Budding Buddies

Children engaged in a colorful painting activity with sponges and paint rollers on paper.

Budding Buddies (Ages 1-4)

Join us for Budding Buddies, a Parent & Tot program umbrella of a variety of classes run by our incredible toddler team that are fun, engaging, and active programs for young children and their caregivers to learn, play, and grow together! Each session includes age-appropriate activities that encourage motor skill development and creativity while strengthening the bond between parent and child.

Budding Buddies Program Reminders and Info

Do I need to stay with my child during class? Yes. Each program is formatted as an adult/child class to allow guardians and children to bond and meet fellow parents/guardians.

What to Bring: All supplies are provided! Please wear clothes made for moving and messes.

Location: Dorothy F. Johnson Center Kitchen and Classroom, 775 East 16th St. When you arrive, enter through the black playground gates. Our toddler classroom is the second door on the left.

Choose from STEAM, Storytime, Alphabet Adentures, and Tiny Chefs! CLICK HERE TO JOIN US

Children wearing safety goggles watch a volcano experiment on a table outdoors.

Budding Buddies: STEAM

Join us for STEAM, a hands-on class where curious little minds explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through play! You and your little one will experiment, create, and discover together through fun, age-appropriate activities that spark creativity, build new skills, and inspire a love of learning.

A woman and a child are seated at a table doing arts and crafts together.

Budding Buddies: Storytime Adventures

Join us for Storytime Adventures, where favorite children’s stories come to life through play! You and your little one will explore stories through interactive read-alouds, music, movement, and hands-on activities. Each week features themed crafts and playful experiences that encourage creativity, spark imagination, and nurture a love for books.

A young child in an orange chef hat is excitedly looking at a bowl of flour or dry mix being presented to them.

Budding Buddies: Tiny Chefs

Get ready to mix, create, and explore in Tiny Chefs, where little ones discover the joy of food through hands-on play! You and your tot will enjoy simple snack creations, taste-safe sensory activities, and chef-themed crafts and games. From mixing and making to squishing and exploring, there’s plenty of fun to cook up together, and we’ll take care of the mess!

A woman and a girl in costumes pose with playful props for Halloween, surrounded by pumpkins and a spooky backdrop.

Budding Buddies Halloween BASH

Get ready for a spooktacular day of fun, connection, and creativity! This one-day bash invites caregivers and little ones ages 0–5 to bond through festive games, tasty treats, and holiday crafts.

Ages: 0-5 years
Fri |10/30 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM

A smiling baby wearing a party hat, joyfully reaching out as confetti falls around them.

Budding Buddies New Year's Eve BASH

Ring in the new year toddler-style at our special daytime celebration just for little ones and their caregivers! Enjoy festive games, crafts, and…

Ages 0-5
Thu | 12/31 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

A child on a swing with a woman smiling in the background, outdoors in a park setting.

Budding Buddies: Alphabet Adventures

All aboard the Alphabet Train! You and your little one will explore the ABCs through playful, hands-on activities designed to introduce early letter recognition. Each session features circle-time songs, creative crafts, and storytime inspired by the letters of the day. Join us as we sing, explore, and play our way from A to Z!

A group of children in festive hats poses proudly beside freshly baked cookies in a kitchen setting.

Festive Fall Foods Toddler Camp

Campers ages 3–5 will make a new holiday-inspired culinary creation each day, along with food-themed crafts, sensory activities, and playful games. It’s a hands-on three days full of messy fun, creativity, and plenty of festive fall flavors!

Ages: 3-5 years
Mon - Wed | 11/23 - 11/25 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Three children standing on a playground platform, smiling and posing near a slide.

Stellar Start PLAYschool

At Stellar Start PLAYschool, we champion learning through play and hands-on activities to teach students academic, social-emotional, and classroom readiness skills. Throughout the year, academic topics introduced include letters, numbers, shapes, and colors – but this is just the beginning.

Ages: 3 - 5
Tue & Thu | Sept-May | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

A group of children play outside, running with blue sashes around their waists, wearing bright pink sweatshirts in a grassy park.

ShortE Sports

Big fun for our tiniest athletes! ShortE Sports introduces children ages 3–5 to the exciting world of sports through playful games, simple skill-building drills, and plenty of opportunities to move…