30 FREE Playgroups for Parents and Kids in Edmonton You Can Drop In to this Fall | 2019

Free, drop-in playgroups in Edmonton are one of the best ways to get through those cold winter months with little children. Essential for new mothers to avoid those feelings of isolation, and for mothers of older children to get out of the house and feel like the kids are engaging with other children their age, we’re fortunate that you can find a drop-in playgroup, all around the city,  on any day of the week. 

Stay and Play – Mondays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Ages: 0-6
Location: Norwood Child & Family Resource Centre
Enjoy activities with your children and meet new people in your community! All are welcome; play spaces are designed for ages birth to 6.

Tot’s Play | Wednesday 9:30 am – 10:30 am 

Ages: 0-2
Location: Norwood Child & Family Resource Centre
Come and play with your baby or toddler. We will have activities for children who are birth – 2 years old. We will sing songs, read books, play with toys, and explore!

Emerald Hills Drop-in shallow pool time 

Ages: 0-2 
Location: Emerald Hills Pool 
Drop in to Emerald Hills Pool and swim for free (Sherwood Park) for free. Though not a formal play group, this is a fantastic way to explore the shallow toddler pool with your toddler and engage with other families. There is no charge to drop in with children 0-2, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 to 12:30.

Dunluce Community Centre Drop In | Thursday 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Ages: 0-6
Location: Dunluce Community Centre 

This group is for families with young children.  Come together to learn, interact, and connect with other families in the community.  Topics and resources relevant to participants’ specific needs and interests are explored.  There are fun crafts, songs, music, stories, and other special activities.

Daddy and Baby Time | Tuesday 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Ages: 0-18 Months 
Location:  Whitemud Crossing

Enjoy a special bonding time for babies and their male caregivers. In this relaxed environment, you’ll learn songs and rhymes that help support your baby’s development. Ages up to 18 months.

Purposeful Play with Me | Thursday 10:00 – 11:30

Location: Primrose Resource Centre – 6811-92a Ave
Ages: 0-6 

In this program you get a bit of structure as well as free play. The program starts with a circle time where we sing songs and dance for about 20 min. Snack is then handed out and while everyone enjoys eating and talking there are experiences set up for children and parents to engage with together.

Busy Bodies | Thursday 9:30 am – 10:30 am 

Location: Grandview Community League
Ages: 2-6 

Is your child full of energy? Bring them to this exciting program where they will practice moving their bodies through fun games and activities to develop their physical literacy. Caregiver participation is required and encouraged.

Busy Bodies | Tuesday 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Location: Lendrum Community League 
Ages: 2-6

Is your child full of energy? Bring them to this exciting program where they will practice moving their bodies through fun games and activities to develop their physical literacy. Caregiver participation is required and encouraged.

Baby Laptime | Multiple Locations/times

Location:  Multiple locations
Ages: 0-12 Months

Enjoy delightful stories, songs, books, rhymes, finger plays and more, especially for babies. Cuddle with your baby and connect with other caregivers. Ages up to 12 months.

Little Explorers | Wednesday 10:00 am – 11:30 am 

Location: Millbourne
Ages: 2-6

Children are eager to explore new things. Find new ways to play, using upcycled and unique materials that are not typically used in a play setting. Open-ended play and experimentation allows children to express themselves freely and creatively. Come explore with us!

Little Explorers | Thursday 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Location: Westbrook
Ages: 2-6

Children are eager to explore new things. Find new ways to play, using upcycled and unique materials that are not typically used in a play setting. Open-ended play and experimentation allows children to express themselves freely and creatively. Come explore with us!

Music & Motion | Monday 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Ages: 2-6
Location: Pleasantview Community League

Dancing, skipping, singing and moving is a recipe for a happy little one!!! Children love to express themselves through music and movement. This program offers children ages 2 to 6 years an opportunity to move freely, express themselves though play & song and support their development in fun and engaging way. Join us for this hour long session full of songs, dancing, musical instruments and even some parachute time.

Music & Motion | Friday 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Ages: 2-6
Location: Southwood Community League 

Dancing, skipping, singing and moving is a recipe for a happy little one!!! Children love to express themselves through music and movement. This program offers children ages 2 to 6 years an opportunity to move freely, express themselves though play & song and support their development in fun and engaging way. Join us for this hour long session full of songs, dancing, musical instruments and even some parachute time.

Rhymes Song and Storytime | Monday 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Ages: 1-3
Location: Mill Woods Town Centre 

Rhymes, Songs & Storytime is a fun and interactive program that includes stories, musical movement, rhymes and creative props to go along with them. Connect with your little ones in this welcoming and wonderful hour long program that will help your child learn and grow, and also provide an opportunity to meet and interact with other children and families in your community.

Rhymes Song and Storytime | Friday 10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Ages: 1-3
Location: Summerside 

Rhymes, Songs & Storytime is a fun and interactive program that includes stories, musical movement, rhymes and creative props to go along with them. Connect with your little ones in this welcoming and wonderful hour long program that will help your child learn and grow, and also provide an opportunity to meet and interact with other children and families in your community.

Ooie Gooie Friday Fun | Monthly 

Ages: 2-6
Location: Rotating between four locations

Join us once a month for an afternoon of messy play and sensory exploration. This program gets messy so come prepared to have fun and leave the mess with us! You will go home with a sample of our creations and the recipe so that you can recreate the experience again at home.

Parkdale Playtime | Tuesday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Ages: 0-6
Location: Parkdale Cromdale Community League 

Come play, learn, and laugh with us at Parkdale Cromdale Community League! Meet other families in the community while you and your children engage in fun and interesting activities! No registration required. Parkdale Playtime is offered at no cost to you. Snack provided.

Help me Build my Brain | Friday 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Ages: 0-5
Location: 3 Spruce Ave, Sherwood Park

90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life. Building better brains creates the foundation for lifelong learning, health and success. Join us Friday mornings from 10am-11:30am to learn about how you are building big brains in little people by engaging in play experiences with your child! This program is targeted at parents, caregivers and children ages 0-5 years.

Creative Play & More | Thursday 9:30 am – 11:00 am 

Ages: 0-6
Location: KARA Family Resource Centre

Perfect for parents with children 0-6 years.  Parents can interact and play with their child in a variety of play areas.  Children will learn developmental skills, ABC’s, colors, math concepts and the 5 senses.  Craft, songs, and story time.

Sing Sign Laugh and Learn | Multiple locations/days 

Ages: 0-3
Location: Edmonton Public Library Locations 

You and your child from birth to age three are invited to join us for singing, rhyming and signing! In this inclusive class, offered in collaboration with the Edmonton Early Intervention Program, parents/caregivers will interact one-on-one with their child while learning strategies to engage their child and enhance their child’s communication and development through repetition, visuals and movement. Siblings are welcome.

Note: Each of these programs have various start dates in September, and run through December. Be sure to check the guide that we link to in the title description of the play group for the specific information for the time, and date of the play group.