Organized Activities for Babies and Toddlers in Des Moines
The best advice I was given as a first-time mom was to get out of the house with my kids. Not only does it help boost your mood but your baby or toddler tends to love to explore different environments too. We have art, music, gymnastics, dance, and some pretty great library storytimes in Des Moines. Check out our list of all the baby and toddler activities around the metro.
Check out these other fun resources:
Art & Music Classes
DSM Art Club
Address: 1501 Ingersoll Ave Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50309
Cost: $30 per class
DSM Art Club is a new woman-owned business that has classes for all ages. The first Tuesday of every month is Toddler Tuesday. Children get a chance to experiment with different art stations and explore through sensory play and imagination.
Mommy & Me Music at Lutheran Church of Hope
Address: 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266
When: Tuesdays 9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Cost: Free but please register.
Mommy & Me Music at Lutheran Church of Hope is a wonderful opportunity for caregivers to interact with their children through music. This is best suited for children 6 months-5 years old.
Pied Piper Studios
Address: 3892 NW Urbandale Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322
Cost: Prices start at $49.50 per month
Pied Piper Studios is a Kindermusik program. Kindermusik nurtures a child’s confidence and joy through music. The studios offer studio classes, virtual classes, open studio time, and special events. Classes are starting at birth through 7 years of age. Children get to explore and grow through their curiosities at Pied Piper Studios.
Tiny Tots Music Class
Address: 1105 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
When: Fridays at 9:00 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:30 AM
Cost: Free but please register.
Tiny Tots Music Class is a music class at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for children 0-5 years old. Throughout the class, Ms. Deb keeps children engaged through songs, dancing, and musical instruments. Each class she brings a different instrument to share. The children love getting a chance to play a real instrument. The songs are so catchy, you will be singing them for weeks after!
Vibrant Music Academy
Address: Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, 1240 66th St., Windsor Heights, IA, 50324
Ages: 0-7
Cost: $20 per family
Join music teachers from Vibrant Music Academy as you play, move, sing, and play musical instruments with your family and friends! The foundational classes are one of the best ways to give your kids a head start in music. Help your child become more confident in music, experience creative movement, and find the joy in making music together. Join the class on November 18th, 9:15-9:45. Register here.
Swim Classes
Aqua-Tots Swim School
Address: 7125 Mills Civic Pkwy., Ste. 105, Des Moines, IA 50266
Cost: Prices start at $104 per month
Aqua-Tots Swim School offers classes for parents and babies as young as 4 months. The class’s focus is to get the baby adjusted to water.
Foss Swim School
Address: 2455 SW State St Suite 101, Ankeny, IA 50023
Cost: Pricing starts at $26.75 per lesson
Foss Swim School swim lessons start with parent and child at 6 months old. The goal is to develop comfort with the water.
Goldfish Swim School
Address: 3771 86th Street Urbandale, IA 50322
Cost: Prices start at $114 per month
Goldfish Swim School offers classes for parents and babies starting at 4 months old. Basic swimming and safety is taught and the goal is to get the baby used to the water.
Safesplash Swim School
Address: 1175 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA 50263
Cost: Prices start at $104 per month
Safesplash Swim School offers classes for babies and toddlers. Babies as young as 4 months can start swimming lessons. The parent and child classes focus on foundational skills crucial to learning to swim. Toddler Transition class is for children ready to be in a group setting without a parent in the pool.
YMCA
Address: Walnut Creek Family YMCA, 948 73rd St.West Des Moines, IA 50265
Waukee YMCA, 210 N. Warrior Lane Waukee, 50263
Cost: Free with family membership or $180 per session (6 classes)
The YMCA offers swim lessons for children which can start at 6 months old. Lessons are available at the Walnut Creek and Waukee locations. Swim lessons are included in the monthly family membership.
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Library Storytimes
Note: Click the heading (name of library) to be taken to the website.
Altoona Public Library
Address: 700 8th St SW, Altoona, IA 50009
- Shimmie Shake for ages 0-5 to dance and shake with stories
- Toddler Time for ages 0-3 to learn and play with interactive stories
- Pipsqueak Playdate for ages 0-5 to play and socialize
Ankeny Library
Address: 1250 SW District Dr, Ankeny, IA 50023
- Babies & Books for ages 0-5 years old to learn through rhymes, songs, and books
- Sing & Shake for ages 0-5 years old to learn through dancing
Clive Public Library
Address: 1900 NW 114th St, Clive, IA 50325
- Postpartum Play for new parents. They meet in person once a month and online the rest of the month.
