Bay Area Classes & Drop-in Play for 0–5 Year Olds

Photo: Tutu School

Looking for a fun class for the little ones this fall? There are a variety of places to take the kids to get them out of the house to get creative or to burn off some extra energy. Here are a few ideas for fun drop-in activities for kids ages 0–5 in Marin County and the Bay Area:

Larkspur

• Tutu Toddlers
  Tutu School
  1201 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur
  (415) 419-5610
  Website
  Tutu Toddlers works with you to engage your little one and give them an introduction to ballet they'll never forget. For ages 18 months to 3 years. At Tutu School we believe that exposing children at the earliest possible age to creativity, movement, and music can only lead to good things, and that dancing out stories not only exercises little bodies but also nurtures big imaginations.

Mill Valley

• Little Tumblers Parent and Me Class
  Mill Valley Recreation, Cascade Room
  180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
  Register here; course #4927
  This class is a parent participation class that will focus on the basics of gymnastics: tumbling, bar, work, balance and coordination. Starts September 13–November 1 from 11–11:45 am. For ages 18 months–3 years.
• Jump Indoor Playday
  Mill Valley Community Center
  180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
  (415) 383-1370
  Website
  Drop-in for children ages 1–5 on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am–noon during late summer and into spring. All the mats will be out with push and pull toys, balls and obstacles to play on. Parents and/or caregivers must attend. No registration necessary. Exact change appreciated.
• Music Together!
  Mill Valley Community Center, TeenZone Lounge
  180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
  (415) 419-7454
  Website
  Nurture your child’s inner musician! Bring your newborn, toddler or preschooler to our fun-filled music and movement classes. This is a rich family music experience, with classic children’s songs as well as songs from other cultures in different modes. Mixed-age classes are wonderful for siblings attending with parents, grandparents, nannies and caregivers.
• TumbleSpot Open Gym
  750 Redwood Hwy, Suite 1212, Mill Valley
  (415) 843-1619
  Website
  Our open gym (Wednesday–Friday, 10:30 am–12:30 pm) allows for parents and children to practice at their own pace, get in some excellent exercise, spend time together, and have fun. Preschool gymnastics apparatus is set up for use as an obstacle course, as well as our tumbling mats and props. Drop-in cost: Ages 12 months – 5 years, $15 per drop-in, $10 for members.  Additional siblings $5/each. Unlimited Open Gym Membership $49/month, Unlimited Open Gym Family Membership $79/month.

Novato

• Cal Star Gymnastics Indoor Power Play
  70 Digital Drive, Suite #3, Novato
  (415) 382-7827
  Website
  Cal Star Gymnastics offers drop-in fun for ages 5 years and under on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30–11:30 am (fall through spring only). Weekend drop-in takes place Saturday and Sunday from 9–10:30 am (year-round). Participants can run, jump and play in an open gymnastics environment.

• Sing Dance Play!
  5420 Nave Drive, Stuite F, Novato
  (415) 419-7454
  Website
  Come let your kids play in an environment of free exploration and movement on Mondays 10:30 am–12:30 pm and Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:30 (closed Thanksgiving week). A great way to connect with other families and just have downtime in an enclosed space with lots to do. Pack a (peanut and nut-free) snack and enjoy it in our snack alcove. Babies to age 4, (older siblings okay). Drop in $10 per child ($0.28 fee for credit card), $5 for siblings 1 and over (no charge for siblings under 12 months).
• Preschool Gymnastics
  Novato Gymnastics Center
  950 7th Street, Novato
  (415) 899-8279
  Website
  Novato Gymastics offers classes for little ones starting at 1 yr. Classes are broken up by age. Find out more about each class at their website above.
• Studio 4 Art
  1133 Grant Avenue, Novato
  (415) 596-5546
  Website
  Studio 4 Art offers drop-in hands-on art and crafts for all ages on. My kids really love this place.

Petaluma

• Redwood Empire Gymnastics
  434 Payran St, Petaluma
  (707) 763-5010
  Website
  Redwood Empire Gymnastics offers drop-in gymnastic classes for children ages 1–3.5 years.

