The Mother's Center (westfieldnj.com/mccnj) is a non-profit organization located in Cranford, approximately 13 minutes from the city of Elizabeth. The center is an educational and interactive place for mothers and their babies, offering daily groups and fun activities. Some groups and activities focus solely on the mother's interests, such as scrapbooking, yoga and knitting. Other activities, such as playgroups, focus on interaction, allowing mothers to bond with each other while their children play together. The Mother's Center is open Monday through Friday and can be joined for a small annual fee.
The Ridgeway YMCA (ridgewoodymca.org) is located approximately 15 minutes from the city of Paterson and offers swimming lessons for babies and their mothers. Children between 6 and 16 months old can join the Shrimp/Kipper swim class. This swimming class helps parents introduce their babies to the water by using fun techniques such as singing, playing games and blowing bubbles. Parents will also learn how to handle their children in the water and teach them necessary safety precautions as they age.
In the vicinity of Newark, parents can attend the Family Float Night at the Newark YMCA (newarkymca.org) to enjoy floating in the water with their babies while watching a children's movie on the big screen. The movie starts at 7 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.
The Bergen County Zoological Park (co.bergen.nj.us/bcparks/zoo.aspx) is located in Paramus, approximately 20 minutes from the city of Paterson. The zoo caters to parents and their infants by offering safe walking trails and exhibits of farm animals and fish. Walk through the zoo's aquarium and the farmyard enclosure, where babies can get close-up views of colorful exotic fish and animals such as pigs, sheep, geese, cows and horses.
The Popcorn Park Zoo (ahscares.org) is located in southern New Jersey in the city of Forked River. The zoo spans over seven acres and houses a variety of animals such as monkeys, geese, camels and tigers. Stroll through the zoo's farmyard enclosure where babies can touch horses, sheep, goats and deer, and be gently introduced to the animals.
Aerials Gymnastics (aerialsgymnastics.com) is located in Eatontown, approximately 50 miles southeast of Trenton. The company offers a "Mommy and Me" class that runs for 45 minutes, and is open to babies between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. During the class, mothers and babies learn easy gymnastic moves. The classes are small, so instructors can provide participants with close attention, making the class safe for all parties.
The Little Gym (thelittlegym.com) is located in the city of Morganville and offers a variety of classes for mothers, fathers and babies. The company's "Bugs" class caters to children between the ages of 4 and 10 months and offers fun games to help bond parents with their child. The Little Gym believes that children learn best from a three-dimensional perspective: increasing physical strength, establishing awareness and developing independence.
