New to Austin? Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play
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.
Where to Bring Your Babies/Toddlers/Preschoolers to Play in Austin
Toddlers/Preschoolers
Capital Gymnastics has open gym mornings every Friday. The best part is that these only cost $6! For an hour and a half, they can run around and play, jump, and flip inside the gym. Best deal in town! Sign up in advance to reserve your spot.
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. The Thinkery, Pikopye’s Town, Indigo Play, Mt Playmore, Catch Air, trampoline places, inflatable places, Little Land, Loco-motion, and more.
For animal lovers, check out the Austin Nature & Science Center or even just wander through a pet store like Zookeeper Exotics. You can also visit a local farm like Crowe’s Nest or Sweet Eats Fruit Farm (both have animal experiences). If they happen to love goats, you can see goats at Jester King Brewery or Natural Gardener. And for a fun llama experience, check out The Shady Llama.
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
Foodie Kids is an adorable spot to take preschoolers. I took my 4 year old there and he asks every day when can we go back. They let you decorate a cupcake or cookie for $8. They will love it!
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.
Ride the Cedar Rock Railroad mini train! The Zilker Zephyr will be an awesome mini train ride at Zilker Park too (once it opens up)!
Saplings Art & Yoga is such a perfect outing for kids this age! Sign up for this 6 week series in North Austin & Cedar Park.
Family Barn is a new play place that just opened up in Georgetown and is perfect for babies, toddlers, and younger kids.
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