Rohnert Park/Cotati

• Pump-It Up
  374 Blodgett Street, Suite 1, Cotati
  (707) 794-9533
  Website
  You and your child are invited to come and play on giant, soft, fun-filled interactive inflatables during Pump It Up Pop-In Playtime. This is a perfect outing for your next playgroup.
• Rebounderz Rohnert Park
  555 Rohnert Park Expressway, West, Rohnert Park
  (707) 416-4445
  Website
  Families looking for active indoor fun should head up north to Rohnert Park and check out the new Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Arena with a dedicated toddler play structure.

San Anselmo

• Little Tree Art Studios
  14 Ross Avenue, San Anselmo
  (415) 295-7073
  Website
  The new Little Tree in San Anselmo offers open studio sessions for both kids (ages 2 and up) and adults, as well as movie nights, camps, and more.
• In Harmony Music
  150 Mariposa Ave, Memorial Park
  San Anselmo
  Website
  In Harmony Music offers music and movement classes, lessons and events indoors, outdoors and online for ages 0-8. In Harmony Music is an inclusive early childhood music-making community, with locations in Marin and around the Bay Area.
• Play-Well TEKnologies
  Marin Engineering Center, San Anselmo
  (415) 460-5210
  Website
  Play-WEll TEKnologies in San Anselmo offers drop-in LEGO play during the week.
• Toddler Tumbling
  Gymnastic Center
  Isabel Cook Community Center
  1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo
  (415) 258-4640
  Website
  Our toddler tumbling classes (ages 1–2 yrs)  combine instructor initiated activi-ties with children’s freedom of exploration. There is circle time with songs and rhymes and plenty of time for free play, which helps the young child to develop large motor skills through age appropriate activities. Parent participation is required for all Toddler Tumbling classes.

San Francisco

• House of Air
  926 Mason Street, Crissy Field, San Francisco
  (415) 345-9675
  Website
  The Presidio's House of Air indoor trampoline park offers a variety of programs for little ones. Reservations for trampoline sessions are required. Reserve weekend time slots in advance as they sell out! They're located in an historic aircraft hangar at Crissy Field.

San Rafael

• Music and Movement in Spanish
  Cucu's PlayHouse 
  1414 4th Street, San Rafael (4th and D)
  (415) 815-6035
  Website
  Fun, active and educational music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Some classes are age specific, and others are for mixed ages.  A selection of songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Games and activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Classes are taught in a beautiful, Montessori inspired playroom with plenty of natural light. Sustainably made toys, mostly wooden, are used during the classes and are available for purchase.
• Gymnastics Pre-K
  GymWorld, San Rafael
  3040 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael
  (415) 482-8580
  Website
  Children will be introduced to basic gymnastics skills and  will work on developing their strength, coordination, flexibility and listening skills. They will also be introduce to all of the equipment and coaches will incorporate games and obstacle courses.

Santa Rosa

• Children's Museum of Sonoma County
  1835 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa
  (707) 546-4069
  Website
  The Children's Museum of Sonoma County provides hands-on, interactive exhibits and activities in a safe environment that are custom designed for families with children aged ten years old and younger. Closed on Tuesdays.
• Snoopy's Home Ice
  1667 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa
  (707) 546-7147
  Website
  Snoopy's Home ice in Santa Rosa offers a full range of skating activities with both public and private time, as well as a café. You can even visit the nearby Charles M. Schulz Museum for more fun!

Sausalito

• PlayLand Sausalito
  610 Coloma Street, Saualito
  (415) 381-1241
  Website
  PlayLand is an indoor bounce house playground for ages 7 and under. Come jump in the bouncy zone, play games, have fun at the train tables, or even spend some quiet time in the arts room. There's also free organic coffee, tea, and cookies for the grownups!
• Bay Area Discovery Museum
  557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito
  (415) 339-3900
  Website
  BADM is a perrenial favorite with Marin parents and children. They have a number of different indoor and outdoor play and activity areas as well as a variety of programs for all ages.