Thinkertots, Bayside Queens

At Thinkertots, playing and learning intertwine effortlessly during interactive sessions for youngsters from infancy through kindergarten. The educational emporium unfurls a slate of classes—each holding no more than 12 children—full of games, art projects, songs, and movements to instill the principles of reasoning, social interaction, and the math skills. Distraction-free classrooms help bulk up kids' attention spans, and warm, patient instructors help even the shyest learn the kind of language skills important to communication and problem solving. Parents attend class alongside the youngest learners, but even once kids have graduated to drop-off programs, they'll get take-home learning pages to help continue the lesson at home.