MULTILINGUAL FAMILY
IN LONDON

I started joining baby classes when my daughter was around four months old. Like many new parents, I found myself wondering how to fill the long days, and I was also hoping to meet other mums in the area.

Over time, we ended up trying quite a wide range of classes and activities in London. Some we loved, some we didn’t continue, but all part of the experience.

In this post, I’m sharing the ones we tried. I’ve included specific class names (and links) where they are available across London, or more widely across the UK. For smaller, local classes, I’ve described them more generally to give a sense of the experience, as these can vary depending on where you live.

Sensory 

Sensory classes are probably one of the most common starting points for baby activities.

We started with Caterpillar Music. Like most sensory classes, the session leader provided sensory toys, played recorded music, and guided simple activities. It was a nice introduction to this type of class, but over time I personally found it a bit repetitive (although I understand that many baby classes are intentionally structured this way, as repetition can be helpful for babies’ development).

At the same time, there were also a few established groups of mums who had come together from NCT classes, which made it feel a little harder to connect with others. This can happen in any class and isn’t necessarily a reflection of the class itself, but at the time, it did feel a bit discouraging for me, so we didn’t continue.

The next one I joined was Baby Sensory, a franchise that runs across the UK. I really liked this because it had clearer themes each week, and I felt the leader was very engaged in what she offered. I also happened to meet three other mums there, who are still close friends today, and our children (and the dads too!) get along really well.

We also tried Monkey Music and Hartbeeps. Both were interesting in different ways, but Monkey Music sessions were shorter (30 mins) than other classes (usually around 40-45 minutes), which for me didn’t quite feel worth the effort of getting ready and out with a baby.

I liked the concept of Hartbeeps, where mums/carers were also encouraged to join in with dancing and movement. However, I think the session leader we had was relatively new and relied quite heavily on her notes, so I wasn’t fully convinced at the time. That said, I imagine this could vary depending on the instructor, and others may have a different experience.

Music

Although some of the sensory classes above included “music” in their names, many felt closer to sensory play.

In that sense, Mini Mozart felt quite unique. It introduced real musical instruments to babies and toddlers. Each session followed a theme or story, combining storytelling, dancing, and activities like parachutes, while also introducing a specific instrument—ranging from saxophone to violin or trumpet—with a pianist accompanying the session throughout.

What I particularly liked was that children were encouraged not only to listen, but also to touch and explore the instruments. Because of this format, session leaders changed each week depending on the instrument being introduced.

It was one of my favourite classes, as it felt refreshing to experience live music in such an interactive way. Of course, this style may not suit every child or family, but for us it was something a little different and memorable.

Language Development

Local libraries across the UK run rhyme time sessions, usually once a week. We speak to our child in our own native languages, and I mostly sang in Korean to her, so these sessions were a great opportunity for her to be exposed to English rhymes. They were also a nice way to meet other local parents, although in our case, those connections didn’t necessarily turn into long-term friendships.

I was very interested in Sing and Sign and had a trial when she was still quite young. I really liked the idea of using signs to support early communication before children are able to speak clearly. In our area, the group was quite small and intimate.

I would have loved to continue, but the timing didn’t work for us, as we travelled to Korea for a couple of months and then started nursery soon after returning. So it was more a matter of timing than the class itself.

To support Spanish exposure (as she is growing up multilingual), I also took her to a Spanish playgroup at a local church and a Spanish class run at a play café. I particularly liked the playgroup format, as it included more free-flow play, followed by a short (10-15 minutes) structured Spanish rhyme session. It felt like a nice balance between guided learning and more relaxed interaction. 

We also had a trial at the Spanish class. Of course, it was less of a formal “class” and more similar to a story time session. However, I personally felt the instructor struggled a little to engage the younger babies, so we didn’t continue. This may also depend on the age group and individual teaching style.

I initially expected to meet some Spanish-speaking families in those settings, but interestingly, many families attending were not necessarily native speakers—they were simply interested in exposing their children to another language.

Baby Massage

I attended a three-week baby massage course run by the local Council’s Children’s Centre. The sessions were very calm and relaxed. We sat in a circle with our babies on mats while the instructor demonstrated different massage techniques step by step. There was no pressure to follow perfectly—babies were fed, cuddled, or changed whenever needed.

At that stage, I think the class was probably more beneficial for me than for the baby. It encouraged gentle interaction and skin-to-skin contact, and created a space where parents could simply slow down a little.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the most popular activities that parents start early and often continue long-term. Some people say that starting early can help babies feel more comfortable in water, as they are already familiar with movement in the womb.

We signed up for Water Babies when she was around 7 months old, during the summer. This was one activity I really wanted my husband to join, as he loves swimming and had always imagined sharing that experience with his child. Also, the preparation and changing process felt more demanding than other classes, so having two adults definitely helped.

However, it didn’t go quite as we expected. She was very attached to me at that stage, so she wasn’t comfortable going into the water with her dad. After the first session didn’t go well, I ended up going into the pool with her from then on.

Even outside the pool, it could be quite challenging. While I was getting changed, my husband would try to get her ready in a separate changing area, which often led to a lot of crying. Meanwhile, many other babies seemed perfectly happy in the water—ours, definitely not so much!

On one occasion, we also had a rather messy nappy situation right before the session, which meant quickly cleaning everything up before getting into the pool. That was quite stressful for all of us, so we decided to pause for a while.

We resumed swimming later, when she was around 3 years old. And now, at 4, it has become one of her favourite activities, which honestly makes the earlier struggles feel quite funny in hindsight!

Messy play/Art

Our little one has always loved making a mess—even at the dining table—so we tried a few messy play sessions.

One was run by a local Jewish school, asking only for a small voluntary donation, which felt like great value.

When she was a bit older, we also attended an art class at a local arts centre. It combined messy play with simple art-making, along with familiar elements like bubbles and parachutes. I particularly liked that it was pay-as-you-go, which made it easy to join when it suited us, rather than committing to the whole term.

Forest school

We attended a forest school-style class a few times when she was a toddler. It was a flexible, one-off booking system, so we joined occasionally with friends.

The sessions took place in Highgate Wood and were run by an individual instructor. Each session followed a story, with activities designed around it—exploring the woods, finding objects, and creating small figures using mud, sticks, and leaves. At the end, everyone gathered on log seats for snacks and a story. 

The activities felt very open-ended and imaginative, which suited the outdoor environment well. It was a really lovely experience, especially as an occasional activity with friends, and I sometimes wish we had gone more often while she was younger.

Gymnastics

We didn’t formally sign up for gymnastics long-term, but we tried a few options.

The one we attended most was a casual session at a church hall. It wasn’t a permanent setup, so the equipment was quite basic, but still suitable for toddlers—balancing bars, balls, and small trampolines. It usually started with a short rhyme time, followed by free play. We went a few times, and she really enjoyed it.

We also tried another class at a more established gymnastics centre. The facilities were more advanced, but the sessions were mostly free-flow with minimal coaching. It wasn’t a bad experience, but the transport was less convenient for us, so we didn’t continue.

Gymnastics is something I’m still interested in exploring more now that she’s older. I think it suits her energetic personality quite well.

Football

We signed up for Little Kickers for two terms for our very active girl. I liked how the sessions were structured—not just introducing football skills like kicking and running, but also helping with listening, following instructions, recognising colours and shapes, and taking turns.

It was also lovely to see young instructors, often in their 20s, bringing energy and enthusiasm to working with young children. Many of them seemed good at making the sessions fun while still keeping the children engaged and organised.

Ballet

After two terms of football, we switched to ballet. She gradually lost interest in football and preferred running around and climbing instead of following structured activities. Ballet has worked much better for her, and she has now been attending for about 1.5 years. 

I think ballet is one of those activities many parents of young girls naturally consider at some stage, and I can understand why. There is something quite charming about the combination of music, movement, and costumes at that age.

At the same time, I also realised ballet classes at this age are often less about technique and more about helping children build confidence, coordination, and the ability to participate in a group setting. 

Takeaway

Looking back, we did try quite a wide range of classes in those early years. This was mostly during a period when my child was not yet in nursery, or was only attending part-time, and I was looking for ways to structure our days.

In reality, many of these classes are not strictly necessary at the baby or toddler stage. A lot of the activities can be recreated at home.

However, for me, they played an important role—not just for my child, but for my own well-being. They gave structure to the day, a reason to get out of the house, and opportunities to connect with other parents during a time when adult interaction can be quite limited.

I also have to admit that there was sometimes a bit of FOMO involved. Once you start attending classes and see how many other families are doing the same, it can feel quite normal to keep going.

Some classes were free, but many were paid, and they can add up quickly. Looking back, I think it’s about finding a balance—choosing what genuinely works for you and your child, rather than feeling the need to do everything.

At the same time, one thing I really appreciated about trying different activities was that it gradually helped us understand what suited our child’s personality and interests. Some weeks she joined in enthusiastically, and other weeks she was much less focused, which I’ve learned is completely normal at this stage.

Now that she is approaching Reception, we are naturally moving towards fewer activities and trying to stick with the ones she genuinely enjoys. Hopefully, over time, that will also help her build persistence and confidence through longer-term commitment, rather than always moving on to trying something new.