Outdoor & Physical Activities
As movement and outdoor exploration are essential to healthy growth, our whole-child approach ensures that physical activity is a natural part of each day. Through activities such as neighborhood park adventures, joyful school-wide dance sessions, and our exciting Sports Days, children stay active, build confidence, and create lasting memories—all while having fun together.
Playground & Park Time
Our children love exploring nearby parks and playgrounds, from City Hall Park to Washington Market Playground, where they run, climb, and play on a regular basis. As they grow, we venture further to Columbus Park in Chinatown and the STEM playground at Pier 26. These outdoor adventures help them strengthen stamina, bond with their friends, and build a meaningful connection to the world around them.
Neighborhood Adventures
Exploring our neighborhood is an important part of learning at Ya Ya. Beyond the park and playground visits, we use the rich resources of our community to extend the classroom into the real world—whether it’s going on scavenger hunts, observing seasonal changes in nature, or shopping for ingredients to use for our cooking projects. These impactful experiences not only spark curiosity and tie directly into our curriculum but also help children build independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence.
Annual Sports Days
Twice a year, our entire school comes together for Sports Day—a fun and exciting tradition that children look forward to. Through age-appropriate activities and structured games, children practice teamwork, build muscle strength, and experience the joy of being active outdoors. Sports Day is not just about physical skills, but also about laughter, community, and creating happy memories together.
Indoor Physical Activities
We’re committed to giving children plenty of opportunities to move, play, and stay active every day. Our onsite library gym transforms into a space for school-wide dance and indoor activities when the weather keeps us inside. In addition, we have an ongoing rental at our upstairs neighbor, Downtown Dance Factory—a bright and child-friendly studio. Whether it’s in our own space or the dance studio upstairs, these engaging movement times bring children together across classes, helping them connect with friends and feel part of one big family.