Early childhood experts agree that socialization-enrichment activities improve cognitive skills, increase vocabulary and can enhance intelligence. Phoenix hosts a multiple of exciting businesses for children younger than 5. If your little one is bored to tears (and perhaps you are, too), maybe it’s time to get out! With more than 114,000 children younger than 5 in the Phoenix area, there’s plenty to do. If you’re the parent of a baby, toddler or preschooler in the Phoenix area, these ideas might help you.
1. Visit Imagination Avenue
http://www.imaginationavenue.us
10614 N. 32nd Street (Near Shea)
(602) 765-3192
Imagination Avenue is one of the best resources for Phoenix toddlers and preschoolers. It is essentially a giant play room. Basically, you can bring your kids to play and you don’t have to clean up! (Okay, it’s not quite like that, but it is nice to play outside of home.) They offer a variety of interactive activities including a little town where kids can drive cars, a puppet theater (children can act out puppet shows), story time, puzzles, arts and crafts, inflatable air bouncers, and much more. The place is solely for infants – 6 year olds, so you don’t have to worry about them being trampled by older kids. It offers over 3000 square feet of play area, what more can you ask for? Imagination Avenue is the perfect place to stimulate your child’s creativity!
2. Stop by Fun Time 4 Kids
http://www.funtime4kids.com
3202 E. Greenway Road
(602) 485 – KIDS
Fun Time 4 Kids is another excellent indoor play area. If you want to get out of the heat, this is definitely a great spot to go! They provide numerous activities including a Thomas the Train Table, a “Town Center” with a grocery store, pretend doctor’s office, cars, a “countryside” area with a barn, fishing pond, camping area and more. There is even a toddler area for little ones under 2 years old. You’ll make your small town friends jealous when you tell them about this play area. Fun Time 4 Kids will definitely entertain your little one!
3. Visit the Phoenix Zoo
www.phoenixzoo.org
455 North Galvin Parkway
(602) 273- 1341
What can be more entertaining and educational that watching monkeys, lions, birds, and elephants? The Phoenix Zoo is home to about 1,200 animals that reside on over 125 acres. Children can see everything from a squirrel monkey to a white rhinoceros. Even young babies will enjoy this excursion. They also provide fun classes, including parent ‘n child courses for kids as young as 6 weeks. Your tot’s childhood will be more complete with a trip to the Phoenix zoo!
4.. Enroll in a Parent and Child Class
Sometimes called “Mommy ‘n Me” and “Parent ‘n Tot”, Parent and Child Classes are excellent outlets to bond with your child and learn new skills. Here are a few Phoenix classes to consider:
The Little Gym Classes
http://www.thelittlegym.com
3820 E. Ray Rd
(480) 706-0021
Parent and Child Classes are the Little Gym’s specialty. They provide a multiple of programs where youngsters can play with balls and bubbles, sing songs, learn gymnastics skills, dance to music and more. Click on the web-site above for more information.
Arizona Museum for Youth Classes (Mesa)
http://www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com
35 N. Robinson
(480) 644-2467
It might be worth the short drive to Mesa for these classes. The AZ Museum for Youth has several parent ‘n child classes including “Parent/Tot Music Time.”
Kindermusik
http://www.kindermusik.com
3025 E. Bremen Street
(602) 595-7124
Kindermusik is an exceptional program that introduces infants and children to music. Children will move to the rhythm of music, learn new songs, play with instruments, and much more.
Music Together
http://www.musictogetherinphx.com/
Various Locations in Phoenix
(800 728 -2692
Music Together is another wonderful music program for babies and up. Music Together allows children of different ages to be in the same class. Just be prepared for them to sing songs all the time at home! Children will dance to music, play musical instruments and much more.
Mommy ‘n Me Yoga
http://www.yogaphoenix.com
2302 N. 9th Street
(602) 271-4480
There are many benefits of yoga. Children ages 6 weeks and above are welcome to join in on the group. This helps promote bonding and is a fun way to interact.
Classes at Phoenix Community Centers
http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/commcntr.html
Various Locations
(602) 262-6862
Your local community centers offer numerous parent and child classes. Your taxes help support these centers – take advantage of them!
5. Attend Story Time
Story Time is not just a chance for your child to hear a story, it can increase their vocabulary and promote their cognitive growth. Phoenix libraries have an excellent story time program. They have “baby time”, “toddler time”, “family story time”, and even a “bilingual family story time.” It’s a good idea to check out these wonderful programs that some children in the US (especially in small towns) don’t have access too. For more information on Library Story Times click on the Phoenix Public Library Web-Site.
Your little one can also attend story time at –
Barnes and Noble (North Phoenix)
21001 N. Tatum Boulevard
(480) 538-8520
Just give them a call for more details.
