Budding Buddies

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

What are Budding Buddies programs? Budding Buddies is 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! Focused on fostering early development through movement, exploration, and social interaction, this program creates a positive environment where little ones build confidence, coordination, and friendships.

Each session includes age-appropriate activities that encourage motor skill development, creativity, and teamwork, all while strengthening the bond between parent and child. With an emphasis on play-based learning, Budding Buddies sets the foundation for a lifelong love of recreation.

Join us for a season of smiles, high-fives, and unforgettable moments as we nurture growth, one step at a time!

Budding Buddies Reminders.pdf

Budding Buddies Program Options

Two people posing with Halloween props, surrounded by pumpkins and festive decorations.

Budding Buddies BASH

A spine-tingling good time for caregivers and kiddos to bond. Join us for an unforgettable event filled with eerie, toe-tapping tunes, spooky Halloween crafts, and hauntingly fun activities led by our magical Toddler Team! Don’t miss a moment of this thrilling, Halloween-themed adventure! Come dressed in your Halloween best! Costumes are highly encouraged, and we’ll have sweet treats for the…

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! This engaging class is designed for little ones to be introduced to their ABC's through exploration and hands-on activities. Each session features silly circle time songs, crafts, and enchanting storytime themed by the letters of the day. Join us to play your way from A to Z!

A woman and child sit together in a cozy, colorful space; the child is holding a book and smiling.

Budding Buddies: DREAMY READS

Put on your comfies and join us for Dreamy Reads, an evening story hour in the Dorothy F. Johnson Center toddler room. Each week, crafts and hands-on activities are inspired by your favorite bedtime stories. Perfect for toddlers and their caregivers, this program fosters a love for books and sets the stage for sweet dreams!

Two small children holding hands, walking on a gym floor with a red balloon nearby.

Budding Buddies: MINI MOVERS

Mini Movers is a fun and engaging parent/tot program designed to support toddlers’ physical development through movement, play, and exploration. Through active play with their caregivers, toddlers will develop essential social, motor, and sensory skills, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of movement and overall well-being.

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

Budding Buddies: STEAM

Discover the joy of exploration in our engaging STEAM-themed class for curious young minds! You and your little one will dive into hands-on activities that inspire creativity through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Together, we’ll experiment, create, and spark a lifelong love of learning you won’t want to miss!

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

Budding Buddies: STORYTIME ADVENTURES

Join us for Storytime Adventures, a fun and engaging parent/toddler program where stories come to life through interactive play, music, and movement. Each week, crafts and hands-on activities inspired by your favorite children’s stories will be featured. Perfect for toddlers and their caregivers, this program fosters a love for books while creating special moments together!

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

Stellar Start PLAYschool

A new PLAYschool for ages 3-5, starting fall 2025!

May contain: human, person, plant, grass, sphere, play area, and playground

ShortE Sports

CARD "ShortE" programs are specifically designed for 3-5 year-olds. Each program will feature paid coaches that create a positive, non-threatening environment for your little one to gain a "love of the game." Staff use age-appropriate equipment, modify stations and games, and are specifically trained to work with toddlers to make sure all participants are set up for success.