Activities/Classes for Babies

Mr. Mike’s Music Together

Here it is: Capitol Hill activities for babies, in one place! This list is organized alphabetically by interest, from free play to yoga. It is focused on activities held in the Hill neighborhood. It includes both classes that require registration as well as drop-in activities. CHK is defining “babies” as under 1 year old. For your older babies, see CHK’s Big List of Hill Activities/Classes for Toddlers and Preschoolers.

I intend that this list be comprehensive and up to date. Email me at cory@capitolhillkid.com with suggestions.

For all of these classes, a caregiver is expected to attend with the child.

Free Play

Elemeno: Skillzone

“Babies and young children learn by doing, and they learn best when they have time and space to explore, experiment, and express themselves. Our purpose-built educational environment means that every visit is a learning experience for our member children – a class every time you come in. Rather than pushing a quantity of classes, our early-learning philosophy emphasizes quality educational programming with a focus on skill development and family learning opportunities.”

  • Babies, toddlers and preschoolers
  • Drop-in play, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | 709 8th St SE | Membership required
  • https://elemeno.club/

Infant Massage

Breathing Space: Infant Massage

“Massage is a great way to connect to your baby. Studies have shown infant massage can help babies sleep better, gain weight, reduce fussiness, improve health and relax.”  

Museums and Tours

National Museum of American History: Wegmans Wonderplace

“Wegmans Wonderplace is the first exhibition on the National Mall designed for children 0 to 6. This 1,700-square-foot interactive space provides the youngest historians with age-appropriate activities and experiences.”

National Museum of the American Indian: ImagiNATIONS Activity Center

“The interactive, family-friendly imagiNATIONS Activity Center provides visitors up to age 10 with a multitude of unique learning experiences.”

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center

Infant Investigators

“These workshops offer a variety of hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in engaging ways. Each class includes playful activities that are intentionally chosen to support your child’s development.”

Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB)

“BYOB is a program for adult audiences looking for a rich learning experience and an opportunity to meet other caretakers. Ease into the morning with some light conversation and a walk to a nearby museum. While aimed at adults, the rich environment will benefit baby too.”

U.S. Botanic Garden Snugglers Tour

“Do you have a tiny treasure in a snuggly? Looking for ways to get out of the house and learn? Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden each Thursday for a 45-minute guided tour of the Conservatory.”

Music and Movement

Boogie Babes

“The Boogie Babes program brings interactive musical performances for young children and their caregivers each week to area neighborhoods. The events, typically 45 minutes in length, expose children to music while also raising funds for and awareness of Greater DC Diaper Bank’s work and mission.”

Bouncing Bambini: Zumbini

“Zumbini is a music and movement class for children to attend with their fun-loving caregiver. We combine original Zumba-style music with dancing, acoustic singing, rhythmic instruments, scarves, balls, and more to create this fun and engaging 45-minute class. In addition to a love of music and movement, we want children to develop stronger bonds with their caregivers and socialization with new friends.”

  • Ages 0-4 years
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Union Market and other D.C. locations | Registration required
  • https://bouncingbambini.com/

Little Steps Music: Music Together

“Music Together is an early childhood music and movement program.   Developed in Princeton over twenty-five years ago, it has grown to become one of the leading childhood education programs in this country and abroad.”

Makeshift

“Makeshift is a place to create. Makeshift offers unique art and music classes for all ages in Capitol Hill & NE DC. Our intimate alley retail space also hosts community events throughout the year.”

Meadowlark Music with Babies and Toddlers

“Meadowlark is a local business, owned and operated by a professional musician.  Meadowlark is a supportive and well-designed environment for you to learn about, be inspired by, and celebrate music.”

Mr. Mike’s Music

Babies Workshop

“Mr. Mike’s offers a babies workshop from time to time. Contact Mike at mistermikesmusic@gmail.com for more information.”

  • Ages 0-6 months
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Registration required

Mixed Age Music Together

“Mr. Mike’s Music Together strives to give families the opportunities to form a music-making habit early. This is not a class strictly for babies and toddlers. This is a class where families sing together.”

