Get Moving: Tot Times, Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots in the Twin Cities
Tot Times and Open Gym were my savior when my firstborn was a squirrelly toddler who needed a space to run off his pent-up wintertime energy. A few years later, I had four littles under the age of 7 who were climbing the walls and testing the limits of my sanity. Perhaps you find yourself in the same boat? Browse through our listings of Indoor toddler activities to find an open gym, open playtime or open swim near you and treat yourself to a (near) guaranteed nap time.
Disclaimer: While we do our best to keep up with changes, Tot Times, Open Play and Open Gym times are subject to change without notice. We recommend calling or clicking on the accompanying links to double check our information before heading out. Updated and verified 10/04/2019.
PRESCHOOL TOT TIMES, OPEN PLAY & GYM AT COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTERS
Thanks to our FFTC partner Rockin’ Jump for this article.
Rockin’ Jump offers 14 different attractions in the park, including a rock climbing tower, dodgeball, a large open jump arena, a ninja obstacle course, and a whole bunch more. The youngest family members are welcome with a variety of indoor toddler activities for the six-and-under crowd: jump arena, foam pit, bubble soccer, and a stunt jump airbag. With an on-site cafe, Rockin’ Jump has private party rooms for all kinds of celebrations.
MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL INDOOR TODDLER ACTIVITIES – OPEN GYM & TOT TIMES
Minneapolis Parks: Parent & Tot Indoor Playground
When: Times & parks vary
Ages/Cost: 5 & under with caregiver | FREE
Details: Finding tot times in the Minneapolis parks can be tricky. Click the above link and type “parent tot” into the activity search box to get a list of parks that offer drop-in Indoor toddler activities and play with scooters, balls, tumbling mats and more. You’ll need to sign up for an active pass, but it is free and you can do that the first time you go in.
Saint Paul Recreation Centers: Tot Time
When: Daily Mon-Fri | Times vary depending on location
Ages: 5 & under with caregiver
Cost: Free
Details: 16 recreation centers across St. Paul offer free, drop-in sessions of open play with a variety of scooters, balls, mats, and small slides available. Click the above bold link to find the center nearest you.
TWIN CITIES NORTH METRO OPEN GYM & TOT TIMES
ANDOVER
Program: Tot Time Open Gym & Activities | Andover Community Center
When: Most Mon & Tues starting October 2019, 9:30-11:30am
Ages/Cost: 6 & under w/ caregiver, $3-$4/child
Details: Drop in for unstructured play time and special activities such as a bounce house, book swap and craft days. Be sure to check the calendar for the latest schedule.
BROOKLYN PARK – ended Sept 30, 2019.
Program: Preschool Open Gymnastics | Gleason’s Gymnastic School
When: Wed 9:30-11:30am & Fri 9:30-11:30 & 12-2pm
Ages/Cost: ages 0-6, $8/child or $10/family
Details: Have the run of the equipment! Kids can jump on the trampolines, launch themselves into the foam pit, walk the balance beam, follow obstacle courses, swing from the trapeze and more.
MAPLE GROVE
Program: Parent/Tot Time | Maple Grove Community Center
When: Mon & Wed 10am-11:30am (The gym schedule is issued monthly, we recommend checking once a month)
Ages/Cost: Tot times best for ages 5 & under; $3/resident youth, $3.50/non-res youth, caregivers free
NEW BRIGHTON
Program: Preschool Open Gym | New Brighton Community Center
When: Mon & Wed excluding holidays and school breaks,10:30am-1:30pm
Ages/Cost: Preschool-aged and under w/ caregiver. Admission to open gym is included in the price of admission to Eagles Nest Indoor Playground, $6/child, caregiver free.
Details: Gym equipment includes a bouncer, crawl tubes, mats, tumbling blocks and more.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS
Program: Toddler Open Dome | Vadnais Sports Center
Closed indefinitely for repairs. Read more here. We are hoping this eventually re-opens, so we are keeping it on the list for now.
When: Thurs | Begins mid-October 10:15am-12:15pm
Ages: Toddlers with caregiver
Cost: FREE
Details: Tot times are limited to 50 people per playing field. Spots are first come, first served.
TWIN CITIES SOUTH METRO OPEN GYM & TOT TIMES
APPLE VALLEY
Program: Parent/Tot Time & Preschool Open Gym | Apple Valley Community Center
When: Ongoing Mon, Wed, Fri when school is in session | 9:30-11am (Wed during summer break)
Ages/Cost: 5 & under w/ caregiver, FREE
Details: Burn off some energy with other kids, develop motor skills and coordination. A special tot time for tykes ages 2 & under is held from 9-9:30 am followed by open play for 5 & under until 11.
