playgroups

No pressure: Sensory Lab, Storytime, & Music alongside Play

In the first few years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second. Our goal at Recess is to provide a space rich with opportunities for exploration to support that rapid brain development. 

DSC_7891srgb_xlarge.jpg

In addition to our two playspaces, we have a full schedule of activities you are invited to take part in.  Our Playspace Activities are designed for kids to engage directly if they like, or benefit from being within an earshot even if they're not interested in sitting and participating directly. 

Kids take the lead. 

apsalmond-recess_ANA8415srgb.JPG

When music activities are happening in the playspace, for example, we often see two types of kids.  There is the child excitedly sitting at the edge of the parachute, shaker in hand who is eager to follow along.  There is also the child over at the train table, interested in music, but not interested in being a direct participant (at least, not in that particular moment).  Both children benefit from hearing the music, learning about rhythm, exposure to language and sequencing.  

Throughout the week, our activities range from music to sensory lab to storytime.  All of these are totally flexible -- they are included in your visit, do not require sign up and if you dip in for a few minutes and then your child is ready to flit to another activity, that's absolutely fine!  Check out the schedule here. 

Play is an opportunity for children to learn who they are, what they can do, and how to relate to the world around them.

DSC_8126srgb_xlarge.jpg

Support your child's development and your journey as a parent.

To join in on the fun, reserve a Playspace Pass or sign up for membership.  

Learn more about other services at Recess:

More Music Coming to Recess - Fridays at 10

megabloom.jpeg

This Spring, Mega is coming to Recess to share her musical talents (nestled into a background of Early Childhood Ed) with our community. 

Come play on Friday Mornings at 10am to meet her and enjoy this beautiful, interactive activity.

We all benefit from music in our lives. If we are exposed to music and given the opportunity to explore than no note will be out of reach. Just as a child needs to be exposed to books for literacy, children need to be exposed to live music to play it, enjoy it and try it.

Music education is similar to other early childhood classroom curriculum, it must be joyful and playful. Children play to make sense of their environment, the world they are socialized into and through play children begin to understand how they influence it.

Children need to be able to move their bodies -- and the Recess playspace is a great place to do so. It is important to allow children to feel the rhythm of each song or chant and feel the beats in their bodies. All of the activities she leads include fine and gross motor activities that are both suggested and guided.

Musical classes assist in the development of all of the developmental domains as well as overall health and wellness. Music is calming, relaxing and soothing to any soul no matter the age. During music class children utilize cognitive and language skills whenever they listen to song lyrics and repeat them back. If given a shaker and asked to repeat back a rhythm children must listen and count the beats to copy the rhythm. 

When in class with others, children have an opportunity to practice using social/ emotional skills to wait for their turn to dance in the middle of the circle, or to add a silly word to a song or to bring a movement idea to the group, as well as when the classroom group sings together to create a beautiful melody.  

Children use physical skills to do gross motor activities like hopping, jumping, stomping, twisting, etc as well as using fine motor muscles to hold a shaker, to hold hands, or to copy small body movements. Children will be active participants!

Mega Bloom began working with young children as a Naturalist ten years ago. Over the past decade, Mega has held many positions in various teaching environments from outside the classroom, teaching in gardens and the forest teaching environmental science to most recently teaching in early childhood education classrooms.  Mega has taught toddlers and preschool aged children for the past three years in Oakland, California. When interacting with young children, Mega takes notice of each child's individuality and emphasizes their creative strengths. Mega loves to facilitate music and movement activities with young children! 

 

Hope to see you and your children for the first class March 16th! 

Free for Anytime members - Included in Day Passes 

March Madness

Join us this month for all kinds of fun!

TUES - MAR 6, 3:30PM  Family Concert: The Singing Lizard! (1-4 Yrs)

TUES - MAR 6, 7:30PM   Introducing the Sibling

TUES, MAR 13, 6:30PM  Toddler Sleep (webinar format)

DSC_8014srgb_xlarge.jpg

Expecting? Meet up with other soon-to-be mamas & papas + get set up for a smooth transition to parenthood

Expecting a baby?

Join Parentline and Recess on Wednesday Feb 28, 6-7:30pm for a fun evening of socializing with other parents-to-be, getting pampered, and preparing for baby!

Parentline is a new telehealth counseling service developed by University of San Francisco psychologists that provides support and information to expecting and new parents with children birth to three for issues related to infant development and care, postpartum emotional health, relationship concerns, and more.  All for free!  They are an amazing resource.

 

LEARN: Parentline will present a brief workshop at 6:30pm on "Support for Birth and Beyond" Come away with practical tips about how to talk with friends, family, partners about supporting you at birth and after baby arrives. We'll dialogue and share about what, who, and when to ask for help, and how to care for yourself and baby in the very early months.

SHOP: Monica from Monkei Miles (consignment store) will have a pop up shop featuring darling infant clothes and accessories.

PRIMP & NOSH: Quince salon will help you relax with free nail polish changes, and healthy snacks and beverages will be provided to help you and baby get through the evening!

DO GOOD: If you are a first-time parent to be, and currently in your third trimester, enroll in Parentline's exciting research study and leave with a goodie bag of great parenting products! Help Parentline learn about the unique issues that new parents need the most support with by sharing your experience through a confidential survey.

MEET & GREET other parents who are expecting a baby, and start building your community right here!

Please RSVP here or Contact Parentline at 1-844-415-BABY (2229) or parentline@usfca.edu for more information.