Looking for Saint Paul Toddler Activities? Anne, our resident St. Paulite, has all the details on the Parent & Tot Open Play times offered by St. Paul Parks and Rec as well as a list of other locations that are great to visit with tots. Indoor tot times are fun ways that kids can learn basic social skills, get exercise no matter the weather and bond with their caregivers. When the weather is nice, get out for some outdoor adventures.
Indoor Saint Paul Toddler Activities
for Cold Winter (or Hot Summer) Days
Have all the unscheduled snow days and frigid temps been successful at driving you and your little ones stir-crazy yet? Are you about desperate to find a place where they can truly burn off some energy while you might find some grown-ups to bond with over entertaining tots during long Minnesota winters?
Tot Times at St. Paul Recreation Centers
Chances are you’ve heard about the drop-in Parent & Tot Play Time program at recreation centers across St. Paul. It’s fun, unstructured, nearly always free and a total sanity-saver during our cold months. I used it routinely when my firstborn was a toddler. He thrived on the small bikes, balls, tumbling mats and other provided equipment for free physical play. (And naptime was a GIVEN afterwards!) Children must be 5 years of age or younger to attend and must be accompanied by their caregiver.
While each gym has its own equipment, expect a range of toys that bring the outdoor playground inside, including tumbling mats, scooters, bikes, trikes, basktball hoops, balls, slides, playhouses, and more at these parent-led, unstructured play times. These are great opportunities for both parents and tots to form new friendships.
Tips for Parents:
- These programs work best for toddlers and preschoolers. I found that – particularly at the most popular rec center gyms – it wasn’t as easy to bring crawlers along and not have to worry about them getting in the paths of the big kids. We offer ideas for getting out of the house with infants and crawlers here.
- Find Saint Paul Pool Tot Times Here.
Recreation and Community Centers that offer Tot Times:
- Arlington Hills Community Center
- Battle Creek Recreation Center
- Edgcumbe Recreation Center
- El Rio Vista Recreation Center
- Frogtown Community Center
- Hayden Heights Recreation Center
- Highland Park Community Center
- Jimmy Lee Recreation Center
- Linwood Recreation Center
- McDonough Recreation Center
- North Dale Recreation Center
- Palace Community Center
- Phalen Recreation Center
- Rice Recreation Center
- West Minnehaha Recreation Center
The list of locations and times updates seasonally. To find current programs, follow this link —-> St. Paul Rec Centers offering Parent & Tot Play Times and registration information (if applicable). Families with older kids can find St Paul open gym times here.
ExploraTots Outdoor Adventures
ExploraTots is an ongoing outdoor adventure program for kids ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Each session begins with choice time activity stations on a theme and follows with a story time, a hike and a take-home activity. The program is designed to help preschool children connect to nature, socialize and practice skills that can improve school-readiness.
Sign Up for ExploraTots
The program is FREE. However, space is limited and registration is required for each session, which are offered at various parks around Saint Paul throughout the year. Find more information and Register Here (search Keyword: Exploratots).
Saint Paul Story Times
Story times provide an opportunity for parents to play and sing with tots along with the obvious benefits of reading, early literacy and learning to communicate. All of these activities help to prepare kids for Kindergarten. Our Top Twin Cities Storytimes List includes several Saint Paul options, including: Red Balloon Bookshop, Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store, Como Zoo, Next Chapter Books and the Saint Paul Libraries.
7 More Fun Places to Visit with Toddlers in Saint Paul
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.
Because admission is free you can take as much or as little time exploring the wildlife in the zoo and beautiful flowers in the conservatory as works for your tot.
Best Time: Visit on Thursday mornings at 10am for the Lil’ Explorer Program.
Address: 1225 Estabrook Drive, St Paul, MN 55103.
Admission: Free will donation.
Minnesota Children’s Museum.
Geared toward the younger kids, MCM is one of those hands-on children’s museums where you can let your tot be a tot.
Address: 10 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102.
Admission: $16/pp (buy online and save $1)
Jackson Street Roundhouse – Tots & Trains
First and Third Wednesdays are special tot days at the Minnesota Transportation Museum – Jackson Street Roundhouse. Kids can explore the train cars and play with train sets and participate in a story time.
