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 the listings below 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 10/22/2018.
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PRESCHOOL TOT TIMES, OPEN PLAY & GYM AT COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTERS
Andover Community Center: Tot Time Open Gym & Activities
15200 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover
When: Most Mon & Tues starting 10/1/18 through April 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.
Apple Valley Community Center: Parent/Tot Time & Preschool Open Gym
14603 Hayes Rd., Apple Valley
When: Ongoing Mon, Wed, Fri when school is in session | 9:30-11am (Wednesdays 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.
Braemar Field: Tot Time
7509 Ikola Way, Edina
When: Ongoing Mon & Wed starting early Nov-April | 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 is hosted ongoing Saturdays, 6:30-8:30pm, at $5/pp.
Chaska Community Center: Tot Time
1661 Park Ridge Dr, Chaska
When: Mon, Wed-Fri | 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).
Image courtesy Chaska Parks
Constance Free Church: Tot Time
Constance Free Church, 16150 Crosstown Blvd NW, Andover, MN 55304, USA
When: First Wednesday, October through April. (No Session in January)
Ages/Cost: 5 & under w/ caregiver, FREE
Details: Drop in for bounce house, slides, tricycles and more.
Crystal Community Center Gym: Preschool Playtime
4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal, MN 55429
When: Wed, early October-mid April | 10-11:30am
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.
Eagan Community Center: Preschool Open Play
1501 Central Parkway, Eagan
When: Mon-Fri, 9-11:30am
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.
Eden Prairie Community Center: Tot Time Open Gym
16700 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie
When: Mon, Wed, Fri starting early Sept | 9-11:15 am
Ages/Cost: Best for ages 1-4; $4.50/pp ages 1-4, $5.50/pp ages 5+, under 1 and caregivers free.
Details: Participate in 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.
Gleason’s Gymnastic School: Preschool Open Gym
2015 Silver Bell Rd. Suite 180, Eagan
When: Wed | 9:30-11:30am & Fri | 9:30-11:30 and 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.
AND
8201 Brooklyn Blvd, Suite #800, Brooklyn Park
When: Wed | 9:30-11:30am & Fri | 12:30-2pm
Harley Hopkins Family Center: Open Gym
125 Monroe Avenue South, Hopkins
When: Saturdays, Jan 19-March 9, 2019
Ages/Cost: 0-5 years; $5/family (or $35/8 weeks)
Details: Move, play and have fun in the gym and classroom Attend any or all of the dates. More information: 952-988-5000,
Hopkins Pavilion: Turf Tots
11000 Excelsior Blvd, Hopkins
When: Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm, March 4-April 24, 2019
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!
Turf Tots
Maple Grove Community Center: Parent/Tot Time
12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove
When: Mon & Wed | 10-11:30am
Ages/Cost: Tot times are best for ages 5 & under; $3/resident youth, $3.50/non-res youth, caregivers free
Maplewood Community Center: Preschool Gymboree
2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood
When: Thur | 10-11:30am (November-March)
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.
Millz House (Apple Valley): Open Play
14645 Felton Court, Suite #104, Apple Valley
When: Weekdays 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm & Sun 11am-3pm; Charitable Play Wed 9am-1pm (space limited, play with the donation of a non-perishable food item)
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.
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 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.
Amazon link
New Brighton Community Center: Preschool Open Gym
400 10th Street NW, New Brighton
When: Mon & Wed excluding holidays and school breaks | 10:30am-1:30pm
Ages/Cost: Preschool & under with 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.
Plymouth Field House: Open Play
14800 34th Ave., Plymouth
When: Mon, Wed, Fri – Winter months, starting in Nov. 1, 2018 | 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.
Saint Louis Park Rec Center: Little Tot Playtime
3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park
When: Tues-Fri | Nov. 7, 2018 – May 3, 2019 | 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.
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.
Savage Sports Center: Tot Time
13450 Dakota Ave., Savage
When: Tue & Thurs | 9-11:30 am, November – April.
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 Community Center – CC Kids Playtime
1255 Fuller St S, Shakopee
When: Mon & Wed | October through April 2019, 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.
Vadnais Sports Center – Toddler Open Dome Closed Indefinitely for repairs. Read more here.
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 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
- SkyZone Indoor Trampoline Park | Oakdale & Plymouth
- The Lookout Indoor Playground | Shakopee
- Tropical Adventure Indoor Playground | Shoreview
- Williston Treehouse | Minnetonka
INDOOR PLAY SPACES
Kid Oasis: Open Play Time
120 Main Street S, Stillwater
When: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm & Sat 9am-2pm
Ages/Cost: $9/child ages 5 mons-8 yrs, 2 adults free w/ child
Details: Discover the power of free play alongside activities designed to encourage creativity and thinking skills.
Pinwheel Play
1256 Park Road, Chanhassen
When: Open daily, 7am-9pm
Ages/Cost: $8.50/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: Drop-in Play Time
When: 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 at $6/hr ages 5+
Details: Guaranteed to entertain with opportunities to build with LEGO bricks, K’nex and other materials.
TOT OPEN SWIM AT TWIN CITIES WATERPARKS & 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.
Get Moving with Dance Classes
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[…] For more options on keeping the little ones moving throughout the chilly months, check out our Open Play, Gym & Swim Spots for Tots in the Twin Cities! […]
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[…] Beat break boredom and burn off energy at Open Gym & Play sessions across the Metro. All are budget-friendly – FREE or under $5 per child to attend – and […]
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[…] Work out the wiggles at one of the many FREE or low-cost indoor open gym and open play times for kids in the Twin Cities. Most are drop-in and unstructured, all are guaranteed to save your […]
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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. […]