Organized Activities for Babies and Toddlers in Des Moines

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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.

Jackie Fioritto

Jackie Fioritto

Hi, I’m Jackie. I am a teacher who recently became a stay-at-home mother of two. My husband and I moved to Des Moines from Green Bay, Wisconsin a few years ago. Originally, I am from Chicago, Illinois. My family has loved exploring Des Moines and all that it has to offer!

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