When my oldest was born, I was a regular at story time and baby yoga (in fact, I even taught baby yoga for awhile!). Then along came my daughter, and then another son, and here I am nearly 8 years later, a work-from-home mom with 4 kids.
The upside of having 4 kids is that I feel like a seasoned pro; I am much more laid back than I was as a new mom. But my youngest definitely doesn’t get the full treatment her older siblings did; instead of Mommy and Me yoga classes, Pearl gets strapped into the carrier and goes along for the ride as we visit parks, the Zoo and other fun, big-kid activities.
So when I heard Queen City Zumbini, I was excited to spend some one-on-one time with my baby girl.
If you’re like me, when you hear “Zumbini,” you think it’s Zumba for babies — and you’re wondering how that works. Zumbini is a music and movement class that incorporates upbeat diverse music with instruments, dance and song. The class promotes cognitive, social, emotional and motor skill development — all the great things you’d want from a Mommy + Me class. Aimed at children ages 0-4, Zumbini is a fun-filled 45-minute class is designed to get you moving and grooving with your little one. Yes — Zumbini is Zumba for kids and babies.
What to expect
You’re going to move — a lot!
I wore a sweater and was definitely sweating by the end. Class began in a circle with a song that introduced each of the babies by name (which they loved). From there, we got up and moving! Movements are very basic, and include marching, jumping, spinning, walking in a circle and swaying. There are 10-15 songs per class, and it’s okay if your child doesn’t always want to cooperate. (I had to feed Pearl and calm Harvey during class, and it was all good.) Parents with younger babies, like me, modified the moves as necessary. Basically, as long as you have a good attitude, you’re set!
45 minutes flies by
Zumbini is a great mix of music and movement, and the instructor kept things moving with a mix of fast and slow songs, different moves and lots of interactive fun. Class flies by and kids (and adults) are entertained the entire time.
You’ll immediately feel right at home
Dana Hill is the instructor for Zumbini classes in Cincinnati. She is incredibly upbeat and positive, and you can tell she loves what she does. She’s also a professional dancer, and makes everything look so easy. I arrived late — with a grumpy 4 year old — and she immediately made me feel right at home. Sometimes, Mommy + Me classes can feel a little clique-y, but Queen City Zumbini didn’t feel like that at all.
How to sign up
Currently, Queen City Zumbini is offered at 4 locations across Cincinnati, and this winter there are classes on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — so it’s easy to find a class that fits your schedule. Depending on where you sign up, there are great play areas that kids can explore afterward. We attended class at Red Balloon Play Cafe, and were able to play afterward as playtime is included in the class fee. There is a one-time waiver to sign, so be sure to arrive a little early before your first class.
You’ll sign up for the entire 6-12 week session, but you can try one class out before enrolling. Demo classes are scheduled throughout the week that allows parents to test out Zumbini class. Demos are an affordable and easy way to try before committing to a longer session!
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