Frequently Asked Questions About Happy Day Play

Have a question before your family joins us? You're in the right place. Happy Day Play is NYC's only Family Life Education–based early learning company, offering walk-in "Grown-Up and Me" classes, programs, and events for families across Staten Island, the broader NYC area, and New Jersey.

Below you'll find answers to what families ask most, from how walk-in classes and pricing work, to who can come, to what makes our whole-family approach different. If your question isn't here, reach us anytime at hello@happydayplay.com

  • Happy Day Play is an early childhood and family learning company serving Staten Island, the broader New York City area, and New Jersey in person, and families everywhere online. We offer walk-in "Grown-Up and Me" walk-in classes, multi-week early learning programs, family events, birthday party entertainment, school visits, and community events all rooted in Family Life Education and childhood development. We're NYC's only Family Life Education–based learning company, which means our classes are designed to support both the child and the caregiver, not just the child.

  • Most "mommy and me" aka "grown-up and me" programs are built around the child alone, or around a single subject like music, sports, or speech. Happy Day Play is different because it's grounded in Family Life Education, a credentialed field focused on the whole family. Our founder, Kaitlynn Blyth, is also an active member of the National Council on Family Relations. Our programs are evidence-based and supported by a Medical Review Team every quarter. That dual focus, supporting the child and equipping the caregiver, is what families tell us they notice.

  • Family Life Education is a credentialed field grounded in family science and child development, focused on the wellbeing of the whole family. It's what allows our classes to do more than fill an hour. Each experience is developmentally appropriate for your child while also giving you tools, insight, and confidence to support their growth long after class ends.

  • Most of our walk-in classes are designed for children ages 0 to 5, with big-helper older siblings warmly welcome. Our one exception is Baby Sing & Sign, a baby-only class for ages 0 to 1.5. Our multi-week commitment programs are for ages 0 to 3, and our family events are for ages 0 to 5 with big-helper older siblings welcome. Birthday party entertainment, community events and school visits serves a wider range, ages 0 to 9.

    Babies and older siblings are welcome together in the same family class.

  • We approach family learning holistically, tending to the developmental needs of the child while also supporting communication, wellbeing, and the way family life shifts as children grow.

    In class, this looks like dedicated family experiences across open play, music, sensory art, STEAM, early literacy, and more each built on Family Life Education and child development principles.

    Our staff brings a mix of expertise and backgrounds so every family finds a rich, supportive experience.

  • Most of our Grown-Up and Me classes are walk-in and pay-as-you-go, so you can just show up when it works for your family. There's no registration fee and no commitment. A few special programs and ticketed events do require advance sign-up, and those are clearly marked on our schedule.

  • Our walk-in Grown-Up and Me classes range from $18 to $25 per family, with siblings included at no extra charge. JCC members receive a discounted rate. We also offer discounted 6-class and 10-class passes, which transfer between your children. No memberships, no cancellation fees, because we know family life doesn't always go to plan.

    Get a class pass or bundle here.

  • There are no cancellation fees or need to reschedule. For walk-in classes, you simply come when you can. No reservation is required unless otherwise stated. For passes, your sessions stay yours to use across your children, so nothing goes to waste if a day doesn't work out.

  • We allow more than one supportive adult per child, because the whole point of the Grown-Up and Me model is family connection. Any loving caregiver is welcome, not only parents.

    Siblings are welcome as long as they’re within the age range listed for the class or program. All ages are welcome at our family open play!

  • Register for a class pass, program, or event through the booking link on our site, or simply walk in to a pay-as-you-go class and a Happy Day Play staff member will show you how to register.

  • We hold regular classes at two Staten Island locations, Bernikow JCC (1466 Manor Rd) and Avis South Shore JCC (1297 Arthur Kill Rd), plus Babies R Us at American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. We also run pop-up classes across all five NYC boroughs.

  • No. While Happy Day Play partners with the JCC of Staten Island, our classes are open to the entire community, with JCC members receiving a discounted rate per class. Happy Day Play is not exclusive to the JCC and is a separate S Corporation.

  • Yes, the Bernikow JCC and Avis JCC location has a free parking lot with ample spots. In the event the lot is filled, there is street parking available.

    Babies R Us at American Dream location has a paid parking lot, however, parking is validated at the end of class by a Babies R Us employee.

  • Not solely. Play is part of what we do, but our approach combines multiple learning methodologies with current insights in family and child development, all rooted in Family Life Education. The result is a fuller experience than conventional play-based enrichment, designed to support the whole family rather than entertain a child for an hour.

  • No, Happy Day Play is not a preschool.

  • No. Our classes, programs and events are built as an immersive experience for a child and their grown-up together, so a caregiver is always present. We are not a drop-off program and not a daycare.

  • No, Happy Day Play is not part of any NYC DOE program. We are not a preschool or a drop-off program.

  • Yes. Happy Day Play is dedicated to a warm, inclusive environment for all families. We're proud to have program leaders on staff with both professional expertise and personal experience in special education, helping ensure a supportive and welcoming space for everyone.

  • Yes. We offer children's birthday party entertainment for ages 0 to 9, with two options: an on-the-go package brought to your venue (starting at $250) and fully hosted parties at Simply Gather Events. We also offer a Ms. Rachel–style impersonator experience as an add-on. We're based on Staten Island and travel to NJ and the greater NYC area for a small fee.

    Beyond parties, we host seasonal family events like Mom Prom, Daddy Derby, Thanksgiving Parade Extravaganza and more.