  • Ages 0-5 years
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Registration required

Pie Shop DC: Concerts for Kids

Pie Shop DC hold semi-regular Saturday morning kids shows featuring bands such as Rocknoceros and Here Comes Trouble for Kids. See CHK’s review: Back on the Scene With Kids’ Shows at Pie Shop DC.

Southeast Library: Music and Movement

“Sing, dance and reveal your inner musician at Music and Movement time.”  

Outdoor Play

Tinkergarten

“Tinkergarten is on a mission to elevate childhood. We are growing a technology-enabled network of leaders that bring families together in a natural place in their community for classes where kids learn through play.”

  • Ages 6-18 months
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Various locations | Registration required
  • https://tinkergarten.com

Playgroups

Fit4Mom: “Our Village” Playgroup

“Enjoy fun, playful activities with your child while building a tight community of like-minded moms to share advice, tips, and most importantly, laughter.”

Sign Language

Breathing Space: Baby Sign Language Workshop*

“Learn to use American Sign Language for early communication and long-term learning with hearing infants or toddlers. Through play, activities, songs, and games, you and your child will be given the tools to communicate months earlier and with a broader, more extensive vocabulary than with spoken words alone.”

  • Ages 6 months-2.5 years
  • One-time workshop offered several times a year | Various locations | Registration required
  • https://breathingspacedc.com
  • *This is a class for parents to learn in a baby-friendly atmosphere

Story Time

East City Book Shop Story Time

Library of Congress Story Time

  • Infants and toddlers
  • Fridays, 10:30 a.m. | Jefferson Building | Free tickets distributed starting at 10 a.m.
  • http://www.read.gov/yrc/

Northeast Library

Baby and Toddler Story Time

  • Ages 0-2 years
  • Mondays, 10 a.m. (registration required) and 11:30 a.m. (drop in) | Free, drop-in/Registration required for some sessions

Baby Lap Time

  • Newborns-crawlers
  • Thursdays, 10 a.m. | Free, registration required

Family Story Time

  • All ages
  • Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. | Free, drop-in

Library Playdate

  • Ages 0-3
  • Thursdays, 1 p.m. | Free, drop-in

Politics and Prose at Union Market: Story Hour

“The program will be led by professional teaching artists and will include dramatic readings of favorite children’s books along with creative movement activities that explore the themes of storytelling, bravery, understanding emotions, and diversity.”

Rosedale Library: Baby and Toddler Story Times

  • Ages 0-2 years
  • Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. | 1701 Gales St NE | Free, drop-in
  • https//www.dclibrary.org/rosedale

Solid State Books Story Times

Southeast Library

Baby and Toddler Story Times

  • Ages 0-2 years
  • Wednesdays, 9:45, 10:30 and 11:15 | Free, drop-in

Family Story Time

  • All ages
  • Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. | 403 7th St SE | Free, drop-in

Southwest Library (Closed)

Note: Southwest Library is closed for construction. This will be updated when Southwest reopens.

Swim

DCPR: Learn to Swim for Parent/Child Level A

“Familiarize children with the water and teach swimming readiness skills. Provide safety information for parents and teach techniques parents can use to orient their children to the water.”

WeAquatics: Infant Swim

“We believe swimming offers something for everyone. The beauty of swimming is that it is what you make of it..”

  • Ages 6 months and up
  • Email for schedule: info@WEAquatics.com | Gallaudet University and other D.C. locations | Registration required
  • https://weaquatics.com/

Yoga

Breathing Space

Baby Yoga and Play

“This interactive, fun class for newborn to pre-crawling babies and their grownup(s) contains dozens of yoga-inspired movements, postures, songs, rhymes and activities designed to support baby’s development. Each class is filled with calming, nurturing ways to enhance bonding, soothe the inevitable cranky moments, and improve baby’s sleep.”

  • Pre-crawlers
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Registration required

Tot Yoga

“Tot Yoga classes are engaging and fun, encouraging each child to embrace their own unique expression of yoga poses while supporting their development and growth. Parents and children playfully move together through poses, songs, and activities appropriate for crawlers and walkers.”

  • Crawling-24 months
  • Several-week series offered seasonally | Registration required