Early Childhood

Early Childhood playgroups at The Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau are nurturing and engaging. Groups are designed to support the early developmental needs of toddlers. LYSB playgroups offer a safe space where young children can interact with their peers, explore new experiences, and develop essential social, emotional, and physical skills. Activities during groups focus on play-based learning, allowing children to discover and develop at their own pace. Common activities during groups include: 

  • Arrival and free play
  • Circle time with songs, stories, and simple group activities. 
  • Organized indoor and outdoor play. 
  • Art, sensory, and exploration experiences. 
  • Goodbye routine to help with transitions. 

MONDAYS

FUN WITH ONES

Mondays, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Ages 1ish
A perfect group for your creepers, crawlers, and cruisers. Baby safe fun for your child to taste, rattle, and roll while exploring their world & meeting other children. 

  • Session I: February 23 – March 30, 6 weeks $48
    Feb. 23 – Snow and ice
    March 2 – Dr.Suess Day! 
    March 9 – Edible painting day
    March 16 – St. Patrick’s Day fun
    March 23 – The Very Hungry Caterpillar
    March 30 – Toddler Olympics
    Make up day if needed, April 6
  • Session II:  April 20 to May 18, 5 weeks $40
    April 20 – Earth Day
    April 27 – Cupcakes 
    May 4 – Mother’s Day 
    May 11 –Bears
    May 18 – Sun Celebration

SCHEDULE YOUR OWN GROUP!

Monday, June 8, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Mimi’s Place is available for your group!
Do you have some friends you have been waiting to have a play day with?  Coffee while the kids play? Come ejnoy LYSB’s Mimi’s Place, a kid friendly and safe place for children under 5 to play, with our adjacent playground.  Free, registration is required.  

Around the farm fun

Monday, June 22, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 

Ages 2 and up, $20 per child
Farm games, songs, book and craft.

PARTY PIGS!

Monday, June 29, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Ages 2 and up, $20 per child (Rain Date July 7)
American Mini Pigs Meadow, Sprinkle & Dot will join us outside at LYSB.  Connecticut’s famous “party pigs” love to entertain and play games with all they see while traveling throughout New England. In this “cage” free event you may find yourself scratching backs, feeding, or giving these loveable pigs a kiss.  For more info find Gilbert the Party Pig on facebook.  

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

PRE-PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP

Meets twice a week on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Ages 2 to 5 
Pre-Preschool meets two times a week with parents guiding their child in a preschool environment. The LYSB “classroom” days on Tuesdays and Thursdays will include 2 hours each morning. Free play, center-based learning, circle time, stories, art, and a snack brought from home (no peanut snacks please) will be taking place on our campus. The group will focus on building independence, social skills, cognitive development, motor skills and creativity based on the Montessori style of learning. Later in the session we hope to offer parents the opportunity to leave briefly, on a rotating basis.

Please Note… This is a two day per week program (Tues & Thurs).  We CANNOT accept registrations for one day only.

• SESSION IV: March 3 to April 2, 5 weeks $180
March 3 & 5 Dr. Suess
March 10 & 12 Five Sense
March 17 & 19 Lucky Week
March 24 & 26 Spring
March 31 & April 2 Spring Animals
Makeup days if needed April 7 & 9

SESSION V: April 21 to May 28, 6 weeks $216
April 21 & 23 Colors
April 28 & 30 Shapes
May 5 & 7 Bees & Pollinators
May 12 & 14 Space
May 19 & 21 Pond Life
May 26 & 28 Games, Water Play, Picnic
Makeup days if needed, June 2 & 4

WATER PLAY & BUBBLES

Tuesday, June 9, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Ages 2.5 to 5 years, $20
Prepare to have some sudsy fun! LYSB’s backyard will be transformed into a wall of freshly made foam and bubbles.  **To stay safe in our multitude of suds please wear rubber sole shoes because things might get slippery.  Wear a bathing suit or clothes that can get wet.  Bring a towel.  No flip flops allowed in the foamy suds.

