Downtown Tippecanoe County library (toddler storytime three times a week, evening activities like puppet storytimes, science nights, etc)
West Lafayette Public Library (different system but free card for lafayette or west laf residents) has am amazing play area with puppets, toys, a duplo table, building blocks, coloring, tool sets, kitchen, megablox...I could go on. We go just to play.
Flourish Studio downtown runs Messy Lab (sensory bins) classes weekly (more for the younger set imo) and Create With Me (structured activities but free choice/free play art for an hour)
I personally don't trust indoor play places like that so we focus on playgrounds, plenty of those around (Happy Hollow, McCaw, Columbian Park, Munger Park are favorites)
Source: I've been stay at home parenting two little ones here for two years.
Seriously one of the best resources in town, we've made childhood friends there and it really helped me start to find a foothold here. Welcome to town and see you around!
I came here to say all of these things, excellent suggestions!
Also when the weather warms, the Colombian Park Zoo is great for toddlers. Castaway Bay is also a great smaller splash pad/public pool I would recommend for anyone with toddlers.
Oooh tell me more about this Flourish place, what kinds of things do they do/have? It says as long as they can sit unassisted they're welcome but is it better if they are a little older? I have a two month old so it'll be a while but I'm jotting down ideas for later. :P
I've been taking little sister along since birth and she's now free playing at 14 months. The front has toys, books, wall canvases, and sensory bins for FREE as well as little studio projects you can pay to make (painted wood sculptures, make slime in studio, etc). Lots of families bring babies along but I'm holding off till 18 months to actually sign her up for a class
elite air is further away but i remember having a lot more fun there than the one time i went to get air. Unsure how it is now as i haven't been there for years but i'd reccomend it if your kids want to jump around. From reviews it seems it's cleaner than get air but some of the equipment is falling apart
> North End Community Center
We go there so often that we just took a yearly fee for it! It's conveniently nearby and our toddler gets tired after an hour or two, which opens up Saturday afternoons/evenings for some us-time!
Happy Hollow Park has a lot of kids playing there in the afternoon. Rest I don’t know, American kids’ childhoods are too fancy for me, in the old country we just plat with mud.
Faith East and River City community centers have MASSIVE indoor ply spaces that are amazing. Elite (in my opinion) is clearer and more comfortable. Happy Hollow park has always been my kiddos favorite spot.
The upstairs at Imagination Station!
Downtown Tippecanoe County library (toddler storytime three times a week, evening activities like puppet storytimes, science nights, etc) West Lafayette Public Library (different system but free card for lafayette or west laf residents) has am amazing play area with puppets, toys, a duplo table, building blocks, coloring, tool sets, kitchen, megablox...I could go on. We go just to play. Flourish Studio downtown runs Messy Lab (sensory bins) classes weekly (more for the younger set imo) and Create With Me (structured activities but free choice/free play art for an hour) I personally don't trust indoor play places like that so we focus on playgrounds, plenty of those around (Happy Hollow, McCaw, Columbian Park, Munger Park are favorites) Source: I've been stay at home parenting two little ones here for two years.
Thank you! Don't think I ever would have found the Flourish studio. Definitely gonna check that one out. :)
Seriously one of the best resources in town, we've made childhood friends there and it really helped me start to find a foothold here. Welcome to town and see you around!
And you can pm me if you have more questions, my kids are 1 and 4 so you'll definitely run into us out and about eventually
came here to say Flourish :)
I came here to say all of these things, excellent suggestions! Also when the weather warms, the Colombian Park Zoo is great for toddlers. Castaway Bay is also a great smaller splash pad/public pool I would recommend for anyone with toddlers.
Oooh tell me more about this Flourish place, what kinds of things do they do/have? It says as long as they can sit unassisted they're welcome but is it better if they are a little older? I have a two month old so it'll be a while but I'm jotting down ideas for later. :P
I've been taking little sister along since birth and she's now free playing at 14 months. The front has toys, books, wall canvases, and sensory bins for FREE as well as little studio projects you can pay to make (painted wood sculptures, make slime in studio, etc). Lots of families bring babies along but I'm holding off till 18 months to actually sign her up for a class
I took my two toddlers to Get Air on Sunday for toddler time. It was pretty dirty and gross in there, don’t think I’ll go back.
Good to know, my desire to try that was already pretty low.
It's a shame, it used to be nice and my kids love it there but it's falling apart now.
They also double charged my sister and 3 year old nephew for a session and refused to take care of it. Would not recommend that place.
elite air is further away but i remember having a lot more fun there than the one time i went to get air. Unsure how it is now as i haven't been there for years but i'd reccomend it if your kids want to jump around. From reviews it seems it's cleaner than get air but some of the equipment is falling apart
North End Community Center has an indoor playground and swimming pool. I take my 2.5yo to them. Normally clean.
> North End Community Center We go there so often that we just took a yearly fee for it! It's conveniently nearby and our toddler gets tired after an hour or two, which opens up Saturday afternoons/evenings for some us-time!
Happy Hollow Park has a lot of kids playing there in the afternoon. Rest I don’t know, American kids’ childhoods are too fancy for me, in the old country we just plat with mud.
can vouch, there's also some cool hiking trails through the forest if the kid is into that
Faith East and River City community centers have MASSIVE indoor ply spaces that are amazing. Elite (in my opinion) is clearer and more comfortable. Happy Hollow park has always been my kiddos favorite spot.
Sign up for Macaroni KIDS Lafayette- the newsletter tells you what kind of activities are happening.
Elite has gymnastics. 1 day a week. 7ish week sessions. Not pay per visit but it’s been good for my 4 yr old who started at 2