Here is a sampling of activities you can try, even if it’s pouring outside or just plain chilly. Some will cost you a little bit; others are completely free. Either way, it’s worth the effort to give your child and yourself a change of scenery for a few hours.
Recreational Centers
City of Dayton centers
The brand new Greater Dayton Recreation Center, 2021 W. Third St., (937) 333-4732, has open swim in its zero-depth entry pool from 3 to 4:45 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The pool is designed to be walked into, with the depth gradually increasing to 3½ feet and is appealing to toddlers. The space is kept at 80 degrees, so it's a true break from the cold. Open swims also take place at the pools in the Lohrey Recreation Center, 2366 Glenarm Ave., (937) 333-3131; and the Northwest Recreation Center, 1600 Princeton Drive, (937) 333-3322. Admission for adults is $3/$3.75 and for kids $2/$2.50.
Bring a can of play dough and let your little ones have a half-hour of fun at 11 a.m. Fridays at play dough play times at the Lohrey and Northwest recreation centers. The 10-week sessions cost $30 for residents and $40 for nonresidents. Parents are welcome. Registration required. For details, visit www.daytonrecreationandyou.com.
YMCA of Greater Dayton
The Kleptz YMCA, 1200 W. National Road, Englewood, has a Jitterbugs: Mommy and Me Music and Movement class from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays through May 13. A preschool enrichment class with stories, music, art, puppetry and more, for kids ages 3 to 5, meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through May 9. A preschool enrichment and homeschool class for children 3 and older meets Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. through May 18. For more information, contact Teresa Litton at (937) 836-6231 or tlitton @daytonymca.org.
Coffman YMCA, 88 Remick Blvd., Springboro, also offers classes for 1- to 5-year-olds. Parent and Me Art, Music and Movement and Todder Time courses and preschool swim lessons are offered weekday mornings. For information, call (937) 886-9622.
The Huber Heights YMCA, 7251 Shull Road, offers a regular Parents Night Out for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Activities for the kids include games, movies, arts and crafts and more. For details, contact (937) 236-9622 or visit www.ymcaonline.org .
Kettering Recreation Complex
The Kettering Recreation Complex, 2900 Glengarry Drive, (937) 296-2587, hosts a drop-in play time for ages 6 months to 5 years from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. The kids get the run of a room filled with toys, slides and little bikes. The cost is $2 for Kettering residents and $4 for nonresidents.
Vandalia Recreation Center
The Vandalia Recreation Center, 1111 Stonequarry Road, (937) 415-2340, has a zero-depth entry pool with several water features. Open swim is 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $7 for adults; $5 for ages 5-17; and free for ages 4 and younger with a paying adult.
A preschool drop-in and play for ages 1 to 5 is held from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays. Parents must accompany children. The cost is $4 for residents; $5 for non-residents. Daytime classes for small children include a Jumping Beans class for toddlers, a Tots Tumbling Time for 2- to 4-year-olds, and a Creative Dance class for ages 2½ to 6 years. For details, visit www.ci.vandalia.oh.us/Rec_Center.cfm.
If you’d like to get in a workout and give your child some play time, you can drop them off at the center’s indoor playground, Luther’s Jungle. Children ages 4 and older who are 56 inches or shorter can enjoy supervised play in the jungle-themed playground. For younger children, a Tiny Tikes childcare room and outdoor playground is available. The cost for either option is $2 for residents/$3 for nonresidents.
Washington Twp. Recreation Center
The Washington Twp. Recreation Center, 895 Miamisburg Centerville Road, (937) 433-0