If your kids are finally walking around, ready and excited to meet others, and you are also ready to meet some parents and caregivers, it’s time to think about playgroups! While Hong Kong has many options for Montessori playgroups all the way to multi-language learning playgroups, we help you by highlighting the best playgroups in Hong Kong for all-round education and social skill training, play equipment, and engaging learning environment for your child!
BabySteps — Central
BabySteps supports children throughout their early years, from infancy to toddlerhood and preschool age. In pursuit of this goal, the international preschool maximises its 2,500 square feet of space, specifically designed to nurture cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. With its range of over 10 specialised programmes, BabySteps ensures that each aspect of a child’s development is given the attention it deserves.
The diverse classes range from the Baby on the Move programme for infants to develop their gross motor skills through play, to a Coding course for older children to develop their problem-solving, critical thinking, and computational thinking skills.
BabySteps also places emphasis on prepping children for school, as well as getting them ready for those all-important school interviews. They have two classes — one for group settings and another for private sessions — to help children develop the academic and social skills they are expected to display as signs of school-readiness.
Ages: 6 months-6 years
Where: 2501 Universal Trade Centre, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Central
Contact: +852 2887 7585 or enquiries@babysteps.com.hk
Tutor Time — Multiple locations
Tutor Time is a bilingual nursery and kindergarten with four international preschool campuses in Hong Kong: Central, North Point, Yuen Long, and Kowloon Tong. Half of these four locations incorporate a mix of colourful, stimulating indoor learning space and outdoor play areas. First founded in Florida in 1988 then expanding into multiple locations across the United States, Tutor Time opened Hong Kong’s first fully immersive English-Mandarin preschool in 2001. The focus is on getting your little ones ready for school, and not just any school, but the top international and local primary schools in the city.
The Wow Activity Group for ages 6 months to 2 years creates child-motivated learning experiences using play stimulated by the environment itself, as well as toys and books from Learning Time educational learning kits. All programs are led by one native English teacher and one Mandarin teacher. In addition to the native Language Teacher leading the class, the classroom teacher is a trilingual teacher to support parent communication and ensure each child has more individual attention. Playgroup sizes are capped at 8-10 babies to keep the teacher to child ratio 1:5 or below.
Ages: 6 months to 2 years
Where: All Tutor Time schools: Braemar Hill (North Point), Caine Road (Central), Dorset Crescent (Kowloon Tong), and YOHO (Yuen Long)
Contact: +852 9123 6889 (WhatsApp) or info@tutortime.com.hk
Baby Brain — Cheung Sha Wan
Located in Cheung Sha Wan, Baby Brain offers Reggio Emilia-inspired playgroups including their Nido 1 (12 – 24 months) and Nido 2 (18 – 24 months). The first playgroup is a part-time programme which focuses on stimulating children’s early brain development through hands-on experiences including music and movement, art and crafts and food sciences. There is also a focus on literacy and maths concepts which is proven to increase the likelihood of future academic success. The Nido 2 programme offers an Independent Class option for the students who are ready. Prices vary by programme but they offer free trials.
Ages: 12-24 months and 18-24 months
Where: Cronin Garden, Shop D, G/F, Block 5, 20 Shun Ning Rd, Cheung Sha Wan
Contact: +852 2940 6066 or babybrain.adm@gmail.com
Casita — Sheung Wan
Aiming to be a reimagined family centre for families and communities to converge and help children play, grow, and of course, have fun! Their core Casita program combines music and movement, through Zumbini® with Play Oriented Discovery Sessions (PODS) to create an immersive experience that promotes physical and mental development. Each class costs HK$300 and they have three levels of playgroups: Tumblers (up to 12 months), Wanderers (1-2 years), and Explorers (2-3 years). Zumbini® only programs are offered for HK$280 and Zoombini, their lockdown learning offering, is offered for HK$100 per class.
Ages: 0-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-3 years
Where: 2/F, Workington Tower, 78 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan
Contact: +852 6291 0128 or info@casita.com.hk
City Kids (Little Stars) — Central
A beautiful historic building in Mid-Levels has been converted into an indoor-outdoor space offering a community based, unique, learning experience in early childhood education. Accompanied by a parent or carer, your child, between 10 months – 3 years old, is invited to explore the home corner, kitchen, ball pit, books, puzzles, slide and sandpit, amongst many other activities! City Kids’ Little Stars English playgroup harkens the Montessori approach in encouraging children to develop natural activities in a well-prepared environment. They host weekly classes, which you can sign up for by term. To join in and enjoy their stimulating, safe, and friendly environment, the fee is approximately HK$4,200 for 6 months.
Ages: 10 months to 3 years
Where: East Wing, 2/F, 12 Borrett Rd, Mid-levels
Contact: +852 2522 4446 or admin@citykidshk.org
International Parent Infant Program — Sheung Wan
Launched by Anne Knecht-Boyer, author of the best-selling book, “Baby Fun: Games and Activities to Promote your baby’s mental physical and social development”, International Parent Infant Program offers unique, sensory integration classes that use scientifically designed activities and exercises to stimulate development. The programs are also suitable for children with special developmental needs. Classes are based on age groups, 6 weeks – 3 months, 4-6 months, 7 – 12 months and are limited to six baby and mother pairs. Over the course of 10 lessons (which costs HK$4,500), Anne teaches parents over 100 activities that aid your baby in mental and physical development such as sensory integration, hand-eye coordination, and visual stimulation.
