Need some new-mom friends?

Maybe you’re a first-time mom, the first in your circle of friends to have a baby. Maybe you’re new to Boca Raton. Maybe you just want to meet some new people with kids the same age as yours. Where to find play groups – or mom groups – is one of the most frequently asked questions at BocaParent. So we’ve put together some good answers.

There are plenty of opportunities around. You just have to know where to look. Here are some places to start:

Meetup.com

There are several local moms groups on Meetup.com, each with its own vibe. Go to the site, type in your Zip code and search tor terms like “parenting” or “play groups.” When you find one you like, you can apply to join. Here are just a few of the many groups:

• Cosmopolitan Moms of Palm Beach County. They are into moms night out events, among other outings.

• Boca Babies and Toddlers. For stay-at-home moms; they are looking for new members with toddlers age 2 1/2 to 4.

• The Boca Raton Parents Meetup Group. Focuses on fun, educational activities.

• Families with Special Needs. This group of parents meets monthly to learn about parenting kids with special needs.

Mommy & Me classes

There are several great ones in Boca Raton. One of our BocaParent “gurus,” Karen Deerwester, is the Mommy & Me director at B’Nai Torah Congregation. Her classes start as young as 4 months. Register at the B’Nai Torah website. Also:

• The city of Boca Raton offers several excellent classes, starting with infants. Miss Lili’s Kangaroo Kids class at the James A.Rutherford Community Center is a longtime favorite. You can also find parent-child classes in music and dance at all the community centers. For complete listings, see The Recreator or BocaParent’s Things to Do calendar.

• Houses of worship and some Jewish community centers also have parent-child programs. Spanish River Church, for example, has a  River Tots program for ages 1 to 3 1/2.  Check with the churches and temples in your neighborhood.

• Both local hospitals offer classes for moms and babies. West Boca Medical Center hosts one of the few Saturday morning classes that is great for moms who work during the week. It’s offered every other Saturday, starting again on Oct. 1. Get more information and register at the hospital website. (Choose Maternity Services in the event search menu). Boca Raton Regional Hospital has a mommy & me yoga class, as well as an educational class for moms and babies who are sitting and crawling. Check the calendar on its website.

• Stroller Strides has a class  in which you exercise with your baby in the stroller  at Town Center Mall on Saturdays and Mondays. More info at its website.

Indoor playgrounds

If you’re looking for something less structured, head to one of the many indoor playgrounds that have opened around town in the past couple of years. BocaParent has visited them all in the blog: Boca Play Station, Playtown Cafe and Monkey Joe’s. A couple of them are now offering classes, too.

Library programs

Drop in for story times at the local libraries. Information in The Recreator.

Parks and playgrounds

There’s one in almost every neighborhood. The big hangouts for little kids: Patch Reef (on Military Trail just south of Palmetto Park Road) and Sugar Sand (on Yamato Road just west  of Military Trail).

Online

A Miami Beach mom started a website called PlayGroupConnect.com that lets moms fill out a compatibility profile to find other like-minded moms. It does have some Boca area members.

Feel free to use BocaParent’s Facebook page to post queries to other members about play groups and any other questions you might have. Or, if you’re shy, just email us! We love to hear from you.

Find lots more kid-friendly classes and activities in Things to Do.

Share your favorite classes and hangouts in the comments.

- CHARLENE PACENTI