Preschool Programs

• Lakewood Division of Early Childhood Services -- Click on the "Child Care Centers in Lakewood" link, and scroll down to page 10 for the listings of preschool programs. The listings include ages accepted, tuition, hours, special needs accomodations, and other related information. 216-529-5018

 

Arts Programs

• Beck Center for the Arts -- They have many, many classes for the whole family -- including dance, music, singing, theater visual arts, arts therapy, and even early childhood arts classes. If cost is an issue, a limited number of scholarships are available. 216-521-2540
• Riverside Academy of Music -- These choir classes, run through the Beck Center, start with Primary Music Makers, for K-1st graders, then go all the way up to 9th grade. For preschool music and singing, see the Beck Center classes above on early childhood. 216-521-2540
• Lakewood Community Recreation & Education -- They have classes for every age and interest in the family, and not just in the arts (see below for other classes, or visit the website). Their costs are also very reasonable. Specifically for youth, they offer classes on dance (ballet, jazz, tap), music (drums, bagpipes, guitar, piano), toddler crafts, baby and toddler Kindermusik -- as well as parent-child cooking, little scientist, and chess. The classes do change from season to season, so be sure to call or check the website. 216-529-4081

 

Movement & Sports Programs

• Lakewood YMCA -- They offer health and fitness classes for the whole family -- including swimming, martial arts, various sports, and aerobics (cardio/walk/step/aqua, yoga, pilates, body toning, cardio kickboxing). Swim lessons start with parent-child classes (4 months-2 years, and 2-4 years), then other age-organized lessons for children (starting at 3 years). The YMCA Tot program is for 3- to 5-year-olds, introducing them to a sport and helping them develop skills for more competitive playing later. They have a Mini Open Gym, for tots 16 months to 5 years, and Yoga for Kids, 6-12 years. They also have sports leagues (starting with K-1 grades) and weight-lifting for teens. 216-521-8400
• Lakewood Community Recreation & Education -- They have classes for every age and interest in the family, and not just fitness/sports (see above for other classes, or visit the website). Their costs are also very reasonable. Specifically for youth, they offer classes on dance (ballet, jazz, tap), bowling, fencing, tennis, Tae Kwon Do (starting at 7 years), and tumbling and gymnastics (starting at 2 years). The classes do change from season to season, so be sure to call or check the website. 216-529-4081
• Rocky River Recreation -- They offer year-round programming for preschoolers, students and adults. A full schedule of youth sports leagues is offered, including soccer, football, basketball and baseball/softball. Instructional programs include tennis, golf, keyboarding, fencing, tumbling and much more. 440-331-0600
• Winterhurst Ice Rink -- Learn-to-skate classes are available for all ages and skill levels, and run for six weeks. Preschoolers must be 3 years old by the first day of class. 216-529-4400
• Cyrano's Place -- Fencing classes in Lakewood? Yes! They offer classes for children as young as five in Foil, Epee and Saber. They also have summer day camps. Beginners start with movement classes, and practice with foam swords. Members participate in events like the Baycrafter's and Great Lakes Renaissance Faires, the March of Dimes' Fence-a-thon, the North American Cup, and the Junior Olympics. 216-227-3835
• Beck Center for the Arts -- They have dance classes for preschool on, including preballet, preschool dance, and S.M.I.L.E. -- Sensory Motor Integrated Learning Experiences. For older children on up, they offer a wide range of classes -- on ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, tango, creative, and modern -- as well as classes on Pilates, movement awareness, body beautiful, and gyrokinesis. Theater classes address movement too! Their Little Folks Theater class is for preschool/kindergartners and first graders, with lively classroom activities involving creative dramatics, movement, music, listening skills and creative art, and stressing positive self-development and interaction. Fundamentals and Core Classes run from grades 2-6 and 7-12, as well as adult theater classes. 216-521-2540
• Lakewood Public Library even offers movement programs! Shake, Rattle & Roll is a lively movement program with stories, songs, dance and rhythm instruments. And Twist, Shout, Act It Out is a weekly movement, music and drama program on Wednesdays, as part of the Four O'Clock Club during the school year (for K-5th grade). 216-226-8275