Ages: 6 weeks to 3 months, 4-6 months, 7-12 months
Where: Unit C, 14/F, Casey Bldg, 38 Lok Ku Rd, Sheung Wan
Contact: +852 9092 5465 or pip@intparentinfantprogram.asia
Kangaroo Babycare — Shek Mun
For a Cantonese playgroup, Kangaroo Babycare has a number of different options for kids eight months and above. They offer parents an opportunity to bond with their child and “teach by example.” Programmes include Little Koala (8 – 12 months) where kids get to make new friends and also develop greater intimacy with their carer and Little Explorers (12 – 30 months) where creativity and collaboration is encouraged. They also offer Kangamusic which has Kindermusik-trained tutors as well as Storyland to cultivate a passion for reading.
Ages: 8-12 months, 12-30 months
Where: Room E, 10/F, Kingsway Plaza Phase I, 3 On Kwan St, Shek Mun
Contact: +852 5406 2640
Kidznjoy — Multiple locations
With centres across the city, Kidznjoy is a well-established playgroup company with a number of programs providing children opportunities to learn and grow in a stimulating and caring environment. They offer some of the most well-known playgroups in Hong Kong: Mommies & Babies Playgroup caters to newborns up to 8-month-olds and promote early childhood development such as motor and social skills. The English Playgroups for 9 months to 3 years and 2-4 years, which focuses on the ‘PLAY & LEARN’ Methodology, they teach basics such as ABCs, numbers, colours etc while also developing their confidence and communication skills. Additionally, their Indoor Messy Playtime (1-4 years), Music, Dance & Crafts (1-3 years), and Creative Story-Time & Crafts (2-4 years), all cater to different parts of a child’s development.
Ages: 9 months to 4 years
Where: Ap Lei Chau, Discovery Bay, Repulse Bay, Tung Chung (2 locations), Wan Chai
Contact: +852 5744 5664 or christine@kidznjoy.com
The Little Gym — Tsim Sha Tsui
While they provide gymnastics for all ages, The Little Gym offers a Parent/Child playgroup that is catered for children between 4 months and 3 years old. They nurture three key areas of learning: movement and muscle control with coordination and motor skill development; brain boost including colour, letter and number recognition, and language development; and social skills such as independence, sharing and cooperation. Watching your child tumble, rumble, and play will get both your endorphins going leading to lots of smiles, hugs, and cuddles! An annual family membership is HK$40 with prices varying based on the number of lessons per season, and they also offer a free introductory class.
Ages: 4 months to 3 years
Where: Units 1027-8, 1/F, Star House, 3 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Contact: +852 2368 8777 or tlghongkong@thelittlegym.com
Malvern Playgroup — Sai Ying Pun & Yau Ma Tei
Part of the esteemed Malvern College group, the Malvern Playgroup runs one of the best playgroups in Hong Kong. They offer carer-accompanied sessions for children between 6- 24 months, including fun activities like singing, reading, games, free play, arts and craft, music or baby yoga! They have two beautiful campuses in Yau Ma Tei and Sai Ying Pun, designed for multisensory experiences, greater flexibility, and inspired learning, ultimately with the motto that “environment is the third teacher.” Fees start from HK$2,300 per calendar month for weekly meetings of 1.5-hour sessions.
Ages: 6- 24 months
Where: G09-12 Coronation Circle, 1 Yau Cheung Rd (Yau Ma Tei) and G/F & 1/F Viking Court, 165-166 Connaught Rd West (Sai Ying Pun)
Contact: +852 3898 4669 or info@babyloneducation.com
Pebbles Playgroup — Hung Hom
With bilingual and trilingual teaching offered, Pebbles is a great option for those who are wanting their kids to be fluent through regular attendance at their English, Cantonese, and Mandarin playgroups. With decades of pedagogical experience, they offer three key programs based on age: Teeny Tots (12-15 months), Pitter Patter (15-22 months) and Preppies (22-30 months). While the first focuses on helping your child learn through play and exploration at HK$3,840 for eight lessons, Pitter Patter introduces a kaleidoscope of engaging activities to stimulate key areas of development at HK$5,600 for 8 lessons. Preppies is designed to help your child prepare for the classroom setting by introducing routines and costs between HK$9,180 and HK$13,500 for 15 to 23 lessons.
Ages: 12-15 months, 15-22 months, 22-30 months
Where: Shop 1A, G/F, Commercial Block, Harbour Place, 8 Oi King St, Hung Hom
Contact: +852 2769-1308 or info@pebbles-hk.com
Spring — Wan Chai
SPRING provides an innovative offering by creating environments and programmes that immerse your child to achieve their development and learning potential during the crucial growth years. They are known for their unique programmes such as Neurosteps which supports motor skill development and Neurosense which exposes children to a wide range of sensorial input. Their Discoverer and Discoverer Plus programmes, suitable for children between 18 and 32 months, prepare them for preschool through theme-based learning as well as inter- and intra-personal skill development. They also offer a number of nutrition, sports, and special interest classes such as Kindermusik, STEM, and cooking. Contact them for prices and ask in-person after a trial class!
Ages: Newborn to 6 years
Where: 181-185 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai
Contact: +852 3465 5000 or enquiry@spring-learning.com.hk
FAQ about playgroups in Hong Kong
What is a playgroup?
A playgroup is the perfect opportunity for parents and kids to mingle with others, and start to build their social skills. It is usually a child’s first time in the outside world, so playgroups offer a safe, playful space to learn basic knowledge and interact with others.
What is the difference between playgroup and preschool?
In Hong Kong, most playgroups are run by educational experts, although some can be organized by parents. Even newborns up to pre-school or nursery can attend playgroups. Preschools are more formal educational institutes for children aged 2-6 years.
🤸♂️ More guides for great places to play:
Header image credits: Casita Hong Kong
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