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
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.
Baby & Me meets on Mondays (excluding holidays) at Bayshore Baptist Church, 3111 W. Morrison Ave., on the 2nd floor and Tuesdays at Champions for Children’s main campus, 3108 W. Azeele St.
Growing Together is an opportunity for parents and their children (12-24 months old) 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. Children must be confidently walking and 12 months old to register.
The following age groupings are offered:
12-18 months
18-24 months
12-24 months
Little Amigos is an opportunity for parents and their children (24-48 months old) to learn together while being exposed to Spanish using play, music, stories, and more. Children are provided 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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 first year of life. Weekly discussions include; understanding baby’s cues, mindful interactions and play, creating safe environments, developmental milestones, emerging language, and more.
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 reserve one (1) slot per child.
Parenting 1s and 2s is a drop-in virtual support group led by an expert in Child Development. 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
We invite you to enjoy our playground! Reservations are for 50-minute visits to allow time to exchange used materials with clean ones for the next family. We ask that you register only 1 time per week to allow all families the opportunity to enjoy our outdoor space. You can invite 2 additional families to join you at your reserved time. Please use the identified box to place used toys in at the end of your visit.
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.
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.
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.
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.