Parent-Child Playgroups are designed for parents and caregivers to interact and build skills with their children through play, while allowing families to connect with one another and with valuable resources.
Playgroups are offered at welcoming community spaces, like libraries, schools, and community centers. Playgroups are staffed by Early Childhood Specialists who know the community well and offer information and support to parents as they navigate the early years and the often daunting job of raising a young child.
Playgroup spaces contain toys, books, and other materials to help strengthen each child’s cognitive, physical, and creative selves, and to help promote social-emotional skill-building. Through play, transitions, circle time songs and activities, as well as informal conversations, parents learn about developmental ages and stages, gain information to help understand their child’s behavior, and become empowered to prepare their child to enter school ‘ready to learn’.
Playgroups are available for children ages 11 months to 4 years, and Parent-Baby Groups are offered for families with infants. During the summer months, Playgroups are offered in community parks so families can play, connect, and explore with each other outdoors.
See the listing below for details about Parent-Baby and Parent-Child Playgroups offered in multiple neighborhoods. Please note that some may require advance registration.
Engage, Explore, experiment & enjoy! Ages 2-4 years old.
Every Tuesday at Josephine Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp Street
For more information, contact Elayne: ebaskin@familynurturing.org.
Staff Member: Elayne Baskin
Location: Josephine Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp Street
Age: 2-4 years old
Languages Spoken: English
Start Time: 10:30 - 12:00 pm
Weekly?: Yes
Advanced registration is required: Link
Day of the Week: Tuesdays
Activities to build growing minds, bodies, and social-emotional awareness. Ages 12-24 months old
Every Thursday at Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Avenue, Allston
For more information, contact Elayne: ebaskin@familynurturing.org.
Staff Member: Elayne Baskin
Location: Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Avenue, Allston
Age: 12-24 months
Languages Spoken: English
Start Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Weekly?: Yes
Advanced registration is required: Link
Day of the Week: Thursdays
Join us for a playgroup designed to foster brain development and social-emotional and gross motor skills in infants while building community among caregivers.
Staff Member: Sandra McCarthy
Location: PSF Building, 640 Washington St, Brighton
Age: 0-12 months (or not walking yet)
Languages Spoken: English/Spanish
Start Time: 10:30 am
Weekly?: Yes
Starting?: September 23
Advanced registration is required: Link
Day of the Week: Fridays
This session is for parents and their children 1 – 4 years old (infant siblings are welcome). Come for songs, games, and activities to support your young child's development.
For more information, contact Tyisha Blidgen: 617-474-1143 ×327 or tblidgen@familynurturing.org
Staff Member: Tyisha Blidgen
Location: 200 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester
Languages Spoken: English
Start Time: 10:00 am
End Time: 12:00 pm
Weekly?: Yes
Day of the Week: Wednesday
Aprenderamos canciones, juegos y actividades para apoyar el desarrollo de su hijo pequeño.
This session is for parents and their children 1 – 4 years old (infant siblings are welcome). Come for songs, games, and activities to support your young child's development.
For more information, contact Marisela Blanco: 617-474-1143 ×335 or mblanco@familynurturing.org
Staff Member: Marisela Blanco
Location: 200 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester
Languages Spoken: Spanish and English
Start Time: 10:00 am
End Time: 12:00 pm
Weekly?: Yes
Day of the Week: Mondays, beginning April 3rd, 2023
This session is for parents and their children 1 – 4 years old (infant siblings are welcome). Come for songs, games, and activities to support your young child's development.
For more information please email Nora Arara: narara@familynurturing.org.
Staff Member: Nora Arara
Location: 215-217 Garfield Avenue, Hyde Park
Languages Spoken: English
Start Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Weekly?: Yes
Day of the Week: Mondays & Fridays
Join Playgroup Leader Nora Arara for circle time games and songs for parents and their children ages 1-4. Set aside time to laugh and play with your child and meet other families from your neighborhood!
For more information or to receive the Zoom link, please email Nora Arara: narara@familynurturing.org.
Staff Member: Nora Arara
Location: Zoom/Virtual
Languages Spoken: English
Start Time: 11:00 am
Weekly?: Yes
Day of the Week: Thursdays