6. Create a Hand Print (or Foot Print) Memento
Want your tot to try something new that will give you a little memento to cherish? Or want to create a gift for the grandparents? Why not make a hand print or foot print memento? Phoenix has several paint-your-own-pottery places that would be happy to assist you. An artist can help press down the child’s hand or foot, and even decorate it for you. Here are some places to try:
As You Wish Pottery Painting Place
3 Studios in Phoenix – Visit Web-Site for More Details
(480) 753-9500
Paint on Pottery
http://paintonpotteryaz.com
3629 E. Indian School Rd
(602) 954-3883
Glazin’ In the Sun (Peoria)
http://www.glazininthesun.com/
7545 West Bell Rd. (in Peoria)
(623) 878-5354
Mind Over Splatter (Chandler)
http://www.mindoversplatter.com/
64 South Marcos Place (in Chandler)
(480) 899 -1174
7. Visit Makutu’s Island (Chandler)
http://www.makutusisland.com
6919 W. Ray Road
(480) 893-0106
There is no place in the Phoenix area quite like Makutu’s Island. It is a one-of-a-kind indoor playground. Just check out the pictures on the web-site and you’ll see that it includes an amazing banana tree (pretend, of course) to climb, a pirates den with lots of fun climbing space, “Oscar’s Lagoon” specifically for younger children and much more. It is worth the short drive to Chandler, this is a place you don’t want to miss!
8. Enroll in Soccer Tots
http://www.soccertotsaz.com/
Various Locations – See Web-Site for Details
Children can begin learning soccer as young as 18 months with Soccer Tots! In the Teddies I class, reserved for kids ages 18 -26 months, your child will be enlightened through songs and games. They have several other classes for all ages as well. It will promote their motor skills and they’ll have lots of fun too!
9. Tour the Stuffington Bear Factory
http://www.stuffington.com
2302 East Thomas Road
(602) 225-9513
This is a trip your child won’t some forget! The Stuffington Bear Factory has a free 15 minute tour at 1 pm, Monday – Saturday. (It might be a good idea to call ahead to reserve your spot.) Children will enjoy seeing how the bears are created and learn about the bear business. What a fun activity!
10. Attend Bible Class (Sunday School)
Church isn’t only a place to praise and worship God, it’s also a spot to find encouragement and support. Most churches offer Sunday School classes for babies as young as 6 weeks. They would be thrilled to have your little one participate in Bible class. Here are two churches to think about:
Northwest Church of Christ
http://www.nwest.org
18424 N 51st Ave
(623) 915-4443
Northside Church of Christ
http://northsidechurchofchrist.org
20222 N. 32nd Street
(623) 780-9763
The are numerous other wonderful Church congregations in the area. If you are feeling uneasy about visiting a church for the first time, call the church office. Hopefully, someone will meet with you and make you feel very welcome. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for a one-on-one Bible Study.
11. Go to the Playground
http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/parks.html
Various Locations in Phoenix
Childhood just wouldn’t be complete without trips to the playground. Phoenix has numerous parks and play areas for young children. For complete details on all of the parks, visit the web-site above. Playground outings are free and great exercise!
12. Take Art Classes Through Abrakadoodle
Meets at Several Locations in Phoenix
Children as young as 20 months can attend art classes through Abrakadoodle. It will improve their fine motor skills, tickle their imaginations, and enhance their creativity. Just be sure to watch them at home, or you might end up with a lipstick mural on your wall. Abrakadoodle is an excellent program, just click on the web-site above for more details and a class listing.
13. Take Classes at Challenger Space Center
http://www.azchallenger.org
21170 N. 83rd Ave (Peoria)
(623) 322-2001
The Challenger Space Center offers “space place” with classes for children ages 3-6. Your youngster will learn about rockets, the solar system, planets and much more. If you’ve got an aspiring astronaut on your hands, this is the place to go!
14. Create a Furry Friend at Build-a-Bear Workshop
http://www.buildabear.com
Arrowhead Town Center
7700 W. Arrowhead Town Center (in Glendale)
(623) 773- 3964
Build-A-Bear Workshop is a big hit among young children. Your little one will enjoy creating their own little bear or other animal, with the help of technology of course. It’s also a unique way to say bye-bye to that pacifier – just have them stuff the pacifier in the little bear and it will always be close by, sort of! This is a great activity to do with a friend. Your child will not be disappointed in a visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop.
15. Play at The Fiesta Mall Play Zone (Mesa)
http://www.shopfiesta.com/entertainment.asp
1445 W. Southern Ave
(480) 833 -4121
If you are in the Mesa area or close to it, the children’s play area at Fiesta Mall is a great place. They have lots of soft climbing areas including castles, cars, are more. You can relax while your child gets some exercise. A perfect place to go to get out of the heat!
These are just a few of the many ways to entertain young children in Phoenix. If none of them appeal to you, or you just don’t want to get out, perhaps you can try an at-home activity. You might make edible Play-DOH (such as peanut butter, frosting, Jell-O, and Kool-Aid Play-DOH). Or, try scratch ‘n sniff water color paints. You can also make homemade finger paint and bathtub paints.
Happy playing! Enjoy!
