Snow and rain don’t have to mean more screen time for your kiddos.
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Don’t be fooled by this false spring, 60-degree days are not here to stay. When the snow undoubtedly returns and you can’t bear the thought of wrestling your tot into snow pants, you don’t have to resort to a Bluey marathon (although that doesn’t sound too bad).
The Denver area boasts an impressive number of places for your little ones to get their wiggles out. So, we’ve rounded up nine of the best indoor play places around the Mile High City. The best part? You don’t have to debate the merits of gloves with your three-year-old.
Forget the sticky chaos of a typical playground—the pastel-hued play equipment at Centennial’s Spark the Senses are as aesthetically pleasing as they are fun. Each section of this space caters to different sensory needs of little minds, from a water room where children can pan for gems to a dark room designed for kids with sensory processing disorders. And don’t worry about your crawler getting trampled by the big kids; the littlest in your crew will love the 300-square-foot soft baby and toddler area with Montessori toys that rotate out weekly. Tired parents rejoice: There’s an on-site cafe with snacks and coffee so you can recharge while your toddler burns off their energy.
Parents to tikes under three are familiar with the struggle of pre-dinner witching hour (IYKYK). Instead of counting down the minutes to bedtime, head to Tumble Haus’ happy hour sessions (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m.), where kids can roll around on tumbling mats, take the ride-on toys for a spin, or get creative in the craft corner while you munch on a croissant from the on-site cafe. The staff even projects sporting events on the wall so avid Nuggets fans don’t have to miss another Jokić triple-double while your minis master their somersaults.
When Cameron Swen’s MBA program assigned him a mock business plan, he took it a little too seriously—his idea turned into a real-life play space designed just for toddlers and younger kids. At Kids Wonder, an indoor play area owned by Cameron and his wife Kristi, children aged six months to six years can burn energy and build skills. The crawler area provides soft play mats, infant toys, and a ball pit for tykes who haven’t yet found their footing, while Lil’ Town is a pint-sized city (complete with a pizzeria and library) that teaches older kiddos imaginative play and conflict-resolution skills. And if you just need a space for your six year old to run wild, the whole body play room is brimming with bounce houses. Even better: Co-owner Kristi Swen has 10 years of experience as a special education teacher, meaning some Kids Wonder staff members are fluent in American Sign Language, the facility is wheelchair accessible, and afternoons are set aside as low-sensory experiences.
If Willy Wonka opened an indoor playground, it would be Candeeland Kids. Look behind the giant cutout of a cookie to find a set of three tall slides, or try to scale the climbing wall to reach the candy cane at the very top. Big kids can tackle the ninja course and laser maze, while tinies can totter around the soft toddler area. Desperate to get your kids to drop the iPads? Introduce the gang to Skee-Ball at the arcade. Don’t fret if you forgot to pack lunches: The Candeeland Cafe offers dino nuggets for little palates and cocktails from Boulder’s Curation Bev Co for you.
Traditional play areas can be overwhelming for youngsters with special sensory needs, which is why Kickin’ It is thoughtful about curating a space that’s inclusive for all kiddos, from six months to eight years old. If your little one doesn’t like loud noises, visit Monday through Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., when the team plays ambient music and keeps stimulating sounds to a minimum. Playground access always includes trampolines, the climbing wall, a baby section, and slides galore, but the indoor play area is expanded on Thursdays to include the entire turf area, which is usually reserved for fitness classes. Kickin’ It has room for everyone—whether they’re bouncing off the walls or exploring at their own pace.
Swap out snow for sand at Kids Dig, a space filled with 40 tons of fun (aka sand). Peewees ages seven and under can pretend they’re in Pupstruction while they fill toy Tonka trucks, commandeer diggers, and crank conveyor belts surrounded by photos of construction workers in a quarry. If you know your one-year-old won’t make it out without a mouthful of sand, the infant and toddler play space is carpet-lined and mess-free.
The age-old game where the floor is lava often leads to broken lamps, dirty couch cushions, and the occasional head injury. At Lava Island, kids can play this time-tested game without the risk of breaking your great-grandmother’s vase. Here, kids will tiptoe precariously over a pool of bubbling lava (red and orange foam blocks), escape an erupting volcano via a giant slide, and navigate thick jungles—jungle gyms, that is. The tropical island also features a trampoline court, obstacle course, a toddler area, and a tricycle track. The cafe’s funnel fries should give your little monkeys a big enough sugar rush to last the hour.
Whether your tot dreams of being a doctor, firefighter, or chef, Play Street Museum will prepare them for the job. Rather than a cookie-cutter playground, Play Street resembles a miniature town square, complete with a hospital, bakery, and grocery store. Here, kids can fine-tune their motor skills while they “shop” for produce, practice their problem-solving skills by building tracks for toy trains, and even play the hero as they rescue their friends from a burning building. When it’s time to head home, stave off the groans with the museum’s to-go crafts.
When freezing temps make a trip to Colorado’s great outdoors unpleasant, Arvada’s Apex Center scratches that itch with a free Centennial State–inspired indoor playground. After your kiddos befriend the moose and turtle at the door, they’ll likely be inspired to go for a ride in the rubber kayak, crawl through a miniature mountain, and explore a hollow, life-size tree. Toddlers can stay safe in their designated play room with a mini slide and musical boards, while older kids under 10 will inevitably line up to play on the popular pogo sticks in an effort to earn the bragging rights that come with the longest streak of bounces.
Think your high-energy offspring needs more space to play than an average playground can provide? Even the liveliest of littles won’t make it through all 47,000 square feet of attractions spread over nine acres at the Children’s Museum of Denver. The museum features four main exhibit spaces (Investigate, Imagine, Explore, and Create), each of which includes endless hands-on learning activities. Whether your burgeoning Bob the Builder wants to use a hammer and nails in the assembly plant or you’ve got an aspiring Ada Twist on your hands who wants to learn the physics of rocket science, the museum inspires curious kiddos of all ages. In fact, in 2023, the museum opened Bloom, a calming, nature-inspired play space for infants and toddlers complete with a fairy garden.
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indoor playroom 5280 Elevated, Inc. 1675 Larimer St. Suite 675 Denver, CO 80202