Now that it is January and the “joy” of the holidays is behind us, we have nothing to look forward to but three months of cold. So here is a list of ports in a storm, places to escape to and keep your sanity. Word to the wise, do not, and I mean DO NOT forget the socks.
For the crawlers, doddlers and droolers (best for under 5)
ArtsCetera:Cobble Hill. The Creative Arts Studio, 310 Atlantic Avenue between Smith and Hoyt Streets. Open play: Monday-Thursday 1-2:30pm. Cost: $10 per family with up to two children, discounts available for multi-session packs. Ages 0-4. During the 90-minute session your kid can gum all the books, toys and blocks she can get her hands on. There is also coloring and the occasional sing-a-long or read-a-loud.
Blueberry Kids, Inc.: Prospect Heights. 732 Washington Avenue between Prospect and Park Places. Mondays-Fridays 11:00am-close, Saturdays 10:00am to 8pm, Sundays 11:00am to 5:00pm. Cost: $8 per session, free for members. Ages 6 months-4 years. This toy store cum play space knows its community. Offering drop-off play group, date night childcare, and parent cocktail hour this place makes me sad my girl is too old. Because apparently drinking at afterschool is frowned upon.
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX): Park Slope. 421 Fifth Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets. Open play: Mondays and Fridays 9:30-11:30am. Cost: $10 per family, discounts available for multi-session packs. Ages 1-4. Light and airy, BAX runs a seasonal play space that is staffed with friendly people who seem to get plenty of sleep because they never stop. With tunnels and blocks for the gross motor junkies and coloring and books for the rest of us.
Brooklyn Explorers Academy: Downtown Brooklyn. 110 Schermerhorn Street near Boerum Place. Ok, so this isn’t technically a drop-in play space, but along with housing an excellent preschool, Brooklyn Explorers also offers parent-free pajama parties on Friday nights from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm for ages 0-5. Cost: $15 for 3 hours of childcare. That is a sweet deal. They also offer co-working. You reserve a spot in their grown-up work space and drop your kid off in the play space right next door. Cost: pricing starts at $15 an hour but deals are available.
Congregation Beth Elohim Drop-in Center: Park Slope. 274 Garfield Place near Eighth Avenue. Open play: Tuesday-Friday 9:15am-12:15pm from October through April. Cost: $10, discounts available for siblings and multi-session packs. Ages 0-2. This is a neighborhood favorite. Full of educational toys and soft mats, no one will judge you here when you start to fall asleep mid-sentence.
The Gym Park: Greenpoint. 81 Oak Street between Franklin and West Streets. Open play: Monday-Saturday 10:30am-12:30pm. Ages 6 months-6 years. Cost: $20, discounts available for multi-session packs. This kid’s gym is 2,800 square feet of trampolines, soft mats, and the all important hula hoops. A morning here will guarantee a good afternoon nap.
Juguemos a Cantar Drop-In Play Space: Park Slope. Two locations, 438 Sixth Avenue at 9th Street and 47 Sterling Place at Sixth Avenue. Open play schedule varies depending on location and season. Cost: $10 for first child, $2 for siblings, memberships are also available. Ages 0-4. With all the bells and whistles of a typical preschool classroom (which thankfully have neither bells nor whistles) this Spanish immersion program will have little Spruce or Meriweather ordering their burritos con queso in no time.
PLAY: Greenpoint. 33 Nassau Avenue between Guernsey and Dobbin Streets. Open play: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 9am-4pm. Ages 0-5. Cost $20 for first child, $10 for siblings, memberships and discounts available for multi-session packs. Bright, colorful, and cool, this is a 3000-square-foot indoor playground, complete with separate baby area. Not only is there all the accoutrement of a playground, slides, jungle gyms (or whatever I’m supposed to call them now), there are also tumbling mats, art stations, a laundry set, a food market and kitchen area. Plus there is a lounge with coffee for those of us who won’t be shopping for fake canned goods.
Play Days & Parties: Bay Ridge. 6632 Third Avenue between 67th Street and Wakeman Place. Open play: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11:30am-4pm. Cost: $10 per two-hour session, $6 on Thursdays. Ages 0-5. This space is basically every kid’s dream backyard, only it’s inside. It feels homey and tidy, a down-to-earth neighborhood spot.
