👶Weekend Playgroups and Young Children’s Activity Sessions🧒
- FamilyFunDarloMum
- Sep 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 6
This article covers information on play groups and young children’s activity sessions within Darlington and Teesside as well as County Durham and North Yorkshire, from babies up to around ages 8-9.
All information is correct at the time of publishing. I try to update regularly when I can. Please check the individual Facebook pages/website links provided for any updates and to make sure the session is running (particularly in school holidays).
All sessions need booking in advance via the link provided unless stated otherwise.
🏈SPORTS SESSIONS⚽️
Turn2Sport
Every Saturday
Scouts Hub, Middleton St George
10:30am-12pm
£6 per child
Ages 5 plus
Message their page to book here
Rugrats Rugby
Hummersknott Academy, Edinburgh Drive, Darlington, DL3 8AR
Saturdays and Sundays
Various times
2-7 year olds
£23 per month, Free Trial Classes may be available
Book here
For updates follow their page here
📸Credit; Rugrats Rugby
Little Kickers
Abbey School
126 Cleveland Terrace, Darlington, DL38JA
Saturdays-5 to 8 year olds
Sundays-various classes from From 18 months to 8 year olds
£27.99 per month plus one off registration fee of £24 which includes child's kit
Get more info and register at https://www.littlekickers.co.uk
Follow their page at https://www.facebook.com/LittleKickersNorthEast
Also available in Middlesbrough, Stockton and Spennymoor. Details on the website.
📸Credit; Little Kickers
Darlington Gymnastics Club
Faverdale Industrial Estate, Darlington
Preschool ages 2-4-Sundays various times
More info and register your interest at https://darlingtongymnastics.co.uk/sessions/
📸Credit; Darlington Gymnastics Club
Athena Sports Academy
Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre
Pre-school - Suitable for ages 3+ (up to school)
Saturdays 9:15-10am or 10am-10:45am
£15 per month
Book a free taster session or find out more at https://www.athenasportsacademy.co.uk/preschool
📸Credit; Athena Sports Academy
👯DANCE/DRAMA/PERFORMING ARTS🎤
Darlington Academy of Performing Arts
Baby Dance
55 Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RR
Saturdays
10-10:30am and 10:45-11:15am
2-4 year olds
Pay as you go or pay monthly available with a small discount
More info at https://dapaonline.co.uk/classes/2-4-years-1
Follow their page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/DarlingtonAcademyofPerformingArts
📸Credit; Darlington Academy of Performing Arts
South Durham Gymnastics Spennymoor, 10 High Street
-Baby & Toddler Gym
-Suitable for children aged 0 - 7 years*
-Book online in advance, or drop in on the day
-Sunday 8:15-9:15 (*children up to the age of 7 are welcome on Sunday sessions, during the week it's 0-4 years)
(This is on other days of the week too. Check individual guides)
Follow their page for any updates at
📸Credit; My own images at South Durham Gymnastics
Seaside Splashtots at Spennymoor Leisure Centre for 0-4 year olds
9am-10am and 10am-11am on Sunday Mornings
Check timetable and book here (you will need to set up a free thrice account to book online)
🌈SENSORY/MUSIC SESSIONS🌈
Little Movers UK at Little Land of Adventures Ferryhill
Baby Movers (newborn-wobbly walking)
Little Tutus (walking-6 years)
Little Movers (walking-5 years)
Pay per term, works out £6 per session. Play included afterwards.
Follow their page for any updates at https://www.facebook.com/share/1B3CjkQosj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
📸Credit; Little Movers UK
Sunshine Sensory UK Monthly Specials
Various themes. Include sensory storytime and messy play, role play, arts and crafts and more.
At Tunstall Village Hall, near Richmond
10:30-12pm
£10 per child, siblings half price
More info and booking here
🤪JUST FOR FUN PLAY SESSIONS🤪
Toddler Time on Sundays
The Bounce House, Unit 6&7 Enterprise City, Spennymoor
10-11am
£6 per person. Under 5s must be accompanied by an adult
No Booking necessary
More info and updates follow https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083187225937
📸Credit; The Bounce House
Physique Crèche and Softplay
Softplay sessions on Saturdays (Walk in-no need to prebook)
And Sundays (must be prebooked as only open with minimum amount booked)
8:45am-1pm
Small play frame and baby section so suitable for babies, toddlers and young children.
For more info and to book in message their page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049256897098
📸Credit; Physique Crèche and Softplay
Theatre Hullabaloo
Borough Road, Darlington, DL11SG
Open Saturdays 10am-2pm (and during the week)
A theatre venue that offers a cafe with play/reading corner, creative play installations (changes seasonally) and theatre shows for young audiences as well as other activities/workshops. Free to visit (charges for shows/ extra activities)There is also a small outdoor play area. A great place to visit with preschoolers and young children.
No need to book. Some neurodiverse sessions are offered on occasion for shows and creative play and are to be prebooked. Shows and events are to be prebooked.
To check out future events go to https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/shows/
For more info and updates follow their page https://www.facebook.com/TheatreHullabaloo
Credit; My own image at The Hullabaloo
The Fish Tank
Cumbie Way, Aycliffe Business Park, DL5 6YA
Open all weekend, check their page for up to date hours/timetables.
A purpose-built family friendly swimming and activity centre for younger children. Offering swimming lessons and casual swimming in a heated pool, interactive and sensory play sessions and a cafe serving light bites, lunch and drinks.
Book a session via https://thefishtank.com/shop/
Follow their page for updates and session info at https://www.facebook.com/share/15X9yZC7We/?mibextid=wwXIfr
📸Credit; Image of the pool-The Fish Tank. Bottom two images are my own of the interactive play
☁️ OUTDOOR SESSIONS 🍁
Step into Storytime Sessions (Formerley known as Toddler Tales and Trails) at Hardwick Park, Stockton on Tees
1.5 hours of woodland play in their enclosed learning area. Storytelling, crafts, sensory experiences and more. Different themes each week.
For under 5s
£6 per child per session. These run twice monthly and the weeks will vary.
These sessions also run on Wednesdays.
During term times.
One off special sessions run occasionally and in school holidays to include school aged children.
Prebooking required. Go to https://events.durham.gov.uk/1/Home/List?
Follow their page for updates at https://www.facebook.com/HardwickParkDurham
📸Credit; Hardwick Park
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THANKS FOR READING 💜
These guides are published for free. If you would like to thank me you can Buy me a coffee here.
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If you are a local business offering family activities or events and you are interested in advertising options that are available with me or to collaborate then please complete the form on this link and I will be in touch https://www.familyfundarlomum.com/contact-8
This blog has been produced by Charlotte Walcott (Business Owner of Family Fun Darlo Mum)
A bit about me- Mum to 2 boys, Kamron-8 and Leo-2, and stepmum to Damon- 15. Sharing family days out ideas, family venues and events in The Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire as well as Uk breaks and holidays.
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