Indoor Activities For Toddlers Under 2 Near Me
If you’re a parent of a toddler, you know that even the simplest activities can turn into a complete nightmare. Toddlers are notoriously fussy and unpredictable, so if you’re planning to venture out anywhere with one, it’s better to be prepared.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of indoor destinations designed with very young children in mind – places where the staff is enthusiastic about entertaining little ones and has years of experience doing it.
They’ll do the heavy lifting for you so all your toddler has to do is run around having fun! “Why indoor?” You might be wondering. Well, because indoor destinations are reliable: there won’t be anything outside that could ruin your trip (like rain or snow) and most importantly, they have air conditioning! So take a look at our list of fun spots for toddlers under 2 near you!
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a great place to take your toddler. Located at 212 West 83rd Street, it’s open seven days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The museum offers many fun activities for children and parents alike, including story times, arts & crafts projects, and even cooking classes!
The Children’s Museum has a variety of exhibits that are sure to keep your little one busy (and entertained) for hours on end. Make sure you stop by the Rainforest exhibit where they can play with interactive toys while learning about endangered animals! They’ll also love playing in the pretend grocery store or dressing up as superheroes at Kid City.
Other fun things include an art studio where kids can explore their creativity as well as an outdoor playground full of slides, tunnels, and more! After exploring all the exhibits inside this museum make sure you check out what’s happening outside too because there should be plenty going on outside too depending on when you visit so don’t forget sunscreen if needed before heading out there with your toddler(s).
One thing that makes this museum unique from others nearby? The fact that it offers free admission every day except Mondays when entrance fees range between $7-$10 per person depending on age group–so grab those tickets now before prices go up again soon!
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a fun, hands-on museum that allows children to interact with exhibits, as well as other kids. It’s a great place to go with your little ones if you’re looking for something active and educational!
Address 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn NY 11238
Hours: Wednesday – Friday 10am – 5pm; Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 5pm; Closed Mondays except holidays (see website for more info)
Cost. Adults $10 / Students (with ID) $9 / Seniors & Kids under 1 are free! You can also get discounts through their email list or by purchasing an annual membership. We went as part of our family members so everything was free!
What To Expect? There are several different areas in the museum including airplanes & rockets, dinosaurs, trucks/cars/machines…the list goes on! The first floor has lots of things for little ones under 2 years old while older kids will enjoy going up onto the second floor where they can learn about science experiments or play basketball among other activities! There is also a library full of toys upstairs if you want to take some time away from exploring outdoors at home (or just need a break).
Liberty Science Center
Liberty Science Center is located in the heart of Jersey City, New Jersey, and it’s one of the most incredible indoor activities for toddlers under 2 near me. This science museum offers a variety of different exhibits that will keep your little one busy all day long.
The museum is open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day from 9 am to 5 pm (the last entry is at 4:30 pm). Tickets cost $19 for adults and $14 for children 3-11 years old (children 2 years old or younger get in free). It’s also worth noting that if you’re planning on visiting with a larger group (10+), there are special discounts available for groups with preschoolers.
Visitors can expect to see over 1 million square feet filled with exciting new attractions like Climatron & Water Works, Body Works Motion Ride Simulators™, EnergyQuest Interactive Activities & Live Shows™, and more!
Your child will get to learn about space exploration through their Mission Moonbase exhibit where they’ll discover what it would be like living on another planet through virtual reality goggles while playing games along the way! You’ll also find special exhibits including Animal Planet Live!, Reptilians: Return To The Wilds Of New Jersey? Mystery Maze featuring The Walking Dead Zombie Apocalypse Adventure Battle Arena; not only will you have fun but you’ll also learn something too!
Staten Island Children’s Museum
At Staten Island Children’s Museum, you can expect to find hands-on exhibits that promote learning. You’ll also get to see some really cool things, like a fire engine, a doctor’s office, and more!
Here are the details.
Location: 1055 North Gannon Ave., Staten Island NY 10314 (near New Dorp)
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10-4; closed Mondays except for special events (917-613-6407)
Price: $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; $5 for children 3-12; free admission on Wednesdays after 4 pm with ID from NYC Parks & Recreation or other city agencies (917-613-6407)
Age range: The museum recommends this activity for kids between ages 2 and 5 but states it’s okay for anyone ages 1+. Please note that small children may not be able to safely use all the displays within this indoor play center. If you have questions about whether your child will enjoy their time here, call ahead before visiting so they can talk with someone who has first-hand experience working there to give you advice on what might work best! Also remember that any time spent here is sure going make some memories worth remembering forever!
Long Island Children’s Museum
The Long Island Children’s Museum has a variety of exhibits for very young children.
It’s open daily and located in Garden City, so it’s easy to get to if you’re on Long Island. There is a small cafe serving snacks and drinks, as well as a gift shop with toys, games, stuffed animals, and more.
The museum also has an indoor birthday party room that can be used for children ages 2-5 at no additional cost!
Paley Center for Media
If you are looking for indoor activities to do with your toddler under 2 in New York City, the Paley Center for Media is a great place to check out.
The center provides audiences with an opportunity to discover, engage with, and be inspired by television, radio, and emerging platforms.
The museum is located at 25 West 52nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in midtown Manhattan. It has more than 150 years’ worth of television shows from around the world that you can watch on its website. You can also use the center’s library and archives as reference resources when writing essays or doing research papers about television shows if you need some inspiration!
American Folk Art Museum
The American Folk Art Museum is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. The museum is devoted to folk art from the United States and around the world.
It has over 5,000 works in its collection, ranging from 18th-century quilts and 19th-century carvings to contemporary pieces by self-taught artists.
American Folk Art Museum was founded by Judith Rothschild in 1976 as part of America’s Bicentennial celebrations at the request of President Gerald Ford. In 1992 it moved into its current building designed by architect Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects LLP (with help from their partner Jack Diamond)
Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch
814 Prospect Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215,
Mon – Thurs 9am-8pm; Fri & Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 1pm-5pm
FREE! You can borrow up to 25 books at a time. You can read them at home or bring them back to the library and pick something else out. You can also use the computers for free in this library but there is a limit on how long you have access (usually 30 minutes). The coffee shop has great snacks and drinks so bring some cash if you want an afternoon treat!
You must be 17 years old or older with a government-issued ID to get into this building so plan accordingly if you don’t want your toddler wandering around by herself while you attend an event. Also, remember that no food other than water is allowed inside the building—so pack healthy snacks for yourself and any toddlers who will be coming along with you!
Fun Indoor Places To Go With Very Young Children.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a large toddler-friendly space that offers a variety of activities and learning experiences.
It has an interactive exhibit hall, where toddlers can learn about the human body through play, as well as story times and other children’s programs.
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum offers hands-on exhibits for kids ages 0–8 or so, including an art studio and a play cafe (think Legos). There are also classes for older kids in arts & crafts, cooking, and nature exploration—you name it! The museum hosts special events throughout the year as well, so check out their calendar before you head over there.
Liberty Science Center is geared toward older kids (grades 1–12), but they do have some activities suitable for toddlers too: “Kidsburgh” features games such as ping pong tables and board games while “Energy Alley” features experiments designed specifically with younger visitors in mind.
If you’re interested in something more educational than just playing around at these exhibits though then consider checking out their Discovery Depot science center which focuses on STEM education for elementary school students between 6th–8th grade as well! You can even sign up ahead of time online so no need worries about not knowing how long it’ll take or how much money will cost beforehand.”
Conclusion
The benefit of all of these indoor activities is that they are great learning experiences for your child. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and Staten Island Children’s Museum have exhibits specifically designed to educate toddlers on a variety of subjects from the arts to history and science.
The Paley Center for Media is a place that shows television shows and films geared to families with small children. There are also many indoor libraries in NYC where you can read books with your toddler as well as other young children who are there with their parents/grandparents (Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch). Finally, if your child is interested in learning more about art, then check out the American Folk Art Museum where they have permanent exhibitions as well as rotating exhibitions that rotate periodically throughout the year.
