Classes, Lessons, Youth Sports and Extracurricular Activities in Lakeland + Polk County

Lakeland Mom has assembled the Ultimate Guide to Kids Activities in Lakeland, FL. These enrichment activities will keep your kids busy while they learn something new!

Our Classes + Lessons Guide includes music lessons, karate, art classes, dance lessons, STEM, drama, horseback riding, scouts, & all kinds of enrichment activities.

Interested in kids sports? Our Youth Sports Guide includes information on basketball, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, soccer, and other organizations offering sports for kids in Lakeland.

Private swim lessons, group swim lessons, and even adult swim lessons can all be found in our Swim Lessons Guide.

Sports + Activities for Kids

CLASSES + LESSONS

YOUTH SPORTS

SWIM LESSONS

SENSORY FRIENDLY + SPECIAL NEEDS ACTIVITIES

TODDLER + PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

MORE THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

Arts + Crafts

Art Classes + Craft Workshops – Let your kids express their natural creativity through drawing, painting, making pottery, sewing, building, jewelry designing, and more. Check this list of art classes for kids, local craft workshops, private art instruction, drop-in locations, and more in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Polk County.

Chess Clubs

Chess Clubs in Lakeland + Polk County – Whether you have a Chess King or Queen in your house, or the Queen’s Gambit has you itching to learn to play chess, these local Chess Clubs in Lakeland and Polk County can help you practice chess and learn more about the game.

Cooking Lessons for Kids

Cooking Classes – What could be better than kids who can help in the kitchen?? Check out this list of cooking classes in Lakeland FL. Our guide includes cooking school for adults as well as cooking lessons for kids.

Dance Lessons

Dance Lessons – Whether you love the elegance of ballet or the funky beat of hip hop classes, our list of dance studios in Lakeland FL will help you find kids dance classes and competitive dance teams in Polk County. Options include tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, clogging, and more.

Drama Classes + Theatres

Acting Lessons – Have a drama queen or king on your hands? Encourage their natural talents with acting classes for kids! Our guide includes drama programs and musical theater classes in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Polk County.

Esports + Video Gaming

Esports Leagues – Does your child love playing video games? Looking for a pro-level experience for elementary aged and teenage gamers? These Esports and Video Gaming leagues can help take your competitive gaming skills and esports competitions to the next level!

Gymnastics + Tumbling

Gymnastics and Tumbling – If you are looking for a kids activity that provides exercise while developing physical strength, flexibility, and personal discipline, check out these local gymnastics and tumbling programs in the Lakeland FL area. Recreational tumbling, recreational gymnastics, and competitive gymnastics teams are all listed below. (Cheerleading programs are listed separately in our Youth Sports guide).

Horseback Riding Lessons

Horseback Riding – Looking for horseback riding lessons in Lakeland FL? These local stables offer beginner horseback lessons as well as dressage, show jumping, trail riding, and more.

Martial Arts Classes

Martial Arts – Looking for an after school activity that will teach your child respect, self-discipline, and self-confidence? Martial arts classes are known to have many positive benefits for kids, plus they are great exercise. We can help you find kids martial arts and self-defense programs in Lakeland and Polk County, including taekwondo, karate, jiu-jitsu, judo, and others.

Music Lessons

Music Lessons – Do you have a budding musician in your family? Or a beginner looking to learn to play and want to explore the options for music lessons in Lakeland? Below you’ll find a list of places offering piano lessons, violin lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, as well as music teachers for a variety of other instruments. Music classes for toddlers and preschoolers are also available – they can be found below or in our Preschooler & Toddler Activity Guide.

Scouts + Campfire + 4H

Youth Organizations – Looking for a kids program that teaches confidence, responsibility, and new skills? Check out Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, 4-H, and other local youth organizations in Lakeland and Polk County.

STEM + Coding + Robotics

STEM Programs + Computer Classes – Get hands-on experience in Lakeland area STEM classes – Science Technology Engineering + Math. Options include engineering classes, science programs, computer classes, game design, and more.

Swim Lessons

Swim Lessons – We’ve put together a list of places for kids of all ages to take swimming lessons in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales & across Polk County. Both group and private lessons are listed below, as well as toddler swimming lessons, infant survival swimming, parent/child lessons, and adult swim lessons. Swim lessons for kids start at 6 months and up.

Swim Team – If your child is a proficient swimmer looking to improve their skills, a local swim team can provide both exercise and advanced swim lessons.

Youth Sports

Youth Sports – Are you looking for the best sports team or sports lessons for your kids? From baseball to wrestling, along with basketball, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, soccer, and everything else in between, we’ve put together a list of all the organizations offering youth sports programs in Lakeland.

Adult Classes + Lessons

Women’s Self Defense – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office offers opportunities for women to learn how to defend themselves through a FREE Personal Safety and Women’s Basic Self Defense Class.

Teen Driving Lessons

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Teen Driver Challenge Program – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Polk County School Board, are working to prepare our teens for safe driving. The Teen Driver Challenge is a FREE program offered to Polk County’s teens – find out how to register.

Toddler + Preschool Classes and Activities

Preschooler & Toddler Activity Guide – Whether you’re looking for the opportunity to socialize with other moms, a place for your toddler to use up some energy, or a weekly activity to get you out of the house, you’ll find something on our list.

The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center (formerly Family Fundamentals) offers FREE classes on a weekly basis for children from infants through age 5 where parents and children will learn and socialize as they participate in fun, stimulating, developmental activities. Kids love it, and it’s a great opportunity to meet other moms!