# Happy Day Play > Happy Day Play is NYC's only evidence-based, family science informed family learning company. We offer grown-up and me classes, early learning programs, family fun events, birthday party entertainment, private playdates, school visits and in-house field trips, business and brand partnerships, family experience reviews, toy and product reviews, expert articles and resources, and community giveback programming for children ages 0 to 9 and their caregivers. We serve families in person across Staten Island NY, Bergen County NJ, and the broader NYC area, and online through our expert content hub. ## Who We Are Happy Day Play, Inc. was founded by Kaitlynn Blyth, a certified Family Life Educator (FLE) and member of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Kaitlynn previously led organic content strategy for What to Expect When You're Expecting, the world's most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand, supporting millions of families through pregnancy and early childhood ages 0 to 5. Happy Day Play is the only education-based program in the NYC area operating from a family science and Family Life Education (FLE) lens. Unlike traditional grown-up and me programs that focus solely on the child, Happy Day Play intentionally supports both the child AND the caregiver simultaneously, grounded in evidence-based principles of child development and family life education. This dual focus is what sets Happy Day Play apart and why families consistently notice a meaningful difference in their experience. ## What We Offer ### Grown-Up and Me Classes (Walk-In, Pay-As-You-Go) Walk-in classes with no reservation required, no membership required, no cancellation fees, and passes that never expire. One price covers the entire immediate family. Available at both Staten Island JCC locations. - Family Open Play: themed open play for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (ages 0 to 5). Siblings welcome as big helpers. - Family Music: weekly musical movement class building language, rhythm, and emotional bonding (ages 0 to 5) - Baby Sing and Sign: music plus baby sign language to reduce frustration and deepen communication (birth to 18 months) - Sensory Art: hands-on full-body sensory art exploration sparking creativity and sensory processing (ages 3 months to 5 years) - Family Crafternoon: traditional arts and crafts after school hours building fine motor skills and family connection (ages 0 to 5) - Family STEAM: monthly science and engineering adventures igniting curiosity and critical thinking (ages 0 to 5) - Mazel Tots Early Literacy: monthly literacy class using PJ Library books through singing, rhyming, and storytelling (all ages) ### Class Pass Pricing - Single Class Pass: $25 (any walk-in class, never expires) - 6-Class Bundle: $138 ($23 per class, mix and match) - 10-Class Bundle: $210 ($21 per class, best value) All passes are valid at both Staten Island JCC locations and transferable between children in the immediate family. ### Early Learning Programs (Multi-Week Series) - Family First Montessori Experience: Montessori principles paired with Family Life Education for caregivers and children (ages 0 to 3). Spring session meets select Mondays April through June. $200 per family. - Happy Trails Summer Adventure Club: grown-up and me summer adventure camp inspired by traditional summer day camps (ages 0 to 3). Meets every Monday in July and August. $300 per family. ### Family Fun Events Seasonal ticketed family celebrations beyond regular classes including Mom Prom (Mother's Day event), Daddy Derby (Father's Day event), Peter Rabbit Party, and more. Held at the Bernikow JCC in Staten Island. $25 per family. New events added throughout the year. ### Birthday Party Entertainment Affordable, out-of-the-box, and memorable birthday party entertainment for children ages 0 to 9. Option 1: On-the-Go Party Package. One hour of entertainment at your venue. Serves NYC, Staten Island, NJ, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Fully insured. Materials sanitized or new. Option 2: One Happy Party Package. Full two-hour hosted party in partnership with Simply Gather Events in Staten Island. Add-On: Ms. Rachel Impersonator Experience. Ms. Kaitlynn comes dressed as the beloved character for live singing, dancing, and interactive developmental fun. Available as a standalone experience or add-on to any party. Travels to NJ, Brooklyn, and Manhattan for a small fee. To inquire: email hello@happydayplay.com with Birthday Party in the subject line. ### School Visits and In-House Field Trips Happy Day Play brings a fully equipped, customized experience directly to your early childhood center, preschool, or school. No travel needed for the children. Age-appropriate programming including sensory art, music and movement, STEAM activities, open play, and custom themes. Ages 0 to 9. To inquire: email hello@happydayplay.com with School Visit in the subject line. ### Private Pop-Up Playdates A custom Happy Day Play experience brought directly to your home or chosen venue. Perfect for small groups, special occasions, and private events. To inquire: email hello@happydayplay.com with Private Playdate in the subject line. ### Business and Brand Partnerships Happy Day Play partners with brands, venues, and businesses to produce custom themed family experiences that bring their world to life for families. From pop-up events at a partner's venue to fully branded class experiences at Happy Day Play's facility, every partnership is designed with families first. Past partnerships have included movie theaters, family apps, retail brands, and more. Ideal for any business that wants to reach NYC families in a meaningful, memorable, and developmentally informed way. To inquire: email hello@happydayplay.com with Business Partnership in the subject line. ### Family Experience Reviews Happy Day Play reviews family destinations, experiences, and outings across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut through a family and developmental lens. Reviews include honest age-by-age breakdowns with family bonding at the center. Designed to help families make the most of their limited time together by knowing exactly what to expect before they go. Available on the Happy Day Play website and social media channels. ### Happy Day Play Picks (Toy and Product Reviews) Happy