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What to do with the kiddos when it’s rainy or too cold to venture outside, or in winter months when it’s dark far too early? Here are 15 ideas for fun indoor play in Toronto for kids: many of them free!
1. Free Community Centre Programs
Check with City of Toronto Recreation Centres in your neighbourhood for free drop-in programs like family games, shinny, and indoor play (kids ages 1 to 5, accompanied by a caregiver, go wild in a gym filled with soft climbing structures, slides, pedal cars, balls, and more).
Ontario Early Years’ Centres also have drop-in programs with arts and crafts for kids, circle time, snack, and free play with toys.
Check for other family resource centres near you for more drop-in and drop-off programs.
2. Museums
Think museums are a grown-up activity? Think again. Many Toronto museums have kid-specific programs to get children’s creative juices flowing.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is a great destination for families in colder weather for the Hands-On Centre (year-round, Tue.–Sun.) and Family Sundays (Nov.–May) and artistic workshops and classes.
Design Exchange also has Family Sundays on select weekends in fall and winter. And family events are ongoing at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
The Ontario Science Centre has hands-on exhibits for kids of all ages, including a build-your-own roller coaster station, a cave spelunking experience, a pint-sized shopping market for little ones, and a planetarium and Omnimax theatre.
Living-history museum Black Creek Pioneer Village is closed December 24 through May, but until then, celebrate the run-up to the holidays 1800s-style with mincemeat pies, wagon rides, kids’ crafts, and visits to Santa’s Cottage.
3. Classes and Lessons
Whether for art or music, basketball or computer programming, classes are a great way for kids to keep bodies and minds active in cold-weather months and gain skills, confidence, new friends, and just have fun in a safe, positive environment.
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Some classes are pricey but you can sign up for low-cost recreation programs through the City of Toronto, including gymnastics, music, and swimming. Check out museums, local crafts collectives, conservation centres, and other local resources for more classes.
4. Clubs
Resources for kids’ clubs include the City of Toronto registration-based clubs (girls-only clubs, after-school fun clubs, chess clubs, and more).
Popular across Canada for a reason, Girl Guides and Scouts Canada are inexpensive and provide lots of fun activities and supervised trips for kids.
A free Toronto Public Library program, TD Shakepeare for Kids Library Club, where kids read and perform Shakepeare with professional actors and educators, is offered at branches across the city.
Find more clubs for kids here.
5. Indoor Playgrounds and Play Centres
When it’s too cold to go to the playground, take it indoors! Indoor playgrounds range from small playrooms with toys and a single indoor slide for toddlers and preschoolers to huge indoor play centre complexes with multi-level play structures, indoor mini-golf, party packages, arcade games, and more.
Trampoline parks like Sky Zone and Just Bounce allow kids to really blow off steam after being cooped up indoors.
6. Indoor Swimming
Head to one of more than a dozen City of Toronto indoor pools in Toronto for free swim times, in most cases free of charge.
Some especially cool pools for kids: the Regent Park Aquatic Centre, with a giant slide for older kids and shallow area with a mushroom waterfall feature; Agincourt Recreation Centre (palm trees!); and River Grove Community Centre in Mississauga (twirly tube slide and surrounded by windows).
You can also pay for a day pass to use pools at YMCAs, JCCs, and university athletic centres.
Or take “swimming” to the next level at the Richmond Hill Wave Pool.
7. Bowling and Mini Golf
There are several options for bowling and indoor mini-golf in the GTA. You can also play mini-golf at some indoor playgrounds and play centres, like Rinx. You can even do glow-in-the-dark mini-golf and bowling!
8. Kid Cafés
Cafés with play areas for kids are a perfect cold-weather treat for mom and tot. You enjoy a coffee and pastry while your child plays on the indoor play equipment or does an art project—or even attends a workshop. You can drop in at most cafés, though some require membership.
9. Storytime
Ready for Reading story times take place at Toronto Public Library branches across the city and are for specific age groups up to age 5.
Children’s bookstores also have storytime for kids.
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10. Ripley’s Aquarium
For fun under the sea, head to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. It’s simply awesome to see sharks and sawfish swimming overhead. Small tykes go crazy for the indoor playground. Everyone loves the jellyfish wall and the touch tanks where you can “pet” a sting ray or shark. In winter, kids can even “sleep with the sharks” at an aquarium sleepover.
11. Hockey Hall of Fame
For little fans, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a prime destination to learn about NHL history, play interactive games (for young kids), and have a photo taken with the legendary Stanley Cup.
12. Plays and Performances
Here in Toronto, we are lucky to have many children’s performing arts venues and troupes. Take advantage of the many shows and concerts on throughout the fall, winter, and early spring.
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13. YMCAs, JCCs, and U of T Drop-In and Registered Programs
These centres and educational centres have activities ranging from swimming, karate and dance to art, music, and education that are open to all (some programs require registration and members receive discounts). See the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Miles Nadal JCC, Schwartz/Reisman Centre (Vaughan), and University of Toronto.
14. Cooking
Cooking schools and kids cooking programs are on the rise. Even Loblaws has themed cooking classes for kids ages 3 to 16. But you could also just cook something together at home. It’s a great skill for kids to learn and all the measuring, stirring, and stealing of chocolate chips is a fun way to while away an afternoon—with a big payoff at the end!
15. Round-Robin Playtime
Keep it casual (and inexpensive) and host a playtime for your child and a few friends, then move it from home to home on a weekly or every-other-week basis. Give it a theme (snow-related crafts, baking, board games) to keep kids busy playing together. It’s an excuse to get out of the house (when it’s not your turn to host), socialize, and take some of the “I’m bored” out of Saturdays!
