Child's Play

Child’s Play NY is an award-winning dramatic arts program (founded 2009) that uses theatre, storytelling, music, and creative movement to build kids’ confidence, compassion, and creativity—with programs across the NY metro area. For summer, their camps are “where play is the purpose”: kids jump inside beloved stories and themes, create original scenes, sing/dance, and play a ton of theatre games—led by professional actor-teachers trained in early childhood education. Camps run in Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, and Fort Greene for rising PreK through 8th grade, and they’re intentionally small: 1:4 teacher-to-camper ratio, capped at 16 kids.

Program structure is age-banded. The Players Series (PreK–1st) is a playful, imagination-forward week of improvisation, dance, music, and beginner theatre skills (warm-ups, character work, singing/choreo), and it culminates in an original film that premieres online (rather than a live stage show, which can be a great fit for younger kids). For older campers, Grades 2–8 typically end the week with a final live performance for families—so it becomes more “showcase week” while still staying kid-created and play-driven.

In addition to summer, Child’s Play NY also runs holiday/school-break camps (PreK–K and Grades 1–4) where each day is a different story-based adventure with theatre games, singing, dancing, and imaginative play—often with flexible enrollment by the day or week, depending on the session.

School Break Camps
Matching the NY school calendar, examples include President's Day and spring break

‍Summer Camps
June 19 - Sept 4, 2026

School Break Camps
Around $150/day

‍Summer Camps‍

• Around $150/day
• Typically $775/week, with the maximum being $1,085/week

Need-based scholarship spaces are available to BIPOC students and those from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the community. Contact them to learn more!

Programs can be registered for online here.

(347) 759-6313

‍Contact Us Form

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What Parents Like‍

• Parents describe kids coming out “bouncing and singing ‘I love camp!’” and wanting to return—strong signal that the days feel fun, not forced. (1)
• Warm, nurturing teaching artists who are great with young kids. Reviews consistently praise the staff as caring, supportive, and talented—often calling out that instructors make kids feel confident and comfortable jumping into imaginative play. (1)
• Imagination + creativity are the whole point (not “cute crafts as a filler”). Parents like that the camps cultivate storytelling, collaboration, and expressive play—kids get to be unicorns/lions/characters-of-the-week in a way that feels joyful and confidence-building. (1)
• On Sawyer (their registration/marketplace platform), reviews mention kids making friends quickly and specific counselors being “really funny and great,” which is usually what kids remember most. (2)
• Park Slope Parents’ review page frames Child’s Play NY as a well-regarded Brooklyn kids’ theater program, reinforcing the “trusted local staple” vibe. (3)

‍What Parents Think Could Be Improved‍

• The richest quotes are from Child’s Play NY’s own testimonials page and Sawyer/PSP listings, with fewer independent long-form “day-by-day camp recap” reviews compared to mega-camps.

‍Our Take

‍Child’s Play NY reads as a high-trust, high-joy creative camp, especially strong for kids who light up with pretend play, storytelling, music/movement, and kind adults who know how to draw out shy kids. The most verifiable “why parents like it” themes are warm teachers, confidence gains, and kids begging to go back.