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The Artful Place
www.theartfulplace.com
171 Fifth Ave between Berkeley and Lincoln Pls
Park Slope
718-399-8199 Subway: M, R to Union St.
Park Slope parents and their crafty offspring are flocking to this creative outlet for its selection of mixed-media supplies. The shop also offers a surprisingly wide variety of weekly workshops for kids, teens and adults.

Bounce U
BounceU.com
http://www.bounceu.com/party-places-for-kids/new-york/brooklyn/
6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11219 (Bay Ridge)
(718) 238-3288
$15 for a day of play. The facilities are: 7 large bounce structures that include slides, balls, climbing walls and bouncing areas. You can make a reservation to insure that they have room for you as they limit the amount of children inside. And this particular site has a 20 foot slide the largest of the BounceU slides.

Brooklyn Arts Exchange
http://www.bax.org/
421 5th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-832-0018
The play space is only open certain times; for instance, parents can take an adult fitness workshop next door on Mondays from 10-11 am while their children play in the playspace from 9:30-11:30AM and usually the last Friday of every month for Family Friday and one Sunday per month for the Jumpin’ Juniper Show. Activities include hoops, tunnels, coloring, balls, books and are with the help of the Playspace facilitator. Children can bring special toys, books, or other childhood comfort items, but must bring their own diapers, wipes, snacks and drinks. Parents must remain on site. BAX is no-profit in Park Slope that offers classes in music, dance, baby & me, various baby and toddler classes, dance and movement classes, yoga and theater and acting. It also has a summer arts program.

Brooklyn Beads Boutique
www.brooklynbeads.net
244 Smith St between DeGraw and Douglass Sts
Carroll Gardens
866-390-8435 Subway: F,G to Carroll St.
Kids can get creative at this bead-it-yourself boutique, or use the play space so Mom can keep her creative focus.

Brooklyn Lyceum
http://www.gowanus.com/MORE?listingid=100086
227 4th Avenue (corner of President St)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-398-7301
Kid Run Around- most Saturdays from 10am-2pm: waffles, bagels, muffins, juice and hot chocolate. Check website for dates. This is generally a performance space that has little warmth. They play music, but not many toys. It is generally a good runaround space for older children.

Crispus Attucks Playground (inside and outside play area)
Corner of Fulton and Classon
Brooklyn, NY (Clinton Hill)
718-965-8938 or 718-638-8886
“Mommy and I Can Program”: Ages 2-4 years old. Mon-Fri from 10am-11 am and 11:30 am-12:30 pm (though you can stay for both if you like). Story time, puppets, art and crafts, music, tot tumbling, playdoh, etc. Sponsored by the City of New York/Parks and Recreation. FREE.

The toys are fun, they do a lot of arts and crafts, story time and the puppet show is a smash hit. Jamal, who runs it, is very charismatic. My son Birch loves the playgroup and Jamal.
-Karen

Early Childhood Resource and Information Center
http://www.nypl.org/branch/local/man/ecc.cfm
66 Leroy Street (off 7th Ave South)
New York, NY 10014
212-929-0815
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6 pm Thurs 10-6 Friday 1-6 Sat 1-5 Closed Sundays
The Early Childhood Resource and Information Center (ECRIC) is a unique center of The New York Public Library dedicated to serving the needs of young children (birth to age 6), their parents, caregivers, teachers, and other early childhood professionals. ECRIC is located on the second floor of the Hudson Park Branch Library. The Family Room is the heart of ECRIC. It is a place where the parent or caregiver and child can work together in an environment created to stimulate and meet the developmental interests of infants and young children.The room holds a special collection of books, toys, and learning tools and includes a carpeted block area, housekeeping and dramatic play spaces, drawing easels, climbing & sliding equipment, puzzles, and other learning tools.

They have wonderful wooden toys, the largest collection of books on parenting, education and board books for children. Sometimes it is really active with a lot of kids, and other times I have been the only one there.
-Elizabeth

Families First Brooklyn
http://www.familiesfirstbrooklyn.org
250 Baltic Street (bet. Clinton & Court)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This is a well-established community program offering a drop-in play space, children’s classes and activities (like science, cooking, language, adult-baby play, etc), workshops for parents and caregivers (choosing a nursery school, discipline, CPR, etc) and support groups for new parents. Membership is $75 annually, with an additional $225 for unlimited play space access. Hours are 9-4 Monday – Thursday and 9-1 Friday.

