What to do with young kids in New Jersey?
You moved from NYC to the suburbs of New Jersey. Now what?
Well, it finally happened. You succumbed to the siren call of the suburbs after having kids. Now, what to do with young kids in New Jersey? City dwellers often make the big move once their New York apartments can no longer contain all the baby stuff and the toddler runs out of room to toddle. New Jersey suburbs offer more room and more space to breathe for growing families. Plus, the appeal of backyards, green spaces, kid-oriented communities, and lower rent is hard to pass up.
But, now that you are here, you may be experiencing a bit of culture shock. With the differences between city life and the suburbs, it can be challenging to find your new groove. For example, it is an adjustment to go from walking everywhere to spending more time in your car (or brand-new suburban minivan). You may even feel somewhat isolated. Living in NYC or Brooklyn means seeing people constantly, whereas there may be times in the suburbs where you must go out of your way to see someone outside of your family.
Don’t worry – you will find your people, and you will come to love your life in New Jersey. It just takes a little bit of strategy.
Ideas From Parent Resources on What to To With Young Kids In New Jersey
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NJ Family: This website offers a comprehensive calendar of family-friendly things to do, parenting resources, and guides to local attractions across New Jersey.
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NJ Mom: NJ Mom provides information on upcoming events, activities, and classes for children and families, along with articles on parenting and local resources.
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New Jersey Parent: Serving the New Jersey area, this site lists local events, activities, and opportunities tailored for families, helping you stay informed about community happenings.
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JC Families: They hosts various events for parents in Jersey City, providing opportunities to connect with other families, participate in events, and engage in community activities.
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NJ Kids Online Since 2004, they have been a trusted online source for kids programs, schools, camps, activities and events. Their mission is to bring great resources to NJ families. From online directories, event calendars, community e-news to area digest guides, NJ KIDS offers quick at a glance ideas to help you through all stages of your child’s life.
What to do with young kids in New Jersey? Community!
First, you must get out of your house! Yes, it is nice to have more space and a backyard, but you are going to need to get out of your own space and into the community. For parents, there are a ton of ways to get involved, such as joining playgroups or helping out at your child’s school. Check out the New Jersey Parent Teacher Association (NJPTA).
In your own neighborhood, look for opportunities to get invested, such as helping with the HOA. By investing your community, you will meet others who have the same goals in mind, and you will learn about what is happening in and around your neighborhood.
Enroll In Music Classes!
If you are looking for friends for yourself or your child, you should check out the available children’s music classes in your area. Grown-up and me classes are not simply for your babies – these types of toddler classes are perfect opportunities for meeting other adults in similar life seasons. For example, your kids will have a ball attending kids music classes at Rockness Music. Offering preschool rock music classes, Rockness Music is high energy, interactive, and fun for both children and their caregivers. Not only will your kids love Rockness Music classes for kids, but you will also have fun rocking out! Plus, you will get to know other parents in your new town.
In addition to music classes for kids, the suburbs also offer other kid-oriented activities that are harder to find in cities. For instance, your child will have more opportunities to participate in recreational sports leagues that practice in neighborhood parks. Additionally, there are art classes, dance classes, gymnastics classes, swimming lessons, and more for children throughout the suburbs of New Jersey.
Find Fun Places To Go With Your Kids!
Hopefully you’ve founds something for you and your young child to do in New Jersey. We know, you had places you loved in the city, but now is the time to find places your kids will love. This means scoping out the best parks and attractions for your kids, as well as the restaurants with the best children’s menus. New Jersey has tons of great outdoor activities right around the corner from you, guaranteed! Check out NJ Parks Department for an amazing list of hikes, playgrounds and more!
Once you find places your child likes to visit regularly, it will begin to feel more like home. Another idea, search for places where your kid can play indoors, so you know where to head when it is raining. Mommy Poppins has a great list, and they are yet another great New Jersey parent resource.
Make New Friends With Your Baby
Finally, make an effort to develop relationships. Moving to a new town is exciting and a little bit scary, but friendships make all the difference. Now that you have the space for it, invite those people you have met at neighborhood meetings or your kids’ music classes over for playgroups, dinner parties, and backyard barbecues. Before you know it, your new house will feel like home.
I hope this helped stir up some new ideas for you. You can always host an event or class. Most early childhood entertainment companies, like Rockness Music, will come to you and put on a private class or performance. Just ask!
I hope we’ve give you an idea of what to do with kids in New Jersey. Good luck, it’s a beautiful state, but you have to get out there and look around!
