Contests
Avoid March Madness: 15 Places For Preschoolers
By Maria Olia
Just because it is cold and rainy outside doesn’t mean you and your preschooler have to be stuck inside the house. Whether March is lion or lamb-like, we’ve rounded up some of the area’s best indoor play spaces, children’s museums, and even a few outdoor activity options. Remember though, changes to programs do occur, so always confirm information when it matters- you don’t want to disappoint the kids!
INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
Imajine That (North)
354 Merrimack St., Lawrence
978-682-5388
Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
$8.95 children ages 1 and up, $2.95 children less than 1 year, $1 adults
For a more educational slant to your preschooler’s indoor play, Imajine That can’t be beat. Geared towards children ages 6 months-6 years, this is one of the area’s largest indoor play spaces with a dinosaur climbing structure, bouncy house, play grocery store, arts and crafts area, and infant and toddler area. Art, reading, and science workshops are free with admission and scheduled most days. Imajine That also that offers classes, drop-off programs and themed birthday packages.
Little Bears Play Center (North)
216 Newbury St., Peabody
978-535-2900
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9.am. - 1 p.m., closed Sundays
$8.99 ages 19 months-5 years, $6.75 ages 6-18 months, $48 6 -visit play pack.
Little Bears play is a family-run indoor play space exclusively for kids under age 5. There is an indoor jungle gym, ride-ons, a pretend play area and an interactive soft play area just for babies up to age 18 months. Healthy, organic treats are available for purchase. Little Bear caters to parents too with comfy couches and recliners and coffee. Bring your laptop-there’s free Wi-Fi too!
Perpetual Motion (North)
345 Chelmsford St., Lowell
978-452-0777
Tuesday-Wednesday, Saturday-Sunday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Thursday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
$9.50 per child ages 2 and up, $7.75 ages 10 months-23 months, Cash or check only.
At 18,000 square feet, Perpetual Motion is the largest indoor play space around! There is a toddler/preschool area that is age restricted for kids ages 6 and under. The centerpiece attraction here is the train play structure with slides, tunnels, a ball pit and play kitchen. Kids can pretend it is summer here – there is a large indoor swing set and tire swing along with a sandbox stocked with pails and shovels. In the school-age area, older siblings will wear themselves out on the obstacle course, climbing wall and foam pit. There is a concession stand too.
The Tot Plex (South)
5 Carver Circle, Canton (located within the Canton Sportsplex
781-821-0304
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Note: The Tot Plex is closed on school holidays
$8 per child, 10 day pass for $60, discount for siblings
Are your little monkeys jumping on the bed? Bring your kids to the Tot Plex where they can burn off their excess energy jumping in the moonwalks, clambering up and down the climbers and slides, and playing on the ride-ons. Geared towards kids ages six months to age 6, open play at Tot Plex utilizes the indoor turf fields of the Canton Sportsplex. Tot Plex also offers preschool “learn-to-play” sports programs. There is a convenient café on- site that serves snacks and lunch.
SCIENCE, NATURE and ANIMALS
“Babes In the Woods” walks at Middlesex Fells Reservation (North)
Park is located in the towns of Malden, Medford, Stoneham, Melrose and Winchester
Meeting point location varies, check website for schedule.
781-662-2340
Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Free
A morning hike in the woods will (hopefully!) guarantee naptime in the afternoon.
Drumlin Farm (West)
208 South Great Road, Lincoln
781-259-2200
Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.- 5p.m.
Adults $6, children (ages 3-12) and seniors $4.
No matter the weather, there is always plenty to do at Drumlin Farm. Massachusetts Audubon’s headquarters features a poultry house, sheep and pig sheds, and a barn where kids can visit their favorite farm animals. Resident wildlife animals include owls, fox, and skunks. Once you’ve’ finished the animal circuit, stroll one of Drumlin’s easy looping trails. There are free, naturalist led drop-in workshops on weekends in March (daily April-November) or sign up for one of Drumlin Farm’s highly regarded nature or farm classes.
Drop-in Preschool/Family Programs at the Ecotarium (West)
222 Harrington Way, Worcester.
508-929-2700
Preschool and Toddler Wednesdays, weekly 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Budding Scientists, first Thursday of the month, 10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. or 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Free with museum admission, $12 adults, $8 ages 2-18, under age 2 free.
The Ecotarium in Worcester is a wonderful science and environmental museum that stresses conservation and appreciation of the natural world. The weekly Wednesday drop-in program is ideal for ages 3-5 where kids can listen to a story, make a craft and discover the unique features of one of the Ecotarium’s small mammals, birds or reptiles. The Budding Scientist program on the first Thursday of the month introduces fun, hands-on science activities for kids ages 4-6. Both programs are designed for kids and parents to enjoy together.
South Shore Natural Science Center (South)
Jacob’s Lane, Norwell
781-659-2559
Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed Sunday
$5 adults, $3 children 2-15 and seniors.
Little naturalists and their parents will love exploring science together at South Shore Nature Center. The indoor exhibits highlight the area’s pond and woodland systems. Outdoors, there are six marked trails that are easy walking for families. There are drop-in weekly kids programs where kids can watch a naturalist feed the animals or listen to “tales from the wild”. Upcoming seasonal family events include Maple Day March 14, and Vernal Pools-Exploring Giant Puddles, March 27.
Buttonwood Park Zoo (South)
425 Hawthorne St., New Bedford
508-991-6178
Daily 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
$6 adults, $3 ages 3-12, free under age 3.
Creatures great and small abound at the Buttonwood Park Zoo- terrapins, a new cougar cub, and elephants Ruth and Emily. Buttonwood has several drop-in programs for preschoolers every week. The Toe Jam Puppet Band plays on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. ($5 per family in addition to zoo admission). Free Toddler Tales features crafts on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. feature crafts and a story. Monkey Business on Fridays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. ($5 per family in addition to zoo admission) is an indoor open-play session geared to preschoolers with games, toys, and puzzles.
CHILDRENS MUSEUMS
The Children’s Museum of Providence (South)
100 South St., Providence, Rhode Island
401-273-5437
Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., select Friday evenings until 8 p.m., open Mondays beginning in April.
$7.50 per person over age 12 months.
The Children’s Museum of Providence is a blast for kids from infant to age 10. Littlewoods is an imaginative space just for infants to age four. Preschoolers will especially enjoy the Shape Space and Play Power areas. Be sure to check out every kid’s favorite exhibit “Water Ways” at the end of your visit- the museum’s smocks keep your kids only somewhat dry!
The Discovery Museums (West)
177 Main St., Acton
978-264-4200
Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Mondays
Admission: $9 for the Children’s Museum for ages 1 and up, $13 to visit both the Children’s and Science Museums on the same day.
Young children adore this place! You will find kids gleefully scampering from room to room to check out the Children’s Museums unique, themed exhibits- the Train Room, Rainbow Room, Safari Room, the SS Discovery and more. School-age kids will want to stop by the next-door Science Museum for hands-on exploration of weather, nature, sound, and invention.
Children’s Museum of Easton (South)
9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton
508-230-3789
www.childrensmuseumineaston.org
Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 12:00-5:00 p.m.
$6 per person, under age 1 free.
The Children’s Museum of Easton may be small in size, but its three floors of interactive exhibits in a charmingly renovated 100-year-old firehouse have plenty of activities to keep kids occupied for hours. Highlights include the Enchanted Forest area, a Kids Clinic where kids can x-ray a broken bone, and a woodworking studio. Drop-in crafts, stories and games on Tuesday-Thursday mornings for kids ages 2 and up are free with admission. The museum also offers a wide variety of workshops and classes for kids and parents.
ART AND CULTURE
Brookline Puppet Showplace Theater (Greater Boston)
32 Station St., Brookline
617-731-6400
Shows Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m., Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 3 p.m., additional shows during school vacation weeks.
$10 per person.
Celebrating its 31st year, this charming storefront puppet theatre in Brookline has been entertaining young children for generations. Exquisitely designed hand puppets, rod puppets and marionettes bring children’s stories to life. Fun for kids and parents-no strings attached!
Art for Little Hands at Artbeat (Greater Boston and South)
9 Summer St., Franklin
508-528-5001
212 A Mass. Ave., Arlington
781-646-2200
Every Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30-10:30 in Franklin, every Tuesday 9:30-10:30 in Arlington.
$10 per child/adult pair.
Art Beat’s “Little Hands” drop-in art classes are ideal for children ages 2-4 and their favorite adult. Hands-on sensory art activities use a variety of appropriate materials like sticky mosaics or sand painting to make a frame-worthy art project to bring home. Price includes the supplies, guidance from the very helpful staff, and a snack.
PEM Pals at the Peabody Essex Museum (North)
161 Essex St., Salem
978-745-9500
PEM Pals Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Free with museum admission, $15 adults, free for children under age 18.
Storytelling, music and art. “PEM Pals” is a free drop-in program that takes place every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and is tailored made for preschoolers and their caregivers. Every week there is a different theme- often inspired by the museum’s vast and fantastical global collection of art and artifacts.
