Winter is officially here, and it’s starting to get downright frigid outside. I love getting the kids outside to enjoy the snow and winter activities, but sometimes it’s  just too much work to get them all bundled up only to have them crying 15 minutes later because they are freezing. So, I love having some great indoor options for places they can run around and burn off energy. Here are a few of my top Ottawa area picks for places where the munchkins can run wild.

Ottawa Gymnastics Centre

I really enjoy the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre. It’s a well operated gym that offers classes for babies and kids of all ages. My daughter Rowan is starting her second session there, and she and I have both loved it. At her age I still take part in the class, but when she turns two she can start going to class without a parent. I can just sit and watch her while enjoying a coffee! Another plus is that the OGC is in Westboro, right off Richmond road, so totally easy access to lots of good coffee!

If a class doesn’t appeal to you the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre offers a few drop-in times for children ages 5 years old and under.

Monday @ 12:00 noon

Thursday @ 11:00 am

Friday @ 9:15 am

The drop in fee is $5

For more information check out the website for the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre

Starr Gymnastics

Starr Gymnastics is another great gym for kids to attend classes and drop in times. There are three Starr locations: in Ottawa on Lancaster Road, in Nepean and in Orleans.

Between the three locations there are multiple drop in times for kids aged 1 year to 5 years old every day Monday through Saturday. During the Drop-In Playtime the gym is padded and set up with obstacles and challenges for children and their parents to explore and enjoy. The drop in fee for those times is $5 a child.

There is also a new drop in play time for kids ages 6 years to 10 years old.

Starr also offers a wonderful and FREE baby and parent play group. There is no instruction but a great space for babies to explore and play, and for parents to meet each other and chat. The play groups are offered once a day Monday through Thursday for those times check out here http://www.starrgymnastics.ca/schedule.php

For more information on classes, drop-in opportunities and location visit the website for Starr Gymnastics

Xtreme Trampoline

My husband is an ER doctor, and therefore isn’t always the biggest fan of trampolines (he has seen A LOT of trampoline related injuries come through the doors. But I admit, I enjoy taking my kids to the Toddler Time at Xtreme Trampoline.

Xtreme Trampoline is in Kanata, right near the Costco. Their toddler time is offered twice a week on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am. Toddler time is a program that is open to children aged 4 and under and is held in a separate section of the park — Kiddie Kourt, where parents can sit and play with their children.

The times I have been with my kids I have found it to be very quiet, really not busy at all. Most times it is just a handful of kids and their parents. It’s a great option for moms with a toddler and a new baby. I’ve seen many moms sitting and nursing their newborn on the side, while their older child jumps away.

The kids area isn’t huge, but it is fun. There are a few trampolines, a bunch of dodgeballs, and a large foam pit for jumping.

As far as admission goes, the first child is $15, while a second child is $8. Adult admission is free.

For more info on toddler time visit Xtreme Trampoline

FunHaven

I’m not going to lie, even typing “Funhaven” starts to give me PTSD flashbacks. This probably isn’t my MY favourite place to go, but that doesn’t mean your kids won’t have fun. For me- I don’t love all the noisy arcade games that greet you when you first enter the door, or how the “ballocity” area always seems to turn lovely children into crazed demons who want to pelt me with balls. A trip to Funhaven always ends up making me crawl through some tube I would rather not…and saying “no” to my son over and over when he asks me to hand over money so he can play another arcade game.  However, I admit my kids do seem to love it, so sometimes I give in and brave Funhaven.

What is nice is that admission is free for kids 0-3 years old. There is a large jungle gym area for young children, where they can run around and climb. If you go on a weekday it isn’t busy and much more civilized (if there is such a thing). I find though, that if your kid is under 3 you should be prepared to crawl through the jungle gym with your kid. It is pretty big and kind of intimidating for little ones. I remember having to crawl through with my 22 month old son when I was 8 months pregnant. Not my idea of fun.

There are lots of activities at Funhaven for older kids from a rock climbing wall, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag and even a new indoor roller coaster.

For more information check out the website for Funhaven

Cosmic Adventures

Cosmic Adventures is another popular play destination for kids of all ages. Located on the east side of Ottawa, Cosmic Adventures is the largest indoor playground in the city. There are ball pits, slides,  tunnels, mazes, obstacle courses and more.

There are two designated areas specifically for toddlers with plenty of padding and no sharp corners.

Although fun, Cosmic Adventures is one of the more expensive destinations. Admission is as follows:

0-11 months free

12-23 months $14.99

2-3 years old $17.99

4-17 years old $19.99

adults – $9.99

For more information on all it has to offer visit the website for Cosmic Adventures

Kids Kingdom

For a slightly less expensive indoor playground option you might want to check out Kids Kingdom. There are two locations: one in Kanata, and a new location in Orleans.

There is a kids castle play structure with tunnels and slides, a huge climbing maze and an infant play area. For older kids there is an arcade, a big inflatable slide and laser tag (only at the Orleans location though).

Like some of the other play centres, you are not allowed to bring in outside food and therefore are forced to purchase food from their cafe if your kids need to eat (and who are we kidding, when do they stop eating?)

Admission prices are as follows:

adults $3

Kids 0-1 $5 (free if with an older sibling)

Kids aged 1-2 $8

Kids aged 3-12 $16

I do really like that Kids Kingdom offers a different deal every day of the week, such as Monday when adults are free or Thursday when kids aged 3-12 are half price.

To learn more about this play centre option visit the website for Kids Kingdom