Address: 193 Pennsylvania Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55130.
Admission: Adults: $10; Pre-K children 3+/$5. Tots 2 and under: FREE. (School age siblings are $8)
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Visit Mondays or Fridays between 10am and 3pm, for a chance to view the model trains without a crowd. When they are ready to get hands on, there is a train table in the back of the museum.
Address: 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, St. Paul, MN 55114
Admission: Ages 5+: $10; Ages 4 and under: FREE
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
Back in Saint Paul after a short stay in St. Louis Park, Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store has a play area full of train tables, where families can pay to play. On select Fridays, Story Time with Engineer Paul is included with admission to the play area.
Address: Union Depot, 214 4th St East, Unit 120, St Paul, MN 55101
Admission: Adults: $2; Children Ages 1-9: $10
Science Museum of MinnesotaÂ
Much of the Science Museum will appeal more to your older children, but when you visit with just your tot, you can limit your time to the dinosaur area, which is conveniently located right next to the cafeteria.
Address: 120 W. Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102.
Admission: Adults: $30; children 4-17/$20. Tots: FREE.
Bell Museum of Natural History
Like the Science Museum, the Bell offers more for kids K-12 but can be a quiet place to visit with tots and preKs. Open 10am-4pm Wednesday-Sunday, you’ll find quieter hours on weekday afternoons. Tots can get hands on in the Touch and See Lab and explore the dioramas without the crowd, seeking out their favorite animals at their own pace.
Address: 2088 Larpenteur Avenue West, St Paul, MN 55113.
Admission: Adults: $15; children 3+/$12. Tots 2 and under: FREE.Â
Parent Tot Times Outside St. Paul
Minneapolis Tot Times, Open Gym Hours and other Toddler-friendly outings:
If you seek opportunities in Minneapolis, try searching the Park & Rec Board site and type “tot” into the search box. Minneapolis open gym times can also be found at the same link, type “open gym” into search box.
4 More Fun Places to Visit with Toddlers in Minneapolis
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Week days are a great time to visit with Toddlers. Even if you never leave the first floor Family Room to explore the artwork, your tot will have plenty of toys and books curated for creative play. Bonus, mom and dad can grab a drink from Agra Culture Coffee Shop and relax a bit, too. Did I mention FREE admission?
Address: 2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Admission: FREE
Wild Rumpus Bookstore
Particularly appealing to tots will be the front door of the shop that is just their size and purple! And, of course, the store’s menagerie of pets. Ask the knowledgeable staff for recommendations and you can come home with a book perfect for snuggle time.
Address: 2720 West 43rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Admission: FREE
Walker Art Center
Although Free First Saturdays are aimed at families with children of all ages, a one-on-one weekday visit with your tot is affordable (kids are FREE) and the museum is quiet. Wander the galleries at your child’s pace with the time to view the art with their eyes.
Address: 1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Admission: Adults: $15; Tots: FREE
Midtown Global Market
It is really fun to visit when the market isn’t crowded. Because it is set up like an indoor version of an outdoor market, you can enjoy shopping the booths with brightly colored fruits and veggies and global wares.
Address: 920 E Lake St #G10, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Admission: FREE
Greater Twin Cities Tot Times & Toddler Attractions:
And for the surrounding metro suburbs, we have included many on our list of Get Moving: Tot Times, Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots in the Twin Cities.
- Toddler Tuesdays at the Mall of America: Monthly entertainment, Nickelodeon Universe discounts, and Kids-Eat-Free deals. Make it a regular thing with Memberships to Sea Life & Crayola Experience
- The Blast Indoor Playground, Eagan
- Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley
- Indoor Playgrounds and Play Areas Around the Twin Cities
- Coffee Shops & Cafes that Welcome Tots
- Twin Cities Libraries: Play & Learn Spaces
- Tinkergarten, Outdoor Classes for Families
- Twin Cities Nature Centers & Outdoor Centers
These are places in and around Saint Paul that we have taken our own toddlers and preschoolers with great success. We’d love to hear your favorite Saint Paul place to visit with Toddlers, babies and preschool kids. Leave us a comment and we’ll share with the community.