Family Tides
At a Shore Sprouts mobile outdoor class, getting sandy hands and going on scavenger hunts isn’t just fun for little learners — it’s part of a full learning experience for young children and their caregivers.
The recently launched nature-inspired pop-up enrichment program for children ages 18 months to 5 years rotates between beaches and parks in Margate and Longport. Each hourlong class focuses on six key areas of early development: fine and gross motor skills, cognitive skills, social and emotional development, sensory exploration and creative expression.
Owner Alexa Citrino, whose background is rooted in early childhood nature play and development, said she has always had a passion for working with children. At 17, she landed her first job at a daycare. Now 25, the College of New Jersey graduate has been working with children ever since.
“I always say you should love your job. You should have fun at your job. You should wake up and enjoy it. When I would work with kids, that’s how I felt,” Citrino said.
Citrino channels that passion into building a curriculum for Shore Sprouts that stays fresh and exciting for her little learners.
“All the activities are constantly changing, so there is no one day or one session that is exactly the same as the next,” Citrino said. “Sometimes, if I feel like the hands-on activities aren’t going to grasp the attention or last as long as I would like it to, I always keep a few in my back pocket.”
Each week explores a different theme — like pirates, seashell scientists or garden explorers — which helps guide the class activities. To create a more personal and supportive environment, classes are kept small, with no more than 10 children.
That structure, Citrino said, allows her to connect with each child throughout the hour and helps the group stay calm, focused and not overstimulated.
Classes begin with a brief circle time, followed by movement activities, such as dancing to “Baby Shark” with scarves, and three additional activities. For pirate week, she said the first activity was a treasure hunt with a bin full of coins, jewelry, rings and necklaces.
“Once they go through that sensory, they’re picking it out and sorting by whatever it is. So, all the items they just found, they’re sorting them,” she explained. “They’re getting so much out of one activity — so right there you’re getting sensory, fine motor, because when you’re sorting, they’re putting little coins into a little bin, so I like that each activity brings out a different type of enrichment.”
After the sensory bin, children move on to another activity, like using pincers to dig treasure out of ice or slime, followed by a final 15-minute activity. The class wraps up with stickers and a quick reflection on their favorite part of the class.
The class is also designed for caregivers to take an active role — something Citrino said she loves to see — and those shared moments often become lasting memories.
“That’s another part of my class I’m hoping these parents take from it is the connection between them and their child during that time, and not only that, but then going home and recreating these activities,” she said. “I would really like parents to use this as a guide. You’re coming to my class, and I’m the teacher. I’m bringing the fun. But it comes to life when you are doing it with them. In 20 years, or however old they’re going to be, they’re not going to remember their teacher who was on the beach with them — they’re going to remember that their parents came with them or the time me and mommy painted a treasure chest or whatever it may be.”
While messy activities can be tough to manage at home, the class gives little ones a chance to dive in without the cleanup, allowing parents more space to connect and be present.
Her advice to parents joining for the first time? Just enjoy the moment.
“Let me take the weight off your shoulders of doing all the messy activities that you don’t want to do at home and still be able to watch your child have so much fun while doing it — and spending time with you,” she said. “Don’t worry about the paint getting on them. Don’t worry about the sand getting on their feet. They’re kids, they’re toddlers. This is their moment to thrive. Just let it happen, be present and have fun with them.”
Citrino said she plans to offer classes this fall and hopes to expand to more towns.
Shore Sprouts classes are held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Classes are $50 each, with discounted rates for class packages. A first-time class is available for $35.
Shore Sprouts will also host a Mommy and Me Meetup on Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the beach in Margate at Coolidge Avenue. Tickets are $35 and include a cup of cold brew from The Fudgy Wudgy Man, plus access to sensory bins, water tables and beach play materials for children. The meetup is not a guided class but a chance for moms to connect. Registration is required.
For more information or to sign up, visit Shore Sprouts on Instagram at @shore_sprouts.
