To Do Canada in Places to Visit & Things to Do

Things to Do with Toddlers in Edmonton

Photo Credit: City of Edmonton

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

Introduce your little one to the sounds of Mozart and Beethoven. Newborns and preschoolers will love the parent and tot Music Box Babies classes. Preschoolers will have the chance to look at the towering Davis Concert Organ up close during Wee Ones at the Winspear, and the whole family can watch childrens’ movies come to life during select concerts.

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

Your little ones can dive into the ball bit, slide down five slides, play with giant foam toys, and run through the obstacle course at U Play. If they aren’t tired out after all that, head into the Trampoline Park!

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

Play tag in the lazy river, or splash in the fountains at the Clareview Recreation Center pool. Kids will love the purple waterslide and parents with toddlers will love the heated toddler pool, complete with fountains, toys, and fish shaped baby boats. Afterword, grab a coffee from Good Earth Coffee or a smoothie from Jugo Juice, and let your kids run wild in the indoor playground.

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!