Almost nothing can slow down a toddler on the move, as every parent knows! Stay one step ahead of them with this list of activities to enjoy around the city. Edmonton is a vibrant, family focused city, with many free drop in programs and welcoming public spaces. On a budget? Check with the city to see if your family qualifies for the Leisure Access Pass, and enjoy free Recreation Center memberships, discounted classes, and subsidized bus passes!
1. Edmonton Valley Zoo
A trip to the zoo is always fun and exciting! Climb aboard the miniature train, paddle across the pond, or hop on a merry-go-round and of course, see more than 350 animals in the zoo!
2. Muttart Conservatory
Drop in to the Kids Corner on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 to 11. Parents can sip on a cappuccino from Culina while preschoolers learn all about plants, play games and do crafts. Topics change weekly!
3. Art Gallery of Alberta
Inspire yourself and your preschooler at Tours for Tots, a weekly drop in program for 3 to 5 year olds and parents. Artists aged 6 and up can take part in weekly art camps, and the whole family can come and play at the monthly All-Day Sundays event.
4. John Janzen Nature Center
Visit on weekdays at 11:30 or 2 to participate in John Janzens Backyard, an immersive drop in program of games, educational projects, and outdoor exploring! Stop by on weekends and take part in the daily 2 pm guided walk on the trails around the nature center.
5. Telus World of Science
What will your little ones learn today? Take your toddlers on a trip to Discoveryland, where they can listen to a story, learn about dinosaurs, or pretend to be a scientist at the Exploration Station. Jump around on the Kinetic Dancefloor, or build something in The Workshop!
6. Edmonton Public Library
Visit the Makerspace to try a 3D printer, make music in the sound booth, or turn your children’s drawings into their very own book! Babies and new parents can socialise at Baby Laptime, toddlers can learn sign language and play with a giant parachute during Sing, Sign, Laugh and Learn, and bigger kids can drop in for Lego Club!
7. Alberta Aviation Museum
Visit on Sunday between 1 -2pm to take part in themed drop in programs at the Alberta Aviation Museum. Your 2 to 6 year olds will love the stories, games, and the chance to see real airplanes up close!
8. Winspear Center
9. West Edmonton Mall
Why visit one attraction, when you can see them all? The West Edmonton Mall Toddler Time Season Pass will get you and your family unlimited access to the World Waterpark and Galaxy Land from November to June. Take them bowling at Ed’s Bowling, or skating at the Mayfield Toyota Ice Palace.
10. Café O’Play
Parents, are you dreaming of sipping on a perfectly handcrafted latte, in a coffee shop where kids are not just welcomed, but encouraged to play? Café O’Play is the perfect combination of both, offering a café (with goldfish crackers and baby food on the menu!) and a state of the art play space for children up to 6 years old. 5667 Riverbend Road/ Ph: 780 758 7529
11. Gymnastics
Flip, summersault, or bounce on a giant trampoline! The whole family can drop in during the open gym sessions at Ortona Gymnastics, Phoenix Gymnastics, Salto Gymnastics, St.Albert Gymnastics, or Champions Gymnastics.
12. Dance
Keep your kids happy, and let them dance! 3 to 7 year olds can try the Happy Feet program at Dance Code Studio. Children as young as two can get moving in the parent and tot Dynamic Dance class, and 3-4 year olds can explore movement and imagination in Footlights and Fancy Feet, both offered through the City of Edmonton, and at a discount for anyone with a Leisure Access Pass!
13. Clay and Cupcakes
Inspire your preschoolers with new textures and colors. Drop in to Clay and Cupcakes for the monthly Mommy/Daddy and Me class, and paint a handprint or footprint keepsake to take home with you. If you can’t make the monthly class, the Café will be happy to schedule you (and 6 toddlers) in on the day of your choice, perfect for birthday parties!
