.
For more info visit their website here.
#3 The Little Gym
Parent and Child Classes
Three-Dimensional Learning:
- Increased physical strength and muscle control, fine and gross motor skill development, coordination, balance
- Spatial and perceptual awareness, introduction to colors, language development and self-expression, knowledge of numbers and letters, initial problem solving
- Developing independence and feeling comfortable away from parents, early socialisation, sharing and taking turns, accepting new environments, following directions and cooperating
4 fun classes:
- Bugs: infants 4 – 10 months
- Birds: infants/toddlers 10 – 19 months
- Beasts: toddlers 19 months – 2 1/2 years
- Super Beasts: toddlers 2 1/2 – 3 years
- Sporty Beasts: for ages 2 – 3
For more info visit their website here.
#4 Shichida
Known as the genius course. Small class size of 4-6 children with 1 regular parent. Classes run for 75 minutes. The basic functions of the two brain hemispheres are enriched forthe maturity of 6 abilities:
- Sensory Concentration Ability
- Photographic Memory Ability
- Computer-like Calculation Ability
- Perfect Pitch Music Ability
- Multi Language Acquisition Ability
- Image Communication Ability
For more information visit their website here. Branches are available in KL, PJ and Puchong.
#5 Gymboree
The global leader in interactive and early childhood development programmes for children ages 0-5 for over 30 years, Gymboree Play & Music is located in 33 countries with four of its locations in Malaysia – Bangsar Village Shopping Centre, Tropicana City Mall, Publika Dutamas and Cheras Sentral.
Gymboree Play & Learn 1 (0-3 years old):
- Explore the senses and support visual and auditory development with tummy time, flashlight play, first songs and more. This baby class includes parent discussion time to help learn about your child's development.
- Learn about cause and effect and build strength through play with ramps, slides and climbers. This infant class includes parent discussion time to help learn about your child's development.
- two-way communication with your child. Play environments encourage discovery, balance and coordination as parents learn to understand how their infant interacts and communicates with them and the world.
- problem solving through games that uncover patterns and sequences. This class is suitable for toddlers.
- Stretch the imagination through creative play to support symbolic thinking, language development and social interaction. This class is suitable for toddlers.
- Play both independently and with peers while learning to connect ideas through cooperation and communication. This class is suitable for toddlers.
Music – 6 months – 5 years
Art – 18 months – 5 years
For more info visit their website here.