Program: Millz House Open Play
When: Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, 9am-4pm, Wed 9am-1pm, Sat 10am-4pm & Sun 11am-3pm
Ages/Cost: Weekdays are $6/child or $18/family & weekends, $8/child or $24/family.
Details: Work out the wiggles with indoor playsets, trampolines and basketball courts.
CHASKA
Program: Tot Time | Chaska Community Center
When: Times vary, see this page for details
Ages/Cost: 6 & under for most activities, 5 & under for tot gym, $6-$8/pp, caregivers free
Details: Lots to choose from here: Mondays bring art projects in the craft room, open gym with special tot toys is Thursdays, splash around during Tot Time Swim Mondays, Fridays & Sundays, and try out ice skating with your little one on Wednesdays (skate rental $3).
EAGAN
Program: Preschool Open Play | Eagan Community Center
When: Mon-Fri, 9-11:30am; Sept-May
Ages/Cost: 18 mon-5 yrs; $4/child
Details: Gym time where kids can run, tumble, play as well as access to The Blast Indoor Playground.
Program: Preschool Open Gymnastics | Gleason’s Gymnastic School
When: Wed 9:30-11:30am & Fri 9:30-11:30 & 12-2pm; Sept 9, 2019-April 30, 2020
Ages/Cost: ages 0-6, $8/child or $10/family
Details: Have the run of the equipment! Kids can jump on the trampolines, launch themselves into the foam pit, walk the balance beam, follow obstacle courses, swing from the trapeze and more.
SAVAGE
Program: Tot Time | Savage Sports Center
When: Tue & Thurs, 9-11:30 am, Traditionally November – April – Begins November 5, 2019
Ages/Cost: Ages 5 and under; $3 per child with adult.
Details: A variety of fun toys and sport equipment are available at tot times. Prepaid passes can be purchased.
SHAKOPEE
Program: Kids Playtime | Shakopee Community Center
When: Mon & Wed | October through April 2020, 10-11:15am
Ages: 1-5 with caregiver
Cost: $1/child
Details: Kids and their parents are invited to run around the gymnasium. Bring your clean trikes, riding toys, balls or use theirs.
TWIN CITIES WEST METRO OPEN GYM, TOT TIMES
& INDOOR TODDLER ACTIVITIES
& INDOOR TODDLER ACTIVITIESCRYSTAL
Program: Preschool Playtime Open Gym | Crystal Community Center Gym
When: Wed, early October-mid April, 10-11:30am (2019 Fall Session: October 2-December 18)
Ages/Cost: 1-5, $3/child
Details: Jump, crawl, build and play the winter away in 3 gyms. 1 adult to every 3 kids required. Punch cards available for discounted visits.
EDEN PRAIRIE
Program: Tot Time Open Gym | Eden Prairie Community Center
When: Mon, Wed, Fri, 9-11:15 am – Sept. 4, 2019–May 22, 2020
Ages/Cost: Best for ages 1-4; $5/pp ages 1-4, $6/pp ages 5+, under 1 and caregivers free.
Details: Participate in indoor toddler activities and free play with balls, hoops, scooters, jump ropes, tumbling mats, parachutes, and more. For $6/pp, admission to the Prairie Play Zone indoor playground is included.
EDINA
Program: Tot Time | Braemar Field
When: Ongoing Mon & Wed starting (October 28, 2019 – April 22, 2020), 9-11am
Ages/Cost: At your discretion (w/ adult), $5/child
Details: Room to run, age appropriate toys and some organized games. Keep in mind when dressing – temp is set at 55 degrees. Also, Family Night $5/pp.
HOPKINS
Program: Turf Tots | Hopkins Pavilion
When: Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm, starting March 2020
Ages/Cost: 1-5 years; $5/child, caregivers free
Details: In the spring, playtime moves to the indoor turf where there’s more room to run!
PLYMOUTH
Program: Open Play | Plymouth Field House
When: Mon, Wed, Fri – winter months, starting in Nov 2019, 10:30am-1:30pm
Ages/Cost: Best for ages 3-5; $4-$5/child, caregivers free
Details: During the chilly months, heat in the field house is turned on to 55 degrees for fun with inflatables, slides, nets and lots of space to run the kids ragged.