My son goes to “practically pre-school” there and it is an excellent precursor to regular pre-school. You do have to join as a member for $75/yr but it is a lot less than private school and you can start immediately and not wait till your kid is old enough for “school”. Families First is a school/ community center/playspace and generally excellent resource all in one. The whole place is a wonderful resource for new families with young kids as they have a well stocked indoor playspace, an art/snack room and lots of classes geared towards kids up to about age 6. Its also a terrific networking place and they have workshops on all sorts of informative stuff. Oh and they are so friendly and nice and non-intimidating.
-Cara

Juguemos a Cantar
http://www.juguemos.org
[email protected]
47 Sterling Place
Brooklyn, NY 11215 (Red Hook)
718-788-6472
Juguemos a Cantar is a unique program developed to introduce children birth to 12 years to practical Spanish through music and play.Juguemos Drop-in Playspace (WINTER TIME ONLY) is a place where children will freely play, move ride tricicles, slide, sing-a-long, read, dress up, listen to stories, do art projects using their imaginations and meet with friends. Children MUSt be supervised by a parent/cargiver at all times. You and your child can come any time between 10am and 12pm. adults will remain in the building at all times – this is NOT a drop off activity). No registraton necessary. First come first served as space is limited.

Madd Fun
http://www.maddfun.com/
303 Stanley Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11207
718-498-9002
This is an indoor entertainment center- near to Gateway Estates (huge retail shopping). They have lazer tag, mini bowling, arcade, ball pit/tunnel and tubes arena, climbing wall, amusement rides, bumper cars, mini train, arts and crafts area, exclusive toddler soft play, private party rooms, food court, computer lab with classes. Package prices vary from $6-$21.

Ms. J’s
www.msjsgym.com
289 Kent Ave (btw. S 1st and S. 2nd St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)
718-218-7065
Ms J’s Gymnastics and Dance is a colorful studio where children and teens can learn to listen, have fun, be social, and work out.  An indoor play space for the whole neighborhood during the winter months!  Practice tumbling or simply run around!  Family fun is $6 per hour.  We offer an eleven hour card for $50, that brings the price down to $4.50 an hour! Registration is required.  For Scheduling information please visit www.msjsgym.com

We have been to Ms. J’s Family Fun Time on the recommendation of friends. We paid a membership fee ($40 as it was prorated for the year) and then $6 for each time we went. We had the best time both times. Family Fun Time means the kids can use all the gymnastics equipment available (except the main trampoline and rope swing). This includes: climbing wall of letters, small trampoline, uneven bars, rings, balance beams of all heights, play mats and large play balls, small tricycles and small toys (just a few of them), spring board. They have an area for eating with tables and chairs that looks over the whole gym. There are 2 nice bathrooms (one with changing table) and a small dance studio in the back that has a piano for private lessons. Both times we went there were only 2 other families there, so it allowed for some nice, mellow interaction. Overall, the experience was great for gross motor development and expending some energy. It was especially great for us with 2 kids. I could put our baby on one of the large mats so she could practice rolling and crawling and our toddler ran around building forts with the mats, jumping and riding the bikes. The only drawback: Family Fun Time’s hours are limited due to class schedules. You just have to check the hours.
-Karen

Nairobi’s Knapsack
744 Franklin Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11238
347-295-2011
Hours: Tues-Thurs 10-6, Fri/Sat 10-7, Sun 11-5
A Toy and Play Gallery in Prospect Heights/Crown Heights border. They have toys and books with a nice play space. . We also offer classes for kids such as Creative Costuming, Musica Para Mi, Private Picassos, Music Together and more. Visit our website for a full list of classes and events.

Neighborhood Play Space
http://www.christchurchcobblehill.org
326 Clinton St (and Kane)
Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Cobble Hill)
718-624-0083
The Neighborhood Playspace program provides a place for young children to meet and play together, and a place for parents and caregivers to meet, socialize, and support one another. Located in the Parish Hall.
Hours: 9:30-12 Mon-Fri, ask about afternoons.

New York Kids Club
182 Henry Street
Brooklyn, NY (Brooklyn Heights)
718-228-0800
For kids aged 6 months to 12 years

NY City Explorers
http://nycityexplorers.com/

2 locations
388 Atlantic Avenue (btw Hoyt & Bond) (this location is temporarily closed while they look for another….stay tuned!)
718.625.6923

186 Underhill Ave (btw. St. Johns Place and Sterling Place)
Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Prospect Heights)
718-399-6923

Open for drop-in play, babysitting, drop-off (special times) seven days a week from 9am-6pm. The day pass is $10 per family.
The Exploratorium features: Clean, safe, wooden toys, Fun tents & play tunnel, Comfy parent’s lounge

Atlantic Ave location: This place has everything you want in a neighborhood play space and activity center. Their play space is clean, colorful and laid-back. There is a lounge and eating area where you can drop your shoes before indulging in the toys and space. In the back they have a classroom where they host birthday parties and their academic- inspired classes like history, math and drama. Their in house teacher Andrea has her masters in curriculum development and has taught for seven years, so you can be sure she knows how to handle a roomful of energized kids. I have seen her at work and the kids adore her spirited guidance. In addition, NYC Explorers offers special weekly events: Wednesday Dropoff Childcare, Friday Night Date Night (you get the date, the kids get lots of fun), Sleep-in Saturdays and more. In addition, they offer adult support groups, after-school pickup and a babysitting service either at their place at your own. They call it “edutaining”. It is open 7 days a week from 9-6 pm. It is $10 for drop-in play or buy play packs or a discount packages.
-Karen

Prospect Heights location: I went to this location pregnant- I was excited to see the new space and to eat the yummy Blue Marble ice cream from the company they partnered with at this location. First, yes, the ice cream is fantastic, and second, the space is adorable. It is much smaller than the one at Atlantic Ave but has the nice same clean feel. The caregivers there were fantastic: enthusiastic, helpful and happy to be there. They showed me the small kitchen in the back that is available to everyone there. You can warm up milk, food and refrigerate what is necessary. Very helpful. They have a sweet grassy backyard that they use for yoga or tumbling or just to feel the grass under little feet. I wouldn’t bring my older child to this location as he likes to jump around and run- there just isn’t enough space for that. I think my younger one would just love it! 0-6 years.
-Karen

At Play Days and Parties, we encourage kids to be kids. We offer a variety of packages for ages 1 thru 12 including Classic Pizza, Theme parties, Craft Parties and much more. With so many options and add-ons to choose from children feel a sense of involvement in the planning of their party and even the adults have fun. We host one party at a time which offers privacy and security.  Besides parties we also offer yoga classes, after school arts and crafts, Parent’s Night Out and Open Play. We also offer Alternative to Pre-school Playgroup, for children ages 2-4, whose parents feel they are not ready for an organized pre-school butwant for them an introduction to learning skills, independence and social awareness through art, music, circle time and imaginative play.

Playspace
250 Cadman Plaza West (btw. Clark and Tillary)
Brooklyn, NY (Brooklyn Heights)
718 875 9124
[email protected]
It’s great for the newborn through 4 year old age group with lots of toys and 2000 sq feet of play area and room to roam. Snacks are provided and the cost is a family friendly rate of $10 per family per session. Regular weekly hours are Mon 2 – 4:30 pm, Tues 9:30 – noon and 2 – 4:30 pm, Wed 9:30 – noon , closed on Thurs. and Fri 9:30 – noon. Drop in any time during a session, no pre registration necessary.

Powerplay
432 3rd Ave (btw. 7th and 8th Sts)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-369-9880
They offer holiday camps for December, February and April, summer camps. Gymnastics for infant and toddler (9mos-3yrs), pre-school gymnastics (3.5 to 5 yrs) and special needs children classes, recreational gymnastics for children ages 7 and older, pre-team and team programs, technical soccer classes, rhythmic gymnastics, karate, rock climbing and after-school program.

I liked the play space- though it did feel worn around the edges and too tight for so many toddlers. There is a sandbox area that has sand toys and is enclosed in a large 10 foot square box. This was a big hit with the kids- and less so for the parents who have to wipe all the sand off their feet. There is a slide/climbing structure that is fun, but mostly inaccessible to the parents by the nature of its size and access. Because of that, there were times that watching my unstable toddler climb and move around in it, made me nervous. There is a playhouse with a lack of kitchen items that caused a few scuffles. I would not recommend this space for babies or crawlers- I think they might get mowed down. Most of the parents enjoyed some time hanging out, reading papers, phone emails, while the kids all interacted. Overall, it was fine- just felt smallish and worn down. They do have a little cafe area that you can watch the other kids on a big trampoline or doing gymnastics and buy some food. To me, that was the most fun part of it all.
-Karen

Tiny Cuts
9702 3rd Ave
Brooklyn, NY (Bay Ridge)
718-765-9822
Tue-Wed 12n-6pm; Thu-Fri 11am-6pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 11am-4pm
They have open play every Tues, Wed, Thurs from 9:30am-11:30am and 12pm-2pm. The play room is also available for children that are waiting to get their haircuts. Cost is $10 per child/$7 for sibling. In addition, every Friday night starting they will be offering “KIDS NIGHT OUT” from 630pm-930pm. At Kid’s Night Out, there will be arts n crafts/dress up for boys n girls/ story time/snacks/legos/disney movies and other fun things for them to do. The cost for is $25.00 per child/sibling $12.00. Space is limited so please call to reserve your spot.