Thinkertots

In 2006, I was a working mom with a baby. It occurred to me that when I was not working, my time with my child was running errands or doing housework. I decided that I needed to engage her in another way. The only «Mommy and me» class being offered on a Saturday was at Thinkertots in New Hyde Park. I signed up. There for 45 minutes each week I, and sometimes my husband, was able to focus on my daughter in pure play. We sang, we did puzzles, danced and engaged in various learning activities. I met other moms and made friends. The class was a weekly appointment of quality time with my daughter and it helped me learn how to play with her when we were out of class. I had 2 more daughters and I started each of them at 6 months at Thinkertots with Miss Thelma. Like my first, busy motherhood meant less playtime. Thinkertots was an important weekly appointment I kept with my children over the years. My daughters called it «baby school» and we joked that this was «where babies learned to be babies» but really it was where moms could be with their babies and babies could learn. I am so glad all 3 girls had their years with Miss Thelma and the other wonderful teachers. It was an incredibly positive start to their education and a wonderful place in our community for families. Thelma is very special and what she has started and grown in Thinkertots is special too. Thank you, Thelma.

This is an excellent, affordable place for little ones. I started with the Mommy & Me, then moved onto the separation classes. I made a few mommy friends and my son is still close with a little girl he met over 3 years ago. The owner Thelma is so great with the kids. They have a Parent’s night out once a month and I still intend on dropping him off to get some time with my husband :)

My daughter has attended Thinkertots both in Bayside and NHP for 2.5 years now and has loved every minute of it! The staff is amazing, kind, caring, friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. They care very much about their students and families! My daughter learned so much while attending class with Miss Kim, Miss Michelle, Miss Robin and Miss Thelma! When she first began she was very shy and it was hard for her to let go, but each time we went the teachers were so gentle and helped her ease into class. By the end of her time there she would run into class after giving me a kiss! The class structure, toys, arts and crafts, and learning activities provided the perfect jumping board to help my daughter acclimate into a full time school setting. We love Thinkertots and will start my son with some classes soon!

Good classes for toddlers if they are not going to daycare. Start-​Me_​Smart teach them a lot of different skills such as social skills, manual dexterity (puzzles etc), art (painting and crafts). But if your kid is already going to daycare/​preschool, then the more specific classes might be better. But i’ve never signed up for that, so don’t really know how those classes are.
Different teachers have different styles, so try to find one that you’re comfortable with.