ST LOUIS PARK
Program: Little Tot Playtime | St Louis Park Rec Center
When: Tues-Fri | Early November 2019 – early May 2020 | 9:30-11:30am
Ages: 1-5 with caregiver
Cost: $2 per child
Details: Bounce in the inflatables, ride the big wheelers, play dress up or build with blocks on the creative carpet.
TWIN CITIES EAST METRO OPEN GYM & TOT TIMES
MAPLEWOOD
Program: Preschool Gymboree | Maplewood Community Center
When: Thur, 10-11:30am (November 2019-March 2020)
Ages/Cost: Unstructured playtime with balls, mats, music, toys & games and Jump Castle is included for ages 5 and under. $5/child. Under age 1/free.
TWIN CITIES INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS & PLAY CENTERS
INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS – click the above graphic for all the details!
- Adventure Peak | Edinborough Park, Edina
- Atrium at Playworks | Prior Lake
- Blast Indoor Playground | Eagan
- Brookview Backyard | Golden Valley
- Brown Family Adventure Park | Ham Lake
- Chaska Community Center Playroom | Chaska
- Eagles Nest Indoor Playground | New Brighton
- Giggle Factory | Hudson WI
- Good Times Park | Eagan
- InnerActive | Minnetonka
- Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground | Woodbury
- Maple Maze | Maple Grove
- Millz House | Apple Valley
- Monkey House | White Bear Lake
- Prairie Play Zone | Eden Prairie
- Pump It Up | Plymouth
- Rainbow Play Systems | Bloomington
- Rockin’ Jump | Eagan
- SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park | Oakdale & Plymouth
- The Lookout Indoor Playground | Shakopee
- Tropical Adventure Indoor Playground | Shoreview
- Williston Treehouse | Minnetonka
INDOOR PLAY SPACES
MiniSota Play Cafe | Champlin
When: Open Sun, 9am-3pm & Sat, 9am-7pm but please check their online calendar for early closures.
Ages/Cost: Ages 1-9/$10, ages 6-12 mon/$5, adults $3 (or free with beverage purchase)
Details: MiniSota is currently the only location in the Twin Cities that combines an open play center with a cafe. Between themed days, storytimes and music classes there’s always special Indoor toddler activities going on (so check the calendar).
Pinwheel Play | Chanhassen
When: Open daily, 7am-9pm
Ages/Cost: $10/child ages 1+, adults free w/ paying child
Details: This brand new 5,000 square feet space includes equipment for large-motor play, an art room, rotating activity stations, engaging toys and much more.
Snapology Discovery Center | Minneapolis
When: Drop-in Playtime during the school-yr weekdays, 10am-3pm & summer, 9am-5pm. Fri, 10am-8:30pm & Sat-Sun, 9am-5pm
Ages/Cost: All ages pay $8/pp for unlimited play that day or drop off your child at $6/hr ages 5+
Details: Offers great indoor toddler activities, guaranteed to entertain with opportunities to build with LEGO bricks, K’nex and other materials.
OPEN SWIM AT TWIN CITIES WATER PARKS & POOLS
Swimming can be a wonderful way to squeeze in a workout during the frigid winter months in Minnesota. Use this list of Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks and Pools to find tot times, open swims and special ways to save on splashing your way through the winter. Or, here’s a quick list:
- Chaska Community Center Pool
- Eden Prairie Aquatics Center
- Great River Water Park | St Paul
- Great Wolf Lodge | Bloomington
- Grove Cove Aquatic Center | Maple Grove
- The Grove Aquatic Center | Inver Grove Heights
- Tropics Indoor Water Park | Shoreview
- Williston Fitness Center | Minnetonka
Find hundreds more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids!
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[…] 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. […]
This list is so marvelous and true. Lovely post! I enjoyed reading it. The baby gear is so nice and adorable and looks interesting. It’s such a great way to be able to get things done and your baby enjoys the ride. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Nicola. These are some marvelous options. However, I wouldn’t expect to get anything done. Most of these places expect parents to watch their own kids closely, so you can’t really bring along work. Still, in my experience, there is no better way to get work done later than to wear out your tot early! Hope you get to try some of these places for yourself some time.
[…] We know April weather can be reluctant to commit, so most indoor open gym times for tots are still up and running this month. Our pick for best space to race is Turf Tots over at Hopkins Pavilion: balls, mini climbing wall, bounce house and all manner of wheels included. Mon-Fri thru April 24, 9am-2pm, $4/child ages 0-5. Note from the city: The Pavilion will be under construction this spring – please call ahead to confirm the program is on for the day. For more indoor play try our list of Tot Times, Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots. […]