Free activities in Brooklyn- January 2026
- Meghan O'Grady
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
As a new mom, I'm starting to realize even more so than before how fun (and necessary) it is to find activities to fill a child's day. My baby is only 3.5 months old, so his wake windows are still short, and it's entertaining enough for him to just go for a Brooklyn neighborhood walk or play on his play mat. But, I still find myself looking for activities to take him to (he loves to people watch! :) ) or envisioning what I might take him to in a few months! Here are a few activities that stick out to me as both a parent and speech therapist who loves a language-enriching activity:
Mulchfest
When: January 10th-11th, 10 am- 2 pm
Where:
Brooklyn Heights
Pier 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill Park
Why it's language- enriching! -
Play Eye Spy or do a scavenger hunt while at the parks. There are going to be lots of people helping out at these events, a perfect opportunity to work on new words and descriptive language (e.g., "Find a person wearing working gloves." or "Find a saw.").
Narrate and sequence the events you observe using language such as first, next, finally. For example, "First, everyone brought their tree to Cobble Hill Park and laid it against the gate. Then, the volunteers came to help organize the event..."
Model VERBS for young children. There is going to be a lot of action at the Mulchfests around the city. It's a great opportunity to use action words, such as cut, chop, saw, mix, dump, and pour with young children developing their first words.
Hopalong Andrew Music Class
When: Tuesdays at 10 am
Where: Whole Foods in Gowanus
214 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Why it's language- enriching! -
Music is engaging, fun, and often includes lots of repetition- all factors that are great to support language development. We often talk about meaningful repetition when we're working with families of young children, developing their first words. It's important for a child to hear a word in various contexts to build an understanding of the word, what it means, and what it refers to.
For Gestalt Language Processors, music is a modality through which children frequently learn and develop language. The melodies and words to songs often resonate with them, leading to the gestalt language processor using the language in other contexts to share a message.
Yoga Explorers and Music Explorers
Where and When: Various days and times at their Park Slope, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, and Cobble Hill locations
Ages: 3-5 years old
Where: DeKalb market, Downtown Brooklyn
When: Every Saturday and Sunday, 11 am- 2 pm
Why it's language- enriching! - Attending a community event with balloon twisting, face painting, and music creates rich, meaningful opportunities for language growth. Children hear new vocabulary, make choices, and practice social communication in a fun, motivating setting. Music supports rhythm, listening, and early words, while interactive activities encourage turn-taking and expressive language. These shared experiences also give caregivers natural moments to model language and build connection through play.
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