Soccer & Dance

Hi Sara -
My daughter (at the time was 3 1/2) did the Lil Kickers program last summer & loved it! I even did the mom/tot program with my 18 mo. old. It was a good program. They do it over at Waveland Park. Just be sure to sign up for an early morning (9am or 10am) session as it gets hot over there early in July/August.
http://www.chitownfutbol.com/01_home/master_page.html
Good luck!
M.

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For soccer check out Li'l Kickers. They are primarily latino based (or at least that's how they started) But they have various locations throughout the city, and for both indoor and outdoor, and for all ages starting at 18 mo. Information is at the website for the organization called Chitown Futbol (they have adult leagues as well, my husband plays with them.)
http://www.chitownfutbol.com As for ballet, check out the Chicago Park District. They have great inexpensive classes, of all kinds. My son goes there for day camp, art class, music and movement, etc. They just had registration for the spring sessions, and I'm sure most are full (they fill up within seconds). You could try to register for Summer. (The park district also has soccer) Good luck!

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Try Menomoneeclub.org - they do dance and soccer. Not sure what their schedule is but it's very reasonably priced.

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Hi Sara,

There is a program called Little Kickers, they have a website you can go to and it will give you more info. For ballet I would suggest going to the website I believe it is called chicagoparks.com this will list a bunch of activities and locations.

I'm not sure how far you are willing to drive, but a few of my friends all have their daughters in Hyde Park ballet, and love it they said it is about $10 a lesson.

Enjoy,
A.

My friend was just talking about signing her son up for a Sunday/monday soccer league (he just turned 3) through the Park District at Independence Park.

The YMCA on Irving Park and Keeler has a soccer program on Tuesday mornings, call Lara or any staff member at ###-###-####. I started my soccer career at this YMCA when I was 5 and played for 8 years during grammar school and at the Y.

For dance~ my daughter enjoyed The Dance Academy on Irving Pk for 8 happy years!

check out the city park fieldhouses located in your area....they offer all sorts of different classes and sports depending on the location , you can look on the website for the different offerings from the different park..try www.chicagoparks.org to start and maybe it will have other links.....
gl D.

THe Park district offers both of these classes in your daughters age categories and the cost is relatively inexpensive. Registration is currently going on for the upcoming session (march 31-june6) and a lot of the online registration is full but open enrollment at the parks starts tomorrow. It is first come first serve, and you do have to provide proof of your daughters age so I would recommend going tomorrow to sign her up if you are interested.

There are two nice soccer leagues on the Near South side - would you be willing to travel to UIC campus (off Morgan between Roosevelt and 14th) or farther south (around 18th and Canal) for games and practices?

The one at UIC is called SAY Soccer.

These are two small, less expensive and less intense leagues.

Have you checked into the Lakeview YMCA? It's got lots of kids programing...I know the ballet program is great fun for the little ones. Not sure about soccer. I know they don't do teams...more just classes. I don't know if anyone does 3 year old teams. AYSO is a good soccer starter but I think they have to be older. Google AYSO Chicago northside and see what you come up with. It's only $100 for fall and spring combined. It's a bit of an effort to sign up. I think it's in April...one day only, in person, lots of hoops, but people seem to like it. My oldest didn't take to it, but we'll probably try the next one too.
Also, park district is a GREAT lower cost option...it's the best as far as 3 year olds go. Go on line to see when the next sign up is. Each park has it's own program roster but they are standard as far as park district classes go. Shiel Park on Southport is nice. Also Adams Playlot. There are many more. If you have your eye on a certain class, pre-register with all your daughter's info so that when the clock chimes 8 am (or whatever the time is) you can press go and have a decent shot of getting the classes you want. It takes some experience with the on-line registration. Good luck. J., mom of 4

You can get into ballet at most chicago park district locations at 3 but soccer is usually 4 and up. Ballet at Peterson Park Gymnastics Center is $40 for March 31- June 7 and is low key but on a wood floor with barre and mirrors. Online registration already began on Monday, so if those times are full, in person sign up begins tomorrow from 2pm-4pm and weekedays after that. Go to Chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Another idea is on Devon, in Edgebrook. It is called the Dance and Music Academy. it is more expensive ($90) but the summer session is cute for 3 and 4 year olds with a Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty theme. You can watch via closed circuit TV in their waiting room at that place.