Work Out. We'll Watch the Kids.

Stay & Play is a benefit included in a Tampa Y Family membership and Two Person membership. While you work out (for up to two hours), kids engage in interactive, intentional play and self-discovery learning in Stay & Play.

Stay & Play is engaging, curriculum-based play for kids ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. Children will be immersed in hands-on play stations including science, art, reading, dramatic play and more. All activities are age-appropriate and contribute to early childhood development. Play stations encourage play that opens children's imaginations. Kids look forward to coming to the Y because of Stay & Play and often want to stay even when it's time to leave!

Safety First
The Tampa Y Stay & Play Family Programming Attendants have been trained in each play station, parent policies and caring for young children.

Locations
Stay & Play is available at most Tampa Y locations—click "Stay & Play" in the Amenities sections. In some cases, special accommodations can be made for children with special needs. 

Our curriculum-based play offers play stations including: 
Arts and crafts, table top games, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, dramatic play, science and nature, quiet learning.

Types of play stations and activities:

  • Question of the day
  • Block building
  • Guided play
  • Science
    • Sorting, describe what you see. 
  • Dramatic play
    •  Kitchen, fruit sorting, touch center rug
  • Stretch questions to encourage kids to use their imagination and repeat what they've learned
    • "Describe what you've built in a few words."

Types of Learning

  • Quiet Learning: Kids read and look at books independently, older readers engage with young readers, Y staff reads to small groups.
  • Stretch Questions: each play station engages children to use their imagination. Stretch questions encourage them to open their minds and repeat what they've learned. 
  • Fine motor skills: matching games 
  • Gross motor skills: rhythm and movement

Youth Zone
Like Stay & Play, Youth Zone is supervised play for kids ages 7 - 12. Kids make friends, play games and even have a space to work on homework while you work out.


Kids must be included on the Family Membership or Two Person Household Membership to take advantage of Stay & Play and Youth Zone.