Indoor Playgrounds
14. U Play
15. Jump 360 Trampoline Park
Every Friday from 11am to 12pm, the park is closed to the general public, and open just for Parents and Tots at Jump 360 Trampoline Park. Children 3 and under jump for free with a regular adult admission, and children 5 and under are welcome to attend as well. Teach your little ones how to fly as you leap through the air!
16. Treehouse Indoor Playgrounds
Parents, every Monday there is free coffee until 1 pm! Treehouse Indoor Playgrounds have something for everyone. A rock climbing wall, clay class, ballet class, ride on toys, huge indoor playgrounds, and a ball pit and toddler area!
17. Hide N Seek Indoor Playground
You’ll want to spend the whole day at the Hide N Seek Indoor Playground. With a huge climbing web, ball pits, slides, toddler zone, arcade, car track, cafeteria and lounge, you’ll need to come back several times to see it all!
18. Magic Space Indoor Playground
Kids can play, and grownups can get a workout too! Magic Space Indoor Playground features a children’s play area and huge climbing structure, inflatable playground, mini trampolines, a café serving healthy pizzas and juices, and exercise equipment overlooking the playground, for parents who want to squeeze in a workout while their kids have fun!
19. Launch Pad Trampoline Park
Let your preschoolers jump and play at Launch Pad Trampoline Park, in the mini launchers play area, specifically designed for 2-5 year olds, featuring a trampolines, a foam pit, interactive games and building blocks! Bigger kids can play trampoline dodgeball, or launch themselves around on the giant trampolines.
20. Allstars Indoor Playground
Allstars Indoor Playground is Edmonton’s largest indoor play space, and also features the largest toddler play area. Zip across the room on zip lines, or let your little ones play on the playground! Munch on mini hamburgers at the Stars Café, play in the arcade, watch a magic show, learn baby sign language, or drop in for a children’s day camp.
Pools and Recreation Centres
21. Millennium Place
Millennium Place pool in Sherwood Park is so much more than just water. Your little ones will be dazzled with the airplane and bird decorations suspended above the pool, brilliant clear water, wave pool, slides and aquatic playground. If they tire of the pool, take them to the indoor playground featuring a climbing wall and treehouse.
22. Clareview Recreation Center
23. Commonwealth Recreation Center
Splash around in the newly renovated pool at the Commonwealth Recreation Center. The pool features a sloped beach like area with toys, boats, floaters and fountains to keep preschoolers busy. Bigger kids will love climbing the rock wall and jumping into the water, or racing down the waterslide.
24. Leduc Recreation Center
The Leduc Recreation Center is located just outside of Edmonton, but the spectacular aquatic center is well worth the field trip. You’ll want to plan to spend the day here, with all of the slides, fountains, aquatic playgrounds and toys, your kids will never want to get out of the pool!
25. Kinsmen Leisure Center
Your toddlers (and you!) will love the giant, gently curving blue waterslide and toddler slides at the Kinsmen Leisure Center. Little kids can splash around in the separate, shallow kid’s pool stocked with toys, boats and floaters. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, volleyball court #5 is open for kids to ride their bikes indoors!
26. Spray Parks
When the summer arrives in full swing visit, spray parks and splash away the day in one of the City’s free, drop in water play features.
27. Woodlands Water Play Park
Get soaked at Woodlands Water Play Park in St albert! The park is divided into three individual sections geared towards different age groups. There are over 20 spray features, including a super splash bucket that holds and releases 50 gallons of water
28. Toboggan Hills
Whether racing down the hill or climbing back up, sledding is something the whole family can enjoy. Visit some of Edmonton’s vibrant, snow covered parks such as Highlands Park, Rundle Park, Emily Murphy Park, Gallagher Park, Strathearn Park, Whitemud Park North, and Castle Downs Park. Don’t forget a thermos full of hot chocolate and your snow pants!
Upcoming Fun Events for Toddlers in and around Edmonton
You may like:
Outdoor Winter Fun in Edmonton