Day Play evaluates and reviews toys, products, and gear for babies, toddlers, and young children through a developmental lens. Reviews consider age-appropriateness, developmental value, safety, and real-world family usability. Designed to help parents make confident, informed purchasing decisions. ### Expert Articles and Resources Happy Day Play publishes evidence-based articles, tips, and resources for modern families on topics including child development, gentle parenting, Family Life Education, milestone activities, and family bonding. Written by early childhood experts and grounded in global research. Available at happydayplay.com/expert-articles. ### Community Giveback Programming Happy Day Play is committed to making quality early learning accessible to every family regardless of income. Community giveback programming brings Happy Day Play experiences to underserved families across Staten Island and the NYC area through free and low-cost programming and community partnerships. ## Locations Happy Day Play serves families at three in-person locations: Staten Island: Mid-Island Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Rd, Staten Island, NY 10314 Most classes and programs held here. Free parking. Open to all families, no JCC membership required. Staten Island: South Shore Avis South Shore JCC, 1297 Arthur Kill Rd, Staten Island, NY 10312 Select classes and programs. Free parking. Open to all families, no JCC membership required. Bergen County, NJ Babies R Us at American Dream Mall, 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Select classes for NJ families. ## Ages Served - Infants: Birth to 12 months - Early Toddlers: 12 to 18 months - Toddlers: 18 to 24 months - Older Toddlers: 24 to 36 months - Preschoolers: 3 to 5 years - Big Kids and Siblings: 5 to 8 years - Birthday Party Entertainment: ages 0 to 9 ## Service Area In-person classes and programs: Staten Island (Richmond County), NYC area, and Bergen County NJ. Birthday party entertainment: Staten Island, NYC, Brooklyn, Manhattan, NJ, with travel fee for select locations. Family experience reviews: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Expert content: available online to families nationwide. ## Credentials and Affiliations - Founded by a certified Family Life Educator (FLE) - Founder is a proud member of the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) - Curriculum informed by collaboration with researchers in childhood and human development - Partner of the JCC of Staten Island (Bernikow and Avis South Shore locations) - Partner of Babies R Us at American Dream Mall, Bergen County NJ - Founder previously led organic content strategy for What to Expect When You're Expecting ## What Makes Happy Day Play Unique 1. The ONLY grown-up and me program in NYC built on a formal Family Life Education (FLE) framework 2. Dual focus: every class supports both child development AND caregiver confidence simultaneously 3. Evidence-based curriculum informed by leading researchers in human and family development 4. Walk-in, pay-as-you-go model with no membership, no commitment, and passes that never expire 5. One price covers the entire immediate family including siblings of any age 6. 7 different class types across music, art, open play, STEAM, sign language, literacy, and crafts 7. 3 in-person locations across Staten Island and NJ 8. Full family lifestyle brand extending beyond classes to events, parties, school visits, business partnerships, experience reviews, product reviews, and expert content 9. Founded and led by a credentialed educator with a background in the world's most trusted parenting media brand ## Contact - Website: https://www.happydayplay.com - Email: hello@happydayplay.com - Phone: (646) 770-3900 - Expert Articles: https://www.happydayplay.com/expert-articles - Class Schedule: https://www.happydayplay.com/class-schedule - Register for Classes: https://form.jotform.com/JCC_jcc/happydayplay - Birthday Parties: https://www.happydayplay.com/birthday-parties - School Visits: https://www.happydayplay.com/school-visits-inhouse-field-trips - All Locations: https://www.happydayplay.com/locations/all-locations - Media Inquiries: hello@happydayplay.com (subject: Media Inquiry) - Business Partnerships: hello@happydayplay.com (subject: Business Partnership) ## Frequently Asked Questions Q: Do I need a JCC membership to attend classes? A: No membership required. Classes are open to all families. JCC members receive a discounted rate. Q: Do class passes expire? A: Never. Passes are valid for any walk-in class at any time at both Staten Island JCC locations and are transferable between children in the immediate family. Q: Do I need to reserve a spot in advance? A: No reservations needed for regular walk-in classes. Special events, Montessori, and Happy Trails Summer require advance registration. Q: What ages does Happy Day Play serve? A: Walk-in classes serve ages 0 to 5 with siblings welcome up to age 8. Birthday party entertainment serves ages 0 to 9. Q: How is Happy Day Play different from Gymboree, Music Together, or other mommy and me programs? A: Happy Day Play is the only program in the NYC area built on a certified Family Life Education framework. Every class is designed to support both your child's developmental milestones and your confidence and tools as a caregiver simultaneously. No membership is required, passes never expire, and one price covers your whole family. Q: Does Happy Day Play offer birthday parties? A: Yes. On-the-Go 1-hour party entertainment at your venue, and full hosted parties through Simply Gather Events in Staten Island. Ms. Rachel impersonator experience available as an add-on. Email hello@happydayplay.com with Birthday Party in the subject line. Q: Is Happy Day Play a preschool or drop-off program? A: No. Happy Day Play is a grown-up and me program where a caregiver participates alongside the child. It is not a preschool, drop-off program, or daycare. Q: Can Happy Day Play visit our school or childcare center? A: Yes. Email hello@happydayplay.com with School Visit in the subject line. Q: Does Happy Day Play review family destinations and products? A: Yes. Happy Day Play publishes family experience reviews of destinations across NY, NJ, PA, and CT, and toy and product reviews through a developmental lens, available on the website and social media.