I have long loved Labyrinth Game Shop, but I figured it would be a few more years before my preschooler could really appreciate it beyond pulling Lego sets from the shelves. Not so! I recently learned that Labyrinth offers a special class that teaches game play to 3 to 5 year olds. “First Moves,” held 9:30-10:30 one Saturday morning a month, is designed to help children learn how to take turns, follow directions and win/lose with grace.
Kids. On one hand, you don’t want them to grow up; on the other hand, you’d like a fourth for a proper game of spades. AJ and I went to Labyrinth to check out First Moves this morning.
First Moves is an optional drop-off class. Parents can go enjoy a kid-free hour to get coffee or run errands around Eastern Market (I opted to stay and play because it was AJ’s first time). The class is open to 10 children and is held in a room that has a bathroom immediately adjacent, which is nice for those who may need a potty in sight.
This morning, two attentive and incredibly patient staff members lead the children in playing age-appropriate games in small groups. The games called upon many different skills: memorization, cooperation, dexterity and logic. Game titles included Acorn Soup, Animal Upon Animal, Dinosaur Escape, Lemonade Shakeup and Unicorn Glitterluck.
Children were able to choose the games they wanted to play, and it was clear that some of the repeat customers had their favorites. The rule: Clean up one game before you start another.
I realized today that my child had never before thrown a dice! So now he has done it, and he just needs to keep it on the table. Settlers of Catan, here we come!
It was a fun time, and I appreciate the opportunity to exercise AJ’s game-playing skills, so we’ll be back. You can find upcoming sessions of First Moves on Labyrinth’s calendar. Registration is required as well as $10 fee (paid on site).
Labyrinth has lots more for little kids and bigger kids:
- Kids Night Out is held once a month, 5-9 p.m. Parents can go have dinner out; kids play games and eat pizza. Ages 7-10. See calendar.
- Summer After-Camp Game Club is offered 3-5:30 p.m. weekdays over summer break. Registration opens Jan. 15. Two age ranges: 4-6 and 7+. Details are currently posted on the Labyrinth home page. (See also: Summer Camps on the Hill)
- Labyrinth also conducts game activities for several after-care programs at Hill schools.
Labyrinth’s First Moves has been added to Activities/Classes for Toddlers/Preschoolers under “Game Play.”
Find more things to do with kids on the Hill: Activities and Classes.