- Movers & Shakers for ages 0-5 years old to move and groove with music
Des Moines Public Library
Address: Six locations throughout the metro
- Baby Rhyme Time for ages 0-18 months old to bounce and play with stories
- Play, Grow, Learn for ages 0-5 years old for children to play and socialize
- Wiggles and Giggles for ages 0-5 years old with music, movement, and rhyming
Grimes Public Library
Address: Corner of North Hames and Beaverbrooke Blvd in Grimes
- Baby & Toddler open play for ages 0-3 years old to play and socialize
Johnston Public Library
Address: 6700 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131
- Bouncing Babies for ages 6-18 months to sing and bounce with books
- Toddler Time for ages 1-3 years old for a high-energy, interactive storytime
Urbandale Library
Address: 3520 86th St, Urbandale, IA 50322
- Baby Bounce for ages 0-24 months old to bounce, play, and sing together
- Toddler Time for ages 2-3 years old to listen to short books with rhymes and music
Waukee Library
Address: 950 Warrior Ln, Waukee, IA 50263
- Babytime for ages 0-17 months to sing and play
- Toddler Time for ages 18 months to 3 years old for stories with lots of movement and playtime after
West Des Moines Library
Address: 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Lapsit Storytime for 18 months and younger with puppets, songs, and short stories
- Toddler Storytime for 6 months-18 months with simple stories, tunes, and flannel boards
Gymnastics Classes
Chow’s Gymnastics
Address: 2218 Park Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Cost: Prices start at $76 per 5 classes
Chow’s Gymnastics offers a Tots Parent & Me class for 18 months-3 year olds. This 30-minute class is a fun way to let your child get their wiggles out and start to learn about gymnastics.
Mid Iowa Gymnastics
Address: 1500 SE 19th Street Suite 380, Grimes, IA 50111
Cost: $76 per month
Mid Iowa Gymnastics offers a Parent/Child class for ages 2-3 years old. An excellent beginner class to get your child started in gymnastics.
Sapphire Gymnastics
Address: 11401 Meredith Dr, Urbandale, IA 50322
Cost: $61 per month
Sapphire Gymnastics has a class for 2 year olds with their parent called Amethyst. This class focuses on introducing children to the structure of a class and to prepare them for being in a class without parents starting at age 3.
Triad Gymnastics
Address: 2202 SE Creekview Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021
Cost: Wee Tots $79 per month and Mini Tots $95 per month
Triad Gymnastics offers two classes for toddlers. Wee Tots for ages 16 months to 24 months is designed to let children explore their curiosities. Mini Tots for ages 2-3 years old is a mildly structured class that focuses on gross motor development. Both classes require parent participation.
Dance & Yoga Classes
Family Tree Yoga
Address: 3810 Ingersoll Ave Ste. F, Des Moines, IA 50312
Cost: Prices start at $30 per class
Family Tree Yoga offers prenatal yoga, quarterly Toddler Yoga, and Mommy & Me yoga. Prenatal yoga is a great way to form a bond with your body and your baby. After birth, try Mommy & Me yoga to continue to strengthen your bond. Then when your child is old enough, try Toddler Yoga so they can begin to learn the beautiful poses of yoga.
Premiere Dance Project
Address: 870 NE Northeast Douglas Parkway, Waukee, IA 50263
Cost: $59 per month ($10 for a trial class)
Parent & Me Class at Premiere Dance Project is a great introduction to dance for children 18 months to 2 years old. Children will love dancing to familiar songs, playing with scarves, tumbling on mats and so much more.
Tippi Toes
Address: Various locations around the metro
Cost: Prices start at $50 per month
Tippi Toes offers classes for Toddler & Me for ages 18 months-3 years old and Baby Ballet for 2-3 year olds. They offer classes at locations throughout the metro and they also partner with Parks and Rec too.
Other classes
Jester Park
Address: 12130 NW 128th St, Granger, IA 50109
When: Once a month on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Cost: Free
Jester Park offers a class called Knee High Naturalists. This class meets once a month on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM. The class begins with a story followed by a hike and ending with an activity. Each class focuses on a different theme.
