Fun Classes for 8 Month-old?

Hello L.!

Some of the baby/kids gyms (like Gymboree or Little Gym)will let you try out your first class for free. I would recommend asking them if you can do a trial class before you sign up...If you can afford the high cost of these types of programs, they are great!

If you are interested in getting a little exercise in yourself and if you practice or are interested in practicing yoga, you might want to try out the Toddlers and crawlers postnatal yoga class at Yoga Yoga. It is so much fun!!

http://www.yogayoga.com/postnatalyoga

Storytime is also a great free way to get in some play/learning time for your little one. The Books and Babies program is awesome! We usually do a weekly all ages storytime as well as pajama storytime (a fun way to get your little one good and tired before bedtime...I wish they did this EVERY night!!)

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/storytimes.htm

There is a new baby/child class in Austin called Wee Voices. We have never checked it out, but are going to a first time free class next week. Looks like it will be a lot of fun!!
http://www.weevoices.com/Home_Page.html

Sign up with Baby Scoop Austin to learn about more places and things to do with your baby.
http://www.babyscoopaustin.com/share.asp

Good luck and have fun!!

My son loved Gymboree. We went every Saturday to a class and they do games and have bubbles along with items they can climb on. We did it for about a year maybe a little more. Definitely check it out.

We did a baby movement class at Seton Northwest.. of course it was a million years ago, but it was great..

Start with the lap-sit story time at the public library. Most branches offer one for babies and do age-appropriate stories and songs. Great way to start out and they are free!

We started with a Gymboree music and fun class when my daughter was about that age. There's one in the Brodie Oaks shopping center, on south Lamar (where South Lamar intersects with HWY 360). We did the saturday morning class; as she got older, we also did the art class. Both offered good educational and motor skill development.

It was especially good at helping her build coordination, socializing with other babies, etc. Plus it gives the mommies a chance to say hello to each other. If you call them, they typically will let you try a class out for free.

Gymboree Play and Music
http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/b2c/customer/home.jsp
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4220 S Lamar
Austin, TX 78735

Rat-a-tat-tots www.ratatattots.com music classes are great fun. Ms. Lainie, has tons of energy and there is a lot of movement in the circle. The parachute and drums definitely bring some excitement. The infant classes I attended in the Summer session were just the right size at about 10 kids (60% toddlers), but not too crazy for the 40% babies.

Yoga Yoga has great postnatal and toddlers & crawlers classes. The kids love it!
I think Kula Yoga in Tarrytown also has similar classes.
There is also a fantastic woman in east Austin who specializes in teaching arts and crafts to groups of kids. She's well-known in the Montessori community for her lectures on positive parenting and elimination communication. And, she has monthly (sometimes weekly) workshops at her house - Kami Wilt, ____@____.com

The perfect age to start swim lessons! Benefits of infant swim include...
* Babies have improved cardio vascular fitness due to exercise not restricted by gravity.
* Swimming stimulates babies, causing an increase in appetite and sleep.
* Early mastery of swim skills bolsters self-confidence and independence.
* Babies flourish in the undivided attention lavished on them by their parents during swim lessons.
* Last but not least, swim lessons at an early age, combined with regular on-going instruction, increase water safety.

Both my girls started swimming as newborns, and we have many happy memories of trips to the pool. :)

Emler Swim School is located in north Austin, and a south location is coming in 2009. Take advantage of a free trial class.

512.342.SWIM (7946)
iswimemler.com