So you’ve got a little one who’d prefer to become accustomed to the pool without those periodic (and unintentional) slaps of water in the face from sharing space with the big kids? Many local pools offer dedicated tot time open swim hours and several of them offer discounted rates for these short sessions. Families can get an hour of swim time for half the price of a full days admission. Compare prices and find a pool near you.
For a more casual experience, parents and tots can visit any of the free Minneapolis wading pools. In addition, the following Twin Cities pools are offering special tot times this summer solely for the purpose of helping youngsters get comfortable in the water:
TOT TIME OPEN SWIM TIMES AT TWIN CITIES OUTDOOR POOLS
Apple Valley – Splash Valley Water Park | Tots-Only Swim Time
LOCATED 14421 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley
DATES & TIMES Daily, 9:30-10:30am
ADMISSION $5/child with 1 free accompanying adult
DETAILS This hour prior to opening is for kids ages 6 and under with a supervising adult (3:1 child/adult ratio).
LEARN MORE Splash Valley Water Park
Bloomington Family Aquatic Center | No Wake Zone
LOCATED 201 E 90th St, Bloomington
DATES & TIMES Monday-Friday, 10am – 12pm
ADMISSION $10/pp
DETAILS Formerly a special tot swim open to kids ages 6 & under, the No Wake Zone does NOT have an age restriction. It retains the requirement of at least a 3:1 adult/child ratio, is held in the zero-depth entry part of the pool and still takes place before general admission Open Swim.
LEARN MORE Bloomington Family Aquatic Center
Coon Rapids Bunker Beach Water Park | Tot Time
LOCATED 701 County Rd A, Coon Rapids
DATES Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:45-10:45am
ADMISSION $7/swimmer; adults are free. (There is an additional $7 vehicle fee to enter Bunker Hills Regional Park.)
DETAILS Tot Time at Bunker Beach is a special time for Pre-K’s and their caregivers to enjoy the water before the park opens to the public. One adult per two children is required to be in attendance.
LEARN MORE Bunker Beach Water Park – the largest outdoor waterpark in Minnesota!
Crystal Cove | Lil’ Splashers
LOCATION Crystal Cove Aquatic Center, 4848 Douglas Drive N, Crystal
DATES & TIMES Saturdays 9-10:30am
ADMISSION $4/child, adults free
DETAILS Only the zero-depth pool will be open for kids 7 and under with a parent.
LEARN MORE Crystal Cove Aquatic Center
Eagan Cascade Bay | Little Mates
LOCATED 1360 Civic Center Drive, Eagan
DATES & TIMES Daily (except Wednesday,) 9:30am-10:30am
ADMISSION $7/child; one adult free with paid child.
DETAILS Swimmers and splashers ages 0-6 have the pool and sand to themselves before the water park opens for the day. The Orange Slide is available for more adventurous tots. There must be one adult for every 4 children in attendance. Little Mates need to leave the pool when it opens to the public.
LEARN MORE Cascade Bay Water Park
Edina Aquatic Center | Lil’ Lagoon Water Playground
LOCATION Edina Aquatic Center, 4300 W 66th Street, Edina
DATES & TIMES Open daily, 10am-8pm
ADMISSION $14/ages 2+ ($11 after 5pm)
DETAILS Instead of a tot swim time, Edina offers a dedicated space exclusively for kids 8 and younger and the adults supervising them. Lil’ Lagoon Water Playground has slides, sprayers and dump buckets plus a space for toddler splashers.
LEARN MORE Edina Aquatic Center
Maplewood Battle Creek Waterpark | Tot Tuesdays
LOCATED 2401 Upper Afton Rd E, Maplewood, MN 55119
DATES & TIMES Tuesdays 9:30am-10:30am
ADMISSION $4 per person over one year of age. An additional fee of $5/person applies if staying after 10:30 a.m.
DETAILS During this special time, tots 5 years and under can look forward to zero-depth entry, water tables and other age-appropriate splash opportunities. The pool also offers a a sensory-friendly hour on Sundays at the same timeslot (regular admission applies) for those who could benefit from a more controlled environment.
LEARN MORE Battle Creek Waterpark
Richfield Outdoor Pool | Tot Time
LOCATION 630 East 66th Street, Richfield
DATES & TIMES Monday-Saturday, 10am-11am
ADMISSION $12/pp, kids under 1 year are free
DETAILS Kids ages 7 and under and parents can have the zero-depth-entry wading pool and water play equipment to themselves for this hour.
LEARN MORE Richfield Outdoor Pool
Shakopee Sandventure Aquatic Park | Splish & Splash Tot Time
LOCATION 1101 Adams St S, Shakopee
DATES & TIMES Tot Time is held Friday and Saturday mornings from 9:15-10:45am.
ADMISSION $5/child; parents are free
Details: Kids ages 0-6 are welcome to swim in the zero-depth entry pool and play in the sand beach before the waterpark opens to the rest of the public.
LEARN MORE SandVenture Aquatic Park
South St Paul Lorraine Park | Splash Pool Toddler Time
LOCATION 756 3rd Ave S, South St Paul
DATES & TIMES Monday-Thursday, 11am-12:30pm
ADMISSION $2/pp, caregivers and children 2-3 yrs (cash only). To stay past Toddler Time, swimmers will pay an extra $3.
