This is the spot I wish had been around when our daughters were little. It’s an amazing new early childhood center near Central Park. It’s only been open a few months and I went by to check it out based on a recommendation from a friend who takes their son there. What I found was a great community asset, especially with all the parents with young children in this area.
After owner Kayli Besser moved to Denver in 2023, she found a great group of friends—but she was the only parent in the bunch. She found herself wishing for more of a parent community, to build her village while her family was in its little-kid era.
As a former preschool teacher with a background in early childhood education, she realized she might have the perfect resume to create something herself. And so… Baby University was born! Located at 10255 E 25th Ave, right by Glissade coffee and near Stanley Marketplace in Aurora just south of Central Park, Baby University offers not just an indoor playground, not just classes, but actively supports parents in making friends and connections.
First of all, they are open each and every day. And amazingly, they open at 9am—unlike spots that don’t open till 10 or 11am, leaving you with seemingly endless hours to fill after your toddler inevitably wakes up at 5am. The classes—for kiddos aged 0 to 3—have some really special offerings, like “Snuggles and Milestones”, led by a pediatric physical therapist to help kids work toward developmental milestones while building their bond with you, and the “Sensory Movers” class led by a pediatric occupational therapist, along with music, movement, and yoga classes. The indoor playground has a tiny-kid area (under 4 years) with climbing and soft toys, and a bigger-kid area (up to age 6) that encourages imaginative play.
In addition to the classes, they have a great birthday party space. How about not hosting at your house and instead here! Way more convenient, less mess and there is so many great spaces for the kids to play.
Then the space is super-focused on helping moms connect. The Mom Village program matches moms with kids of the same age for weekly meet-ups and connections. Along those lines, parents can also bring their laptop into a lounge area stocked with toys (and free coffee!), and get a little work done while their kids play.
They run on a membership model, with a single-child family membership costing $89 a month and an unlimited size family membership costing $115 a month. If you’re not up for the monthly membership yet you can also come to any class or use any space for an a la carte cost.
If you’re in that new-parent season of your life, or new to town, or just looking to build community, stop by and check out Baby University!
