Whether it’s a hot, rainy, or freezing cold day outside, we still want to keep our kids busy but playing outdoors isn’t an option. Although sometimes a nice lazy day at home is great, with young kids it may bring more stress than peace. These are a few of my favorite indoor activities for kids that still get you out of the house!
1. Children’s Museum
This has become one of the my kiddos’ favorite outings. We have a local children’s museum with several fun hands on exhibits that keep them entertained. Our trips here give my kids an opportunity to play with other children their ages and to do some big imaginative play. Last year we decided to invest in a one year membership to our local children’s museum and it has been worth every penny. I take my kids at least once a week. We have extremely hot and humid days in Eastern North Carolina, so this has come in handy during the summer months especially.
2. Local Museums
Growing up in a small town, I know that we did not have the same amenities and things to do as other places. If you live in a larger area, you likely have many local museums to visit. But even for my small town mamas, you would be surprised how many museums you may find in your area. Many town/city and state museums have free or low cost admission. A fun day of learning for your kiddos, while also staying inside. Although some museums may be better suited for our older kids, many of them are still fun to walk through with a stroller or while baby carrying.
3. Indoor Playground
I have noticed a growing popularity for indoor playgrounds in the last few years. These are a great option for burning some energy while also staying out of the elements. Our local indoor playground has several bounce houses, a large climb through obstacle course, a toddler area, and arcade games. This may be a pricier outing, I have found that most indoor playgrounds have scheduled play times to allow for cleaning and resets between groups. If you are considering taking your children to one of these types of locations, I would recommend reading up on their website or calling beforehand to make sure you are aware of how their playtimes are set up.
4. Restaurant Playground
I remember my days as a kid, begging my parents to let me play on the McDonald’s playground. It seems that not much has changed in the last two decades, because my kids absolutely love playing on the playground at Chick-Fil-A. I have actually found this to be one of my favorite outings. Many fast food restaurants have playgrounds attached to their indoor seating, we just happen to visit Chick-Fil-A the most (my fav). We order our food (bonus tip: order on the restaurant app for less hassle and to earn rewards/points) and then I usually let my kiddos play while we wait. After eating, I let them play for a little bit. This usually gives me a chance to actually enjoy my food, which we all know can be a rare occurrence. (I recommend bringing hand sanitizer or quick trip to the bathroom to wash hands before eating)
5. Aquarium
This is one that some areas may not have depending on where you’re located. We currently live about thirty minutes from the coast, which has given us amazing access to great local aquariums. A fun walk through and a chance to see super cool animals, we usually spend about an hour and a half when we visit. There are two aquariums that we visit often, both have playgrounds and indoor class/discovery rooms for kids. For even more fun, look ahead at events scheduled this can be feedings, seeing scuba divers, or other special activities. This is another one that we splurged on a membership for, and it was more than worth it.
6. Library
Until having kids, I never realized how many fun (and usually free) events local libraries host. Our library does weekly story times, music and movement, crafts, and many other kid friendly activities. Check out your local library website to see if they post an event calendar. This is another great indoor space that can be fun for your kiddos!
7. Recreation Centers
Many towns/cities have local recreation centers. Depending on the size, the amenities likely vary. At my local recreation center back home in Virginia, there was a gym, basketball courts, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool. This may or may not be a good spot for your kiddos depending on what is offered. We used the pool at our local rec center a ton during the summer months. I would recommend checking out the website or calling before listing the recreation center to see if they require a membership or an admission fee and for a list of the amenities offered.
I hope this list gave you some inspiration for fun activities with your kiddos! As much as I absolutely love our time outdoors, some days we need some options that keep us inside. Have fun with your sweet kiddos!
Mekenzie
