The Little Lovage Club Offers A Haven for Families in Boston

A mom smiles while reading a book to her young son on a bean bag chair in his room

As a Boston family photographer, seeing families happy is one of the driving missions of my career. Happiness, of course, comes in many different forms, and sometimes, it takes many different kinds of support to get your family to that ideal place. Maybe you’re in a small apartment, and your kids just need a little bit more space to run around in. Maybe you’re the first one in your friend group to have a kid, and you’re looking for others who get what you’re going through. Whatever the case may be, one of my favorite community spots in Boston is The Little Lovage Club. Keep reading to see why I love it!

About The Little Lovage Club

485 Harrison Ave, Boston MA, 02118

The Little Lovage Club is truly one of the best places in Boston for people with kids. Whether you want to take advantage of their open indoor play space, support groups, or enrichment classes, The Little Lovage Club has so much warmth and expertise to offer. Parents have recognized it, too— thanks to an outpouring of support, The Little Lovage Club is actually moving into a bigger and better space early this year! The owner, Alana Rusin, is a mother who loved The Little Lovage Club’s classes so much that she decided to step in during the pandemic. Community is at the heart of this place, and it really shows. 

A toddler climbs on mom on a bed with dad's help as they all laugh and play

The Little Lovage Club Experience

The Little Lovage Club’s first main offering is its open play space. Designed for kids up to 6 years old, the space boasts a variety of toys and climbing structures, including a kitchen, a dress-up corner, and a book nook. Toddlers on the go can enjoy The Little Lovage Club’s movement zone. There’s also a dedicated snack area, a private feeding room, and a diaper change area. 

The Little Lovage Club is available every day of the week. It’s recommended that you book your open play session in advance, as space tends to fill up quickly. Each booking slot is good for two hours, and you can purchase a single-session or multi-session pack, depending on your needs. Families with multiple kids must purchase a separate open-play booking for each child. (It’s also requested that you stay within arms reach of your child for safety.)

The Little Lovage Club’s next great resource is their parent support groups. These 90-minute sessions are held in small groups with a dedicated facilitator so that you can have honest, useful conversations and really begin to build bonds. Classes meet six weeks in a row. Best of all, you get to bring your baby for quality bonding time!

A happy toddler is tickled by laughing mom and dad while snuggling on a bed after visiting Little Lovage Club

Parent Support Groups

Parent support groups at The Little Lovage Club are separated into three main groups: Newbies, Kangas, and Here We Go Again. Newbies is a group meant for brand new moms, those dealing with babies up to 3 months old. Sessions will cover topics like feeding methods and balancing your sleep routine, and each will leave plenty of room to address personal issues in this special but challenging time. Next, the Kangas support group is for those with slightly older children, ranging from 3 to 8 months of age. 

While you may be a bit more in the parenting groove at this point, Kangas understands that you may want advice and support as you tackle topics like introducing solid foods, babyproofing the house, and figuring out how to properly track your child’s development and milestones (I recommend a photoshoot!). The Here We Go Again Parent support group also tackles these age ranges but brings families together over the common challenge of raising multiple children. Lastly, The Little Loveage Club has recently introduced a Dad & Baby support group, which features shorter sessions but is just as valuable for finding a community of like-minded fathers. 

The third main pillar of The Little Lovage Club are their enrichment classes. Meant for kids up to 4 years old, these classes bridge the gap between infancy and preschool and develop motor and socio-emotional skills. Class topics include art, music, interactive games, movement, and more. Head to The Little Lovage Club’s website for the full list! You can choose whether to sign up for a single enrichment class at a time or to make this a weekly activity. 

A young boy lays on a couch snuggling a large stuffed monkey after visiting Little Lovage Club

Specialty

But wait, there’s more! Seriously, I cannot stress enough what a fantastic resource The Little Lovage Club is. In addition to their open play, support groups, and enrichment classes, The Little Lovage Club regularly hosts special events. Their mainstay is their Parent Coffee Chats, which are held every Wednesday morning and led by Alana Rusin, the club’s owner. These chats are perfectly free and a great environment to relax with your kiddo and meet new families. The Little Lovage Club also regularly features events designed around raising medical awareness. Their upcoming event is part of their Provider Chat Series, which is an “office hours” style discussion with local experts. This time, pelvic floor PT Donna Chiao will take the stage to teach you all about your pelvic floor muscles and how to keep them healthy, as well as educate you about pregnancy and postpartum recovery. 

The Little Lovage Club is also available to host events of your own. All Lovage Parties include two hours of celebration time, the use of their party room and play space, and a capacity of up to 50 guests. Depending on the package you choose, The Little Lovage Club can even help with decorations. 

A happy mom and dad sit on the living room floor playing with their toddler son against the couch after visiting Little Lovage Club

Find Your Community at The Little Lovage Club

There’s a lot to love at The Little Lovage Club. Sign up for a single-play session or purchase a membership to fully enjoy everything the club has to offer. If you’re looking for a caring community of parents in Boston, you can’t go wrong with The Little Lovage Club.

Once you’ve found your community and feel confident about parenthood, it might be time to consider a family photo shoot. Whether you want to mark a milestone or capture the every day, photo shoots offer a way to remember this special time. I’d love to talk to you about your ideas and style! Send me a message today.

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