Toddler Central

It’s music and singing time at The Poppyseed Pre-Nursery, where a group of toddlers and accompanying adults surround a pile of stuffed animals, miniature drums, and colorful maracas.

Following the first strum of teacher Amy’s guitar, the children dance one by one in the center of the circle. One babysitter is lucky enough to enjoy a round of song with a stuffed duck on her head, much to the children’s amusement. With snack and storytime and arts and crafts still on the agenda, the kids have a lot to look forward to, and their laughter fills the bright, blue-carpeted room.

When she opened The Poppyseed Pre-Nursery on the Upper West Side in 1986, director and founder Gail Ionescu succeeded in creating one of the first pre- pre-school programs in the city—before they were a trend. Having worked as a children’s therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital, a faculty member at the 92nd Street Y Parenting Center, and an assistant director at a children’s theater, Ionescu sensed the need for a haven for toddlers who were not old enough to start nursery school but could benefit from socializing in an organized environment.

“My idea was that children under three need to be around other people,” says Ionescu, a native New Yorker and mother of a 17-year-old daughter. “When it’s time to go to nursery school, they can use
their energy to focus on actual learning rather than reassuring
themselves that they’re okay in [a social] setting.”

Armed with a very
modest inheritance left by a beloved grandmother, the emotional support
of her husband, Christian, and the encouragement of parents she’d worked
with in the past, she decided to take the risk. “I didn’t have very
much money and thought: Should I take a gamble and invest in toys and
get started on this?” recalls Ionescu. 

Today, the families who
make up the Poppyseed community are glad she did. One of the hallmarks
of Ionescu’s program is its emphasis on the essential bond between a
child and their parent or caregiver. To that end, adults play as
important a role as children in every class, providing a sense of
security and a loving environment. “Children learn better and are more
focused on the activities and curriculum when they are feeling secure
and relaxed,” says Ionescu.

With an average class size of 12 children, led by both a teacher and assistant,
attention is given to each individual child. “The fact that they’re with
the same children several times a week for a period of a year gives
them an experience that can resemble a real community— like an extended
family,” says Ionescu, adding that adults—not just the children—often
end up making friends there too.

The space itself manages to feel both
expansive and intimate. The 1,000 square feet are divided into a
well-stocked toy area replete with puppets, puzzles, toy trucks, dolls,
and more; a music area with a piano and instruments; a mini-gym; a book
corner, and an arts and crafts section. 

After guiding the Upper
West Side institution for more than 20 years, Ionescu hopes Poppyseed
will continue to attract families looking for a warm pre-nursery
experience for their child. “The enjoyment of being together is [our]
basic driving force,” says Ionescu.

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

A-Game Sports

<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">A-Game Sports is a premier provider of sports camps, programming and instruction for kids of all ages ranging from toddlers to teens. As an instructional and recreational youth sports facility, our goal is to make athletics a rewarding experience for all kids. A-Game Sports is located in New Rochelle, NY, and offers camps, lessons, customized programs for more than 10 sports and rental space for private events. A-Game Sports was founded in 2013 by two guys who decided that it was time to do what they truly love in life. Since then, we've made the ideology of fusing hard work and fun into a reality. Our dedicated staff of professional coaches share their enthusiasm with kids of all ages and skill levels that take part in our programs.</p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"> </p> </div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;">With turfed fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and flag football, batting cages and tunnels for baseball and softball, and various basketball programs, A-Game Sports is one of the premiere sports facilities for kids and adults of any age. Aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts will benefit from our many strength and conditioning programs, while children new to sports will learn skills and techniques within their chosen sport, all while having a great time and keeping the game fun.</p> </div>

Dance Workshop - Long Island

<p dir="ltr">Nestled in the heart of Lynbrook Village, Dance Workshop is a community-focused studio committed to dance education in a loving and safe environment. Dance Workshop offers Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre and Acro for ages 2+. They also offer a Pre-Professional Company track for dancers interested in taking their technique to the next level. Trial classes may be scheduled with the studio at the start of the season. Dance with the Dance Workshop!</p> <p dir="ltr">MaryAnn Grasso founded Dance Workshop in 1979. Her daughter Nanci later joined her at the helm and in 2016 established Dance Workshop on the Upper East Side of NYC. MaryAnn and Nanci have devoted their lives to dance education, community and the development of children; raising dancers and sound human beings alike. Dance Workshop has seen thousands of dancers pass through the doors. They believe dance has the power to elevate and change lives!</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b50ede03-7fff-ec65-8962-b3be9135d2e8"></span></p>

Atlantic Acting School

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Looking for a fun and exciting theater program for kids and teens? Join us at the Atlantic. Our programs are intense, exciting and fun!</span></p>