We’re talking about the City of Mesa’s Play Along Pals class today. My daughter has been attending the class for more than two years and it’s one of our favorite activities! This class is perfect for toddlers who are not quite ready for preschool yet but need to be introduced to a classroom environment.
XO,
What is Play Along Pals?
Play Along Pals is a weekly preschool style class that is operated by the City of Mesa. The class meets on Wednesday mornings at the Red Mountain Multigenerational Center. It is taught by Innette Crosby, who has been teaching this same class for more than 20 years! Her own kids attended the class and she’s a pro with little ones.
Who is this class suitable for?
Toddlers can attend Play Along Pals starting at 18 months and up until 4 years old. This is a parent-tot class so a guardian must be present the whole time and help children with activities. Younger siblings can be present, if needed.
How does the class work?
Each session is structured in a similar manner but the theme changes each week. The class starts with the kids sitting in a circle with their parent/guardian and everyone sings good morning individually to each kid. Then each child can pick a song that everyone sings together. This is followed by story time and a few activities that relate to the theme. Activities often include counting, matching, singing and dancing. At the end of each class there is a themed craft that’s age appropriate followed by a few minutes of free playtime to give kids the chance to interact and socialize.
The class always ends with a snack that goes along with the theme and a stamp.
What if my toddler has a short attention span?
It’s 100% OK if your toddler has a short attention span (like most toddlers). That’s why this class is perfect for young kids. Each activity only lasts a few minutes so they stay engaged. The teacher is also flexible with moving on from activities once the kids have lost interest. She also understands many toddlers won’t sit still through story time. While she encourages all kids to follow directions, she also lets the parents take the reins for how to engage their child.
What else should I know?
Class registration opens a few weeks before each 5-week session starts. Registration is through the City of Mesa and requires an account. The registration fee is $12 for Mesa residents and then an additional $45 is due the first day of class to help out with supplies.
If you plan to attend for more than a year, just keep in mind that the themes do repeat every year, but my daughter hasn’t had a problem doing the same activities again and we still have fun seeing how her crafts progress over time!
Overall, we are big fans of Play Along Pals and are actually continuing to do it even after my daughter starts preschool because she likes it so much. It’s been a great way for her to learn how to perform in a classroom setting without the pressure of a strict environment. I’d encourage parents looking for a socializing activity to give it a try!
