Playing Together Being Together

Playing Together Being Together Also offers parent coaching, parent book clubs, and parent workshops. She began her career in education as an elementary school music teacher on Long Island.

Parent and child (ages infant-5) classes which use play and material exploration as a vehicle to educate both parent and child in social emotional skills and body awareness. Melissa Reali holds a BS and a MS in Music Education, and is a permanently-certified Music Teacher, K-12 in New York State. After 6 years in the public schools, she realized that her passion was working with young children and

understanding child development. She shifted her focus to early childhood education where she specialized in infant/toddler education/care for 10 years. During this time Melissa worked as a teacher, a mentor to her colleagues, and as school Director. It was also during this time that she was exposed to and inspired by the work of Dr. Becky Bailey and Conscious Discipline, Loris Malaguzzi and his schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Kelly Mahler and the Interoception Curriculum, Forest Schools, the use of loose parts to inspire play, and of course play, play, play. She lives in Warwick with her husband, Chris, and their son, James. Over the last three years Melissa has had the opportunity to spend her days with her son and his friends.

New for 2026-2027...we will be offering Saturday morning classes for 9-28 month olds. $140 for a 5 week session. Feel fr...
08/29/2026

New for 2026-2027...we will be offering Saturday morning classes for 9-28 month olds. $140 for a 5 week session. Feel free to reach out with any questions! Here is the link to register: https://forms.gle/jNFSQRXcwVxQejQb6

08/27/2026

After a long break, keep these 3 R’s in mind and at the forefront of your practice.

Regulation: Long breaks disrupt routines and bring a wide range of emotions back into the room. Children need time and space to regulate, and honestly, you probably do too. Young children rely heavily on co-regulation with you, so start there. Take slow, deep breaths, and keep the classroom dim and the pace gentle (if possible). Be patient and kind to yourself and the children. Remember, movement is a primary way children regulate their bodies, so expect and plan for it rather than working against it. Don’t stress about jumping straight into curriculum.

Rhythm: Returning to a predictable routine matters, but flexibility within that rhythm matters just as much. Children are recalibrating. Build in more opportunities for free play within your blocks of time and allow extra time for transitions. This isn’t lost time, but rather, it’s how everyone settles back in.

Relationships: Connection is what anchors everything and connection leads to cooperation. Prioritize check-ins, shared laughter, and time side-by-side. When children feel safe, seen, and reconnected, learning naturally follows. There is no rush and no race here. You and the children feeling good is the most important piece in all of this.

Wishing everyone a gentle, joyful start to the new school year. ❤

08/26/2026

A few spots are still open for our 2026–2027 classes. 🤎

Playing Together, Being Together is more than a play class. It’s a place to slow down, follow your child’s lead, explore together, and connect with other parents who are looking for their village, too.

Come exactly as you are. Let your child show you the way. And find a space where you can simply play together and be together.

📍 Warwick Valley Community Center
✨ Tuesdays: 9:30–10:30 | 6–23 months
✨ Saturdays: 9:30–10:30 | 9–28 months

A few spots left!
Email Melissa for more information - [email protected]

08/11/2026

✨ National Night Out with PTBT! ✨

Playing Together, Being Together was at National Night Out last week with a whole collection of loose parts ready to be explored, imagined, and transformed!

We loved seeing so many familiar faces stop by, and meeting so many new ones, too! 💛

There was building, creating, experimenting, connecting, and lots of little moments of discovery.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to play, create, and be together with us! 🫶

We’re bringing dinosaurs back to 3 Pines! 🦕✨Join us for a fun evening of creativity and community as we work together to...
08/04/2026

We’re bringing dinosaurs back to 3 Pines! 🦕✨

Join us for a fun evening of creativity and community as we work together to create something children will enjoy for years to come. Whether you can lend a hand or help with supplies, we’d love to have you be part of this special project.

We hope to see you there! 💚

✨ Fall registration is open! We have a few spots left. Come play, connect, and grow with us this fall! 🍂To register or l...
08/04/2026

✨ Fall registration is open! We have a few spots left. Come play, connect, and grow with us this fall! 🍂

To register or learn more:
📧 [email protected]

We can’t wait to welcome you! 💛

Join us this weekend to celebrate and support Daniel’s incredible contributions to our community! For over 30 years, Dan...
07/20/2026

Join us this weekend to celebrate and support Daniel’s incredible contributions to our community! For over 30 years, Daniel has been a beloved part of the Warwick community. A gifted artist with a special way with children, he also co-founded the 3 Pines Nature Space at the Warwick Valley Community Center.

Ms. Rachel’s at Warwick Valley Community Center. Check her out this summer!!
07/02/2026

Ms. Rachel’s at Warwick Valley Community Center. Check her out this summer!!

💚 What a muddy, magical day! 🤎Our Mud Day was everything we hoped it would be! Children digging, splashing, creating, ex...
07/01/2026

💚 What a muddy, magical day! 🤎
Our Mud Day was everything we hoped it would be! Children digging, splashing, creating, exploring, and making joyful memories together. There is something so special about watching children experience the freedom of messy play while families connect, laugh, and simply enjoy being present together.
Thank you to every family who came out and embraced the mud with us. Your enthusiasm, smiles, and willingness to jump right in made this event so memorable.
A heartfelt thank you to Material Processors for generously donating the dirt that made this day possible. Your support helped bring so much joy to our community.
We are also incredibly grateful to the Warwick Valley Community Center’s Youth Task Force and Youth Advisory Board for volunteering their time and energy to help make the day run so smoothly. Thank you:
🤎 Kristine Wilson
🤎 Natali Getz
🤎 Rose
🤎 Sage
🤎 Presley
🤎 Connor
🤎 James
🤎 Aubrey
🤎 Michelle
A very special thank you to my family for their endless support before, during, and after the event.
It truly takes a village to create opportunities like this, and we’re so thankful for everyone who helped make Mud Day such a success.
Until next time… keep playing together, being together. 💚🤎
Community ChildhoodUnplugged OutdoorPlay ConsciousDiscipline FamilyConnection

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Warwick, NY
10990

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