With school breaks, long weekends and holidays on the horizon, your kids are bound to have some extra time on their hands. This means you, parents, may have a house full of stir-crazy little ones! Keep busy with our favorite indoor activities for kids! Check out these fairly new (and newly renovated) play spaces for a guaranteed afternoon of fun. Any cool new stuff we missed? Let us know!
Founded by two sisters, this 3,000-square-foot play space offers an indoor jungle gym, a Broadway-themed room with amazing kids’ costumes and a “bodega” where they can play with shopping carts and plastic/cardboard foods. There are also ride-on car toys (a Bentley and a Mercedes) and a custom train table featuring a 6 train and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. 1439 First Ave (212-729-6149, theplayroomnyc.com). Unlimited play $30, except when at capacity, and limit is 2 hours of play. Ages 6mos–5yrs.
Kiddos can perfect their tree pose, baby cobra and downward dog at this sweet new studio made just for families. Stop in for Family Yoga ($18 per person) on Sundays at 12:45pm, let ’em play without you at Kids Yoga ($20), or try a Sensational Yoga—Rise and Shine for Special Needs class ($35), at which your mini mes (ages 5 to 8) focus on core strength, flexibility and, most of all, having a great time in a supportive environment. There’s also Open Play ($10) available on Mondays and Fridays, and parents will rejoice over Monkey Do!’s extended drop-in hours. Date night, anyone? 279 3rd Ave, Brooklyn (347-987-3797, monkeydoyoga.com).Various prices. All ages.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to indoor activities for kids in NYC
Have you heard about Bowlmor’s new arcade? Find it on the third floor by the main check-in desk near the Coney Island– and Central Park–themed lanes. You’ll play classic games like air hockey, Skee-Ball and pinball, plus there’s Mario Kart, a giant Connect Four game and a Star Wars game with a 180-degree screen. 222 W 44th St (212-680-0012, bowlmor.com/times-square). Various prices. No guests under 21 permitted Fri, Sat after 9pm. All ages.
Haven’t visited lately? What are you waiting for! With the help of parent volunteers, this already-awesome space morphed into a dedicated educational, play and classroom spot for local families. Two separate rooms are available to visitors during Open Play: One is an activity room with a padded floor that’s great for toddlers (it often has a mini bouncy castle and giant foam blocks!), and the other is a sensory room/classroom that includes a magnetic chalkboard wall, a wooden playhouse and a custom-built wooden sensory wall with a bead maze, shape-matching toy, vintage telephone and a concave blowfish-shape mirror. 26-11 23rd Ave, Queens (718-440-9444, raisingastoria.com). $10/family for open play. Ages 18mos–7yrs.
New to the scene as of last June, Recess boasts a jumparoo (kids bounce around on a big tube!), fireman poles, an alcoved nook with magnets and netting kids can climb, plus big and small slides. It also offers play space drop-offs every other Friday from 5:30 to 8:30pm with a pizza dinner and arts and crafts for the little ones. 81 Washington St, Brooklyn (347-987-3509, recessdumbo.com). Drop-in $30. Ages 6mos–6yrs.