 

Library Programs

• Lakewood Public Library offers much, much more than just storytime! And even storytimes have changed -- they offer programs from 9 months on up, including a night-time pajamas-encouraged one and Shake, Rattle & Roll, a lively movement program with stories, songs, dance and rhythm instruments.
  Arts & crafts programs include the year-round Weekend Wonders (combining a storytime theme with a craft to take home, for toddlers on up) and the daily Four O'Clock Club during the school year (for K-5th grade).
  They also have computer fun and learning programs. Starting at age three on up, in a dedicated room, children can explore educational software that makes learning fun. During the summer, they have preschool and school-age mini camps, too, where the children try out different areas of software -- Young Artists & Writers, Puzzle Palooza, Creative Constructions, Math Masters and Computerized Private Eyes.
  Check out the special events, as well. These programs often involve storytelling, singing, animals and/or puppets!
  216-226-8275

 

Reading and Education Websites

• Hedgehog Books -- the "brainchild of teachers who passionately believe that reading aloud to children will set them on a life-long journey of learning and exploration" -- includes teacher reviews to help you choose the best books for your children, from pre-K through 8th grade.
• Succeed to Read -- a great website to help parents help their children succeed in reading -- it goes through pages, covering all the components needed, such as auditory skills, learning to read, teaching alphabet sounds/how to rhyme, improving short-term memory, putting sounds together, reading selections, phonics vs. whole language, and components of reading -- other pages include make your own book, literacy facts, good books for kids, literacy websites, alphabet list/chart, questions/answers, and reading rescue 1-2-3.
• Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site -- designed for teachers (based on Hurst's book Picture Books in the Classroom: Addressing Concepts & Skills Throughout the Curriculum Through Literature), perfect for homeschoolers, and a great resource for parents -- includes featured children's books (with reviews, activities and related books) and curriculum areas (subjects like math and history integrated with language arts and other areas; with recommended books, activities and approaches) -- you can sign up for a free email newsletter.
• Children's Literature Web Guide -- from the University of Calgary, internet resources on books for children and young adults.
• Librarians Resource Page for Children & Young Adults -- from the Nebraska Library Commission, a tremendous site with links under categories of activities, books & reading, crafts, toddler time, homeschooling, stories in Spanish & ESL resources, and self-esteem.
• Educational Resources for Teachers and Students -- from Lakewood Public Library, with K-5 and 6-12 sections, and categories of language arts, social studies, math, science, music/arts, computer education and miscellaneous resources.
• BBC - Children's Learning -- a well-done site with links to BBC pages featuring learning songs, stories and activities; touring the world; art activities; writing activities; animal activities; and learning math and English -- also has web links to National Geographic for Kids, FunBrain (games with words and numbers), Bookbox (get in touch with favorite authors; learn how to write your own story), and Wonderville (science games and activities in 3D, try experiments and learn unusual facts).
• Family Information Center -- from Indiana University, dedicated to providing educational materials and services to parents who take an active role in their children's education.
• Blue Web'N -- from PacBell, a library of "blue ribbon" learning sites on the web.
• MusicMoz: open music project -- a comprehensive directory of music, built by volunteers around the world -- includes links on reviews of children's music, words to songs (plus ability to listen, too), listening to instruments, choosing an instrument, home music schoooling, and music games and activities -- even music history and theory, in a fun and entertaining way just for children.
• National Center for Learning Disabilities -- includes information, resources, and fact sheets; articles on living with LD; becoming an LD advocate (writing legislators and learning the latest policy news); and a newsletter.
• SchwabLearning: A Parent's Guide to Helping Kids with Learning Difficulties -- a nonprofit organization that "aspires to help kids with learning and attention problems lead satisfying and productive lives in an environment that recognizes, values and supports the unique attributes of every child" -- provides free information, resources, publications and support through two websites (this one and SparkTop, games and activities for kids 8-12 with LD) and Outreach and Community Services.
• LDOnLine -- a site on learning disabilities for parents, teachers, professionals, and kids -- includes expert articles, ask LD OnLine, newsletters, resources, yellow pages for help, and a featured child "Artist of the Week" and "Writer of the Week."