DETAILS The pools offers an interactive water feature and zero depth entry.
LEARN MORE Lorraine Park Splash Pool
St Louis Park Aquatic Center | Parent & Tot Time
LOCATION 3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park
DATES & TIMES Monday-Friday, 9:30am-11am
ADMISSION $10/residents; $15/non-residents; season pass holders & under 1 year of age: Free
DETAILS Parent & Tot Time gives exclusive use of the shallow end of the pool with its splash features to kids ages 6 and under and their caregivers.
LEARN MORE St Louis Park Aquatic Park
St Paul Como Regional Park Pool | Tot Time
LOCATED 1151 Wynne Ave, St Paul
DATES & TIMES Ongoing Saturdays & Sundays, 9-10:30am
ADMISSION $6/person, both child & adult
DETAILS Only the shallow pool and splash pad area is open during this time for kids ages 6 and under with supervising adult, but there’s plenty of space to enjoy.
LEARN NORE Como Regional Park Pool
St Paul Highland Park Aquatic Center | Tot Time
LOCATION 1840 Edgcumbe Rd. Saint Paul
DATES & TIMES Ongoing Saturdays & Sundays, 9-10:30am
ADMISSION $6/person, both child and adult
DETAILS Only the splash pad area of the pool is open during this time for kids ages 6 and under with supervising adult, but there’s plenty of space to enjoy.
LEARN MORE Highland Park Aquatic Center
TOT TIME OPEN SWIM TIMES AT INDOOR POOLS
Eden Prairie Community Center | Tot Open Swim
LOCATION 16700 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie
TIMES Open Tot Swim can be tricky to keep track of at this venue; we’ve found the schedule to vary greatly. Please see the link for the most current open swim times.
ADMISSION Youth & adults/$8. Families up to 5 pay $25. Members swim free.
DETAILS Families with children 5 years of age & younger can bring other children up to age 7 during Tot Time Open Swim. One nice thing about Eden Prairie Community Center is that daily admission includes the choice of 2 activities on the purchase date. Combine your swim with tot gym, tot skate or Prairie Play Zone.
LEARN MORE Eden Prairie Community Center
St Paul Great River Water Park | Children’s Pool Hours
LOCATION 270 N. Lexington Parkway, St Paul
DATES & TIMES Monday, Wednesday and Friday, beginning September – May, 9am-10am
ADMISSION Ages 0-2 are free, ages 3+ pay $8/pp or $6/pp for those in a group of five or more
DETAILS This time is set aside for children and their parents. While this session is not exclusive to toddlers, most bigger kids will be in school, so it will be a less busy time to take a dip with little swimmers. Any kids under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
LEARN MORE Great River Water Park
Inver Grove Heights Aquatic Center | Sensory Friendly Swim Time
LOCATION 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights
DATES & TIMES Please refer to the Open Swim calendar for dates and times
ADMISSION Ages 1-11: $6; ages 12-59: $9; ages 60+: $6; under age 1: FREE
DETAILS This time is designed for both toddlers and families seeking a sensory-friendly swim time. Many of the waterpark features are turned off or closed at this time – including the dumping bucket, water features and slides.
LEARN MORE Inver Grove Heights Aquatic Center
Shakopee Indoor Aquatic Center | Tot Time Swim
LOCATION 1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee
DATES & TIMES Thursdays & Fridays, 9-10:30am and Saturdays & Sundays, 9:30-11am
ADMISSION $4-$6/child, caregivers FREE
DETAILS This is a special open swim just for kids ages 6 & under. Just the zero-depth entry pool is open; slides and water play features are closed. Non-inflatable pool toys are permitted to play with.
LEARN MORE Shakopee Indoor Aquatic Center
What to pack for Tot Swims
- Swim diapers are consistently required for children not potty trained. Ask at the front desk if you forget, many facilities have swimmies available to purchase.
- Proper swimwear Many pools have rules regarding what constitutes a swimsuit. Street clothes are generally not allowed, but some facilities allow a t-shirt over a swim suit for added sun protection.
- Sun protection is so easy to forget but so important on the water.
- Towels are another thing I tend to forget if I don’t plan ahead.
- Flotation devices & toys are allowed at some pools, but not others. You may want to call ahead before bringing anything.
- Snacks Always pack snacks for any outing. You won’t regret it.
We hope you find a pool or aquatics park that works for you and your pre-k. Start the kids off with these bite-size tot swims and pretty soon you’ll have a child joining you for lap swim or on the water slide.
MORE WATER FUN FOR LITTLE ONES
- Cool Off at Twin Cities Area Splash Pads & Wading Pools
- Splash Happy: Twin Cities Guide to Beaches, Pools & Water Parks
- 10 Twin Cities Beaches & Playgrounds to Try This Summer
- 10 MORE Twin Cities Beaches, Playgrounds & Attractions to Try This Summer
- FFTC Guide to Affordable Summer Water Fun
- Swim Lessons for Tots at Goldfish Swim School
Which pool is the one pictured?
Hi Kristen: The pool pictured is Como Regional Pool.Anne says her 4-year-old loves it because its shallow but has lots to do.