WEDNESDAYS

TERRIFIC TWOS

Wednesdays, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Age: 2ish

Especially for two-year-olds! Sprinkle a little fun, mix gently with giggles, smiles, crafts, books, parachutes, and play. You will get a recipe for toddler adventures enjoyed by all who participate. 

  • SESSION III: March 11 to April 8 (no group 4/15), 5 weeks $48
    March 11-  Weather
    March 18 – Exploring Farms 
    March 25 –Shapes 
    April 1 – ABCs 
    April 8-  Nature   
    Make up day if needed, April 22
  • SESSION IV: April 29 to June 3, (no group 5/27), 5 weeks $48
    April 29 – Flowers and worms
    May 6 – Mothers Day and yoga
    May 13 – Pizza Day
    May 20 – Dandelion Day
    NO CLASS MAY 27
    June 3 – Rainbows

WACKY WEDNESDAYS

Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Age: 1.5 to 4 years, $25

  • June 17 – Scavenger Hunt|
    An active adventure to explore the LYSB grounds with I Spy treats and treasures along the way.
  • June 24 – Ping Pong Crafts & Fun
    Ping pong light up globe crafting and age-appropriate games
  • July 1 – Wizardly Potion Making 
    Sensory fun for the curious toddler who likes to pour, mix, squeeze, and stir.  Wet messy fun. Held outside.  Rain Date July 8

THURSDAYS

PRE-PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP

Meets twice a week on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
See Tuesday Schedule above

PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR

June 11, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Ages 2 to 5, $20

A variety of painting adventures.  Extra clothes are suggested.

MINDFUL MOVEMENT YOGA CAMP

June 25 to July 23 (no class 7/3), 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Ages 2 to 7 with caregiver, $85

This class is designed to be fun, engaging, and age-appropriate,, incorporating elements like games, music, stories, and creative activities alongside yoga poses and breathing exercises.  These classes focus on building body awareness, strength, flexibility, adn concentration while promoting relaxation and mindfulness. 

Desiged to meet our children where they are, to help them focus on their prseent monent, noticing their th oughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment.
See you on the mat!

FRIDAYS

FRIDAY FUN

Fridays 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Ages 2-4

This group is all about FUN!!  We will include varied activities each week for young children to explore. Meeting in Mimi’s Place with adjacent outside play area for nice weather days. Please join us for a wide range of assorted activities as we enjoy crafts – leaving the mess with us, playing with friends, learning new ways to play, and much more.  Let us know of any request you might like us to include in the weekly fun, we love parents’ inspiration.

• SESSION I: March 20, & 27th April 10 & 24th 4 weeks $20

• SESSION II: May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 12 (No group May 29). 6 weeks $30

SPIRIT IN TUNE MUSIC with Miss Kaite

Fridays 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.

Ages 0-5

Shake eggs, bang on drums, dance with scarves and more! Bring your baby, toddler & preschooler, and we will discover the joy of an interactive playful family music & movement class that supports all learning!   Combining rhythmic sounds, songs, and physical activities engages young children in learning through motion. These activities are essential in fostering early childhood development in a fun and engaging way, helping children develop key aspects of physical literacy, along with creative concepts, from birth. Plus, it is fun for parents too! Children can explore their bodies while building cognitive, emotional, and social abilities. For parents & caregivers, music and movement provide an ideal way to engage young children in meaningful and healthy play.   Join miss Kaite as she leads you in a fun & research based early childhood music & movement environment designed for birth to 5yrs and the grown-ups who love them!
• SESSION IV: February 27 to March 27, 5 weeks, $100

• SESSION V: April 24 to May 22, 5 weeks $100

SCHEDULE YOUR OWN GROUP!

Friday, July 10, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

Mimi’s Place is available for your group!
Do you have some friends you have been waiting to have a play day with?  Coffee while the kids play? Come ejnoy LYSB’s Mimi’s Place, a kid friendly and safe place for children under 5 to play, with our adjacent playground.  Free, registration is required.