Discover the Best Parenting Classes in NYC
Parenting is a journey as famously rewarding as it is notoriously daunting. But luckily, you don’t have to travel it alone. Whether you’re preparing for your first childbirth or wondering how to keep your teen safe online, rest assured that resources are available to support you every step of the way. Books, videos, and local and online communities are rich resources to help you build your confidence as a parent. And parenting classes can connect you with an expert to hold your hand as you learn the skills and methods that matter the most to you.
Why You Should Learn Parenting in NYC
With thousands of babies born in NYC every year—100,022 in 2020, to be exact—the city is filled with both expectant and experienced parents despite a downward trend in birthrates throughout the state. While raising children in New York City is notoriously expensive, many parents enjoy the experience with the help of support groups for moms and dads and other resources.
New York City is full of opportunities for parents and children, including numerous children’s museums and other options for childhood enrichment. Meanwhile, classes and workshops for NYC parents offer wide access to a bank of knowledge and skills to raise your confidence in as a parent and help you be more present with your child every step of the way.
In-Person Parenting Classes & Schools in NYC
NYC is bursting at the seams with in-person parenting classes for every stage of your child’s development. Expectant parents have many options to choose from when it comes to childbirth and infant care workshops. And those with children of all ages will find topical courses of interest, including opportunities to make memories with your children while learning skills ranging from baking to swimming.
You’ve probably heard of the Jewish cultural and community center 92nd Street Y (92NY), but did you know they offer a full calendar of parenting and childbirth classes? 92NY is known worldwide for its arts and cultural programming for people of all backgrounds and faiths, as well as its wide array of educational opportunities. You can attend certified childbirth educator Janet Bogardus’s class, Get Ready – Childbirth, at 92NY’s home at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 92nd Street.
This class will help you confidently navigate your childbirth experience, knowing what to expect through every step of your labor and delivery. You’ll learn how to recognize each phase of labor, when to go to the hospital, and all about your pain relief options, including breathing strategies and relaxation techniques. Janet will also lead a conversation about advocating for yourself through the labor process, an essential skill for every parent in the delivery room.
If you’ve already aced your childbirth, you may enjoy bringing your new little one to another 92nd Street Y class, Yoga for Parent and Baby (Ages 6 weeks-9 months). Yoga instructor Robin Simmond provides a nurturing and supportive environment for mothers of infants up to nine months old. You’ll perform gentle yoga postures that are safe for mothers at least six weeks postpartum, strengthening and stretching your core muscles while connecting with your baby and other parents.
NYC’s expectant parents have trusted Birth Day Presence for high-quality childbirth education and doula services since 2002. With multiple locations throughout the city and a rotating calendar of online options, Birth Day Presence’s classes raise the bar for accessibility to childbirth education.
Birth Day Presence even offers childbirth classes for a variety of personalities. Their Childbirth Intensive One Day Dive creates a space in their Upper West Side location for parents who wish to go deeper than reading a book or listening to a lecture to learn all they need to know before their labor. With five hours and a small class size, you’ll have ample opportunity to fully discuss and digest all you need to know about childbirth and practice several pain-relief techniques. Your ticket price covers entry for a birthing parent and their partner, a birth ball, and a pump.
To prepare yourself for the fourth trimester, you can take advantage of Birth Day Presence’s Lactation & Newborn Care Intensive. Also offered in their Upper West Side office, this class prepares parents with all they need to know to feed and care for their newborns. Topics include understanding newborn hospital procedures, recognizing normal infant behavior, how to avoid common problems, and who to contact for help if needed. You’ll also learn practical tips on bathing your baby and receive thorough instructions on bottle-feeding and lactation.
If you’re among the many parents concerned about their toddler’s safety around the pool or at the beach, check out Physique Swimming’s course, Me & My Shadow: Parent & Child (Léman Upper School). All Physique instructors are highly experienced and Red Cross certified for WSI, Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR.
Physique teachers lead this Parent and Child class for ages one to three at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School’s Morris Street campus in Manhattan’s Financial District. You will learn how to encourage comfort in any aquatic environment by holding your child securely in the water as your instructor teaches the foundations of swimming through fun sing-along songs. Physique recommends a wetsuit to prevent your child from feeling cold in the pool.
And finally, Taste Buds Kitchen’s Red, White & Blue Cupcakes (Ages 2-8 w/ Caregiver) is the ideal class for parents who would love to start baking with their kids but don’t know where to begin. Taste Buds Kitchen offers award-winning cooking classes and camps for children during the day and Adult BYOB events in the evening from their kitchen classroom in Chelsea. From birthday parties to bachelorette parties, Taste Buds Kitchen has something for everyone and is always 100% nut free.
Taste Buds Kitchen’s cupcake baking class welcomes children ages two to eight and their caregivers to learn how to bake red, white, and blue cupcakes with buttercream frosting and sprinkles. Each ticket covers entry for one adult and a child. As your child’s sous chef, you’ll provide help when needed while they take the lead. You’ll go home with sweet treats, Taste Buds Kitchen aprons, wonderful memories, and the confidence to recreate the baking experience with your child in your home kitchen.
Virtual Parenting Classes & Schools
Online parenting classes offer many of the same benefits as in-person classes but with a few considerable advantages. Both in-person and online parenting classes allow you to interact with a live instructor and a community of classmates. However, online classes will enable you to cut the risk of getting sick during pregnancy or bringing any unnecessary germs home to your child. They also allow you to skip the commute and, potentially, the expense of a babysitter if you can arrange the class when your child is napping or occupied.
The biggest potential drawback to online parenting classes is that some people may desire to learn hands-on skills with the help of an in-person instructor. For instance, you may prefer to learn kinetic skills like breathing during childbirth or how to diaper your baby with a teacher who can interact with you in the same room. Life-saving skills like CPR virtually always require an in-person component to the class. Also, you will most likely need to purchase your own materials for a virtual parenting class, while in-person classes will usually provide these for you. However, many don’t mind buying these items, especially considering the number of topic and instructor options available when you are open to virtual classes.
Expectant parents who are feeling uncertain about what to expect will find answers to all their questions in Becoming Parents: What You Really Need to Know. Offered by the cultural and community center 92nd Street Y, this class provides essential knowledge about your newborn’s sleep, behavior, and temperament. You’ll also explore solutions for juggling changes to your family dynamics and schedule that are inevitable during the fourth trimester. Your ticket purchase covers the expectant parent and a support partner.
You can never be too prepared when it comes to your newborn’s sleep. Infant Sleep Live Seminar is provided by the NYC establishment Birth Day Presence, which has provided childbirth education and doula services to more than 6,000 families since 2002. Their online seminar will help you prepare your baby’s sleep environment, know what to expect when it comes to your newborn’s sleeping patterns, and how everyone in your household can maximize their sleep during the fourth trimester.
Private Group Parenting Classes in NYC
Are you looking for parenting classes for private groups? Whether you would like to schedule a private childbirth class for your friends, a mindful parenting class for your family, or a pediatric CPR course for your organization, CourseHorse can help you make it happen.
If you can’t find a childbirth or parenting class for your group on CourseHorse’s website, you can use their contact form to speak to a team member to begin a conversation about coordinating the class you need. If you prefer, you can also schedule a phone call to connect with a CourseHorse expert. However you reach out to CourseHorse, they will send you a confirmation within 24 hours of booking your course.
CourseHorse will never charge you a booking fee. However, for a fee of $150, CourseHorse will customize your private parenting class with exercises, games, questions, or other features you may desire for your group.
Don’t delay booking your course because you are uncertain about the number of participants. CourseHorse gives you the flexibility to change your numbers until a week before your class date.
Depending on your instructor’s availability and other factors, CourseHorse may be able to arrange your private group parenting class as an in-person event in the location of your choice. Otherwise, they can always coordinate your private parenting class as a virtual event via a teleconferencing platform. CourseHorse recommends Zoom, but other software can be accommodated if desired.
