Preschoolers to Play

Addie Gross Guides, Indoors, Outdoors

When you have young kids at home and need to come up with something to do for the day, check out this list of where to bring your babies/toddlers/preschoolers to play in Austin!

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

Babies

Library story time is the best place to bring your babies.

Take the babies to the Thinkery for Baby Bloomers!

Stroller-friendly hikes are a fun way to get out of the house with your baby. Here’s a list of our favorite hikes where you can bring a stroller.

In the summer months, both Robin Bledsoe and Lakewood Park in Leander have splash pads with cushy ground cover that is perfect for those still crawling.

Get those little babes in the water! Swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School start as young as 4 months!

Play Street Museum in Sunset Valley is now open! This place is perfect for kids ages 1-8 years old.

Toddlers and Tea at West China Tea: Parents, bring your little ones under 2, and join us for play time and tea. Open play area set up for you to come play with your little one (with a pickler, tunnel, balls, etc). Tea will be served at a baby-unreachable table for the adults. There will be a “Swap Basket” where you can leave any like-new baby items (clothes, toys, baby books, parenting books) you don’t need, and take what you do. Before you leave please take all the items you brought, you are welcome to bring them back again next time. There will also be a celebration board where you can write your parenting/baby celebrations of the week, and look for other local baby news. Tickets are $15 (purchase online in advance).

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

Toddlers/Preschoolers

Here’s a round-up of 21 coffee shops that are perfect for playdates in Austin:

Get out on a hike! Here’s a list of some easy hikes your little people can do.

Visit your local library branch for story time or check out the impressive new Central Public Library at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays for story time.

Here’s a list of the most unique playgrounds in Austin that are perfect for your littles ones to play at! Some of our favorites are the little green play house at Katherine Fleischer Park, Play For All Abilities in Round Rock, Pease Park, Alliance Children’s Garden, Waterloo Park, Lakewood Park in Leander, and Creative Playscape in Georgetown.

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

Austin Nature & Science Center is hours of free entertainment for kids at this age. We love the dinosaur dig sand pit (it’s shaded!), seeing the fish in the pond, walking in the creek, visiting the animals, and the indoor exhibits.

If it’s raining, too cold, or too hot outside, here a list of all the indoor play places we like. Here’s another list of all the FREE indoor places to play!

For animal lovers, here’s a roundup of all the Animal Encounters around the Austin area.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a fun family garden that little kids will enjoy. Visit the waterfall, sit in a giant bird’s nest, wander through the maze, and more. If you plan it right, you can also visit the Fortlandia exhibit during the fall/winter months.

Bring a bucket and a shovel and pretend you’re at the beach at one of these Austin spots: Secret Beach, Lake Pflugerville, Russell Park at Lake Georgetown, or Emma Long Metropolitan Park.

For a beverage or a bite to eat at a place with a playground, check out: Breweries with Playgrounds, Restaurants with Playgrounds, and Coffee Shops with Playgrounds.

Dinosaur Park in Cedar Creek is the best place for this age group! If you have dinosaur obsessed kids, here’s a list of all the places in town you can see dinosaurs.

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

BookPeople has a story time for little kids on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and has a fun tunnel house they can play in that is supposed to be opening back up (it was closed for Covid). It’s fun to browse the toys and books while you’re there as well of course! Bonus fun: go next door to Whole Foods for some lunch on the rooftop with a playground!

Take them to Home Depot on the first Saturday of the month for a free Kids DIY Workshop. Perfect for preschoolers who love to make stuff!

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

Splash pads on a hot summer day are a lifesaver! Bring a cup or something they can fill up.

Thinkery Baby Bloomers is a special program for kids up to 36 months. On Saturday mornings from 8-10 a.m., toddlers can explore the museum without the massive crowds. Reserve tickets in advance.

Spend a day along the Brushy Creek Trail! There are 6 playgrounds you can access along the trail. Pack lots of snacks and water and try to hit as many as you can! Make sure to bring some bird food and feed the ducks at Shirley McDonald Park. If you get hungry, Mandola’s is super close and has a playground (and kids get free gelato with a kids meal)!

Planning a birthday party? Here’s a list of some fun birthday party inspiration!

Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin

Splash Shack is a fun indoor water park that perfect for younger kids. It’s small and has slides for smaller kids who love the water!

Try taking them to the Museum of Ice Cream! I think kids this age will love this whole magical experience. Who wouldn’t want to jump into the giant ball pit-like sprinkles pool?!

If you have a toddler or preschooler who needs to learn how to swim, we love taking swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School. It’s been the best swimming lessons experience we’ve ever tried.

During the spring months, you can take your little ones strawberry picking at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls.

Toybrary is a part toy rental store, part indoor play place that’s great for kids this age. You can stop by just to play with their toys, and if your kids falls in love with something, you can rent it and bring it home for a while.