Totally Tots at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum: Crown Heights. 145 Brooklyn Avenue between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place. Open play: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4:45pm. Cost: Free with admission, $11 for ages 1 and up. Ages 0-5. Though actually perfect for the under 3 crowd. The cascading water tables are the highlight. But your crawler will love the padded Baby Hub. This place is a gem, but is so well-loved it can be crowded and messy. Go early and on off-days.
Twinkle Playspace: Williamsburg. 144 Frost Street between Graham and Manhattan Avenues. Open play: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 8am-noon and Sunday 9am-noon. Cost: $25 for first-time visit, $135 for six-session pass; memberships are also available. Ages 0-6. Twinkle is worth the trip. Over 4000 square feet of custom designed exhibits like a giant tree complete with tree house, fire station, barnyard, construction site and water table. Oh, and there’s a giant dragon too. While the salon complete with wigs to style, just seems like a lice factory, the rest of the place is well conceived and perfect for those obsessed with imaginative play.
For the 20% Cooler Crowd (options deemed acceptable by those over 5)
Aviator Sports and Events Center: Marine Park. Floyd Bennett Field, 3159 Flatbush Ave. Weekdays 5:30 a.m. to midnight, weekends 6 a.m. to midnight; hours for specific programs vary. Cost: Skating $7 for kids, $9 for adults, plus $5 skate rental; rock climbing $10; open youth basketball $10; gymnastics $10 per half hour. Perfect for older athletic kids. Aviator Sports has it all, an indoor rink, 35-foot rock-climbing wall, basketball, gymnastics, a bungee trampoline and an arcade. The downside is that you basically have to drive, unless you want to spend all your cool parent cred keeping the kids in check on the bus ride home.
BounceU: Dyker Heights. 6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway at 68th Street. Ages 3 to adult. Cost: Hours and prices vary. This is a village of bouncy houses, slides, and mazes. And just so you know they have parents night and glow-in-the-dark bounce. I’m just saying. Advance reservations required!
Kids ‘N Action: Borough Park 1149 McDonald Avenue near Avenue I. Drop-in play during all open hours. Cost: Prices vary. Ages 0-12. A down-market indoor amusement park, complete with mini roller coaster, this Chuck E Cheese-esq venue is a kid’s dream and your own waking nightmare. But there is heat and plenty of flashing lights to keep them occupied. But like any good arcade, you pay to play.
Klub4Kidz: Williamsburg. 159 North 4th Street between Bedford and Driggs Avenues. Drop-in hours vary. Cost: Drop-in prices vary and memberships are also available. Ages 0-12. This place has something for everyone. With a toddler room, a climbing wall for those over 3, slides and mazes, this place had me at “zip line.” I want to go to there.
Party Gym: Sheepshead Bay. 1130 Avenue Z at East 12th Street. Open play: Monday and Thursday 10am-2pm, Tuesday 4-7pm. Cost: $9 per child. Ages 0-8. With its 12-foot spiral slide and PVC pipe play structure this place feels more like a well kept McDonald’s play space. But you know who likes those places? Who doesn’t care about florescent lighting and dropped ceilings? Our kids.
Powerplay: Gowanus. 432 Third Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets. Open play: Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm, Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-3pm. Cost: $10 per two-hour session. Ages 0-10 (though somehow I doubt your 10 year old will love this place). While not exactly sparkling, this place gets the job done. Ball pit, check. Slide, check. Broken down riding toys, check.
Superstar Family Fun Center: Sunset Park. 736 61st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Open play: Weekends 12-6pm. Cost: $8 per child. Ages 2-12. This place is great, bouncy houses, mazes, and slides. The one drawback here is they occasionally close for parties, so CALL FIRST! They also have extended hours on school vacations.
Sarah Moriarty is a writer and editor. Sarah’s writing has appeared in such hallowed places as her blog, her mother’s email inbox, the backs of Value Pack envelopes, and a waist-high stack of mole skin journals. In addition, Sarah has contributed to F’Dinparkslope.com, WhattoExpect.com and edited fiction for Lost Magazine. A resident of Brooklyn for the last eleven years, Sarah lives with her husband, daughter and a dwindling population of cats. Check out more of Sarah’s work at sarahmoriarty.com.