An Early Childhood Learning & Resource Center

Providing playgroups, workshops and more for young children, parents and caregivers.

All parents want the best beginning for their children. Baby Bungalow is an early childhood resource center for parents and caregivers that helps with this important, demanding job.

Baby Bungalow Services

Baby Bungalow is an early childhood resource center for parents and caregivers. Playgroups are one of the services offered to provide a positive, shared experience to parents/caregivers and their accompanying child(ren) that offer support, direction, and resources related to early learning and child development. Playgroups foster relationship building between adults and children, between participating families, and with child development professionals, to raise healthy, thriving children.

Activities and experiences offered during playgroups are based on the Developmentally Appropriate Practice Model which promotes play supporting the domains of cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, while recognizing children’s unique skills and needs. Open-ended, process-oriented opportunities allow children to explore their interests, make decisions in play, create real-time discoveries, and navigate space and materials with others.

New and experienced parents and caregivers alike can benefit from our wide variety of adult-child playgroups, workshops, developmental screenings, and other activities. At Baby Bungalow, we provide resources, direction, and a strong community to help you successfully raise your children. All services are for ‘any baby, any family.’

Playgroups

Baby & Me is an opportunity for parents to learn together with their child through play while building babies’ social-emotional, physical and cognitive development through songs, sensory materials, and positive interactions. While engaging with their children during the playgroup, adults will gain working knowledge about how to foster their child’s early learning and development and connect with other caregivers of similarly aged children.

Core Concepts: Secure attachment, relationship building, infant feeding, soothing, safe sleep, serve and return communication, tummy time, day/night acclimation, beginning motor skills

View dates and register (required). 

Growing Together is an opportunity for parents and their children to learn together through play, fostering early development through music, fine and gross motor experiences, and other open-ended play opportunities. The group supports the domains of language, cognitive, motor, and social/emotional development using a variety of materials. While participating with their children, adults will gain working knowledge of the importance of play and many ways to support their one-year-old’s early development and learning.

Core Concepts: Burgeoning independence, motor skills, autonomy, language, sensory experiences, sharing space and materials with others, executive functioning, regulation, play, turn-taking

View dates and register (required). 

Little Amigos is an opportunity for parents and their children to learn together while being exposed to Spanish using play, music, stories, and more. Children are provided with experiences to explore, create, and discover using all areas of development. Spanish vocabulary is introduced, and conversational phrases are modeled. While engaging with their children, adults will develop a working knowledge about the value of dual-language learning and using play as the primary means of supporting development, language and early learning.

Core Concepts: Core concepts embedded in all other playgroups plus, benefits of multi-language learning, dual-language exposure

View dates and register (required). 

Wonder Years is an opportunity for parents and their children (24-36 months old) to learn together through experiences that support early development through music, stories, exploration of materials, and other creative, developmentally appropriate activities. All domains of development are fostered (motor, cognitive/language, and social/emotional skills) while adults are guided to continue supportive play and social experiences at home to encourage independent discovery and relationship building.

Core Concepts: Executive functioning, autonomy, independence, developing self-expression and language skills, gross and fine motor refinement, sharing space and materials with others, regulation, play, turn-taking

View dates and register (required). 

Creative Learning is an opportunity for parents and their children (36-60 months old) to learn together through play that promotes children’s critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity through exploration and play. Using preschoolers’ interests and motivations, open-ended activities promote discoveries through classifying, sorting, and comparing materials. While participating with their child, adults are guided through developmentally appropriate play experiences that foster their eager and energetic children.

Core Concepts: Independence, executive function, developing language, literacy, and cognitive skills, perspective-taking, initiative

View dates and register (required). 

Mix it Up is an opportunity for parents and their children (12 months old and confidently walking to 60 months) to learn together through experiences that nurture development in a mixed-age group setting. Observe the differences in play across ages. Experiences include songs, rhymes, storytelling, and open-ended activities. This group is ideal for families with more than one child. While engaging with their child, adults will gain working knowledge about activities that support development across the early years, how to foster the successful sharing of space and materials and the social benefits of mixed age groups. 

Core Concepts: Core concepts embedded in other playgroups plus, exposure to a range of skills, behaviors, interests, positive sibling experiences, “family” setting model

View dates and register (required). 

Community Offerings

My First Year is a discussion/support group led by a child development specialist for parents/caregivers and infants up to 12+ months of age or until confidently walking. Parents and infants participate together. Children are provided materials to explore and play while adults are provided developmental and emotional support to help navigate their baby’s early months of life. Weekly discussions include; understanding baby’s cues, mindful interactions and play, creating safe environments, developmental milestones, emerging language, and more. 

View dates and register (required). 

Parenting 1s and 2s is a drop-in virtual support group led by a Child Development Specialist. Discussions include navigating the developing growth and independence of children of this age while providing supportive, empathic guidance that builds strong, secure attachments between a child and parent/caregivers. Discussions will reflect the importance of relationships, exploration, and play in the early years, in support of healthy growth, development and learning 

View dates and register (required). 

 

Infants and children up to 5 years old and their accompanying adults are invited to enjoy the infant and toddler playrooms and the outdoor play space. It’s a great opportunity for socialization and shared experiences in a relaxed environment. Please join us anytime during the hours identified. Fun Fridays are offered on most Fridays from 10am-12pm. Check the registration page for available dates. Registration is required, here. 

Classes & Workshops

This 2-visit workshop is led by a certified infant massage educator who will instruct adults on the techniques and benefits of infant massage. 

View dates and register (required). 

 

In this 3-hour class you will learn how to make your baby feel safe and cared for. You will be taught how to soothe, diaper, bathe, dress, and feed your newborn. You will also learn the importance of connecting with your infant and how talking, reading, singing, and playing can strengthen this bond and help your baby feel secure. 

View dates and register (required). 

 

Developmental Checkups

Developmental Checkups 

Using the Brookes Publishing Ages and Stages Questionnaires, children between 2 and 66 months of age are eligible for a complimentary developmental checkup. Together, parents and a Developmental Screening Specialist will view a snapshot of your child’s development; noting achievements, milestones or possible concerns which will be addressed early. This screening ensures peace of mind for you and success for your child! 

Learn more about your child’s milestones, how to best foster development and available community resources that can support you and your family. 

Schedule an appointment here 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Baby Bungalow is for ANY parent or caregiver of ANY child age 0-5 seeking information related to the development of children and strengthening of families. The facility’s unique open-door approach means no referrals are necessary to access the many resources of Baby Bungalow. New and experienced parents can benefit from a wide variety of child-related programs, classes, and enrichment activities.

No. Baby Bungalow strives to promote the strong bonding of families through activities including both parent/caregiver and child. It is not a drop-off care facility.

Registration for playgroups, workshops, developmental check-ups, and support groups is free. We provide an opportunity for families to make a contribution to our fees in the registration confirmation email you will receive.

*Your presence and participation are what matters to us. Fees can be waived upon request.

Register for our playgroups and workshops through the tab above on the Baby Bungalow program page or phone (813) 673-4646 X 1148 for further assistance. You can also reach a child development specialist through the babybungalow@cfctb.org email address for assistance with playgroup choices and to help with enrolment.

Playgroups are for the registered child(ren) only. Infant siblings who are ‘wearable’ and not yet mobile, are allowed to attend with their older, registered sister or brother. The mixed-age playgroups that can accommodate siblings are Mix it Up (12-60 months), Little amigos (24-48 months), and Creative Learning (36-60 months). Each child needs to be registered.

Playgroups and workshops are primarily offered at 3106 West Azeele Street, Tampa, FL 33609

Select playgroups/workshops are offered at 3111 West Morrison Avenue, Tampa, FL 33629 (Bayshore Baptist Church).

Baby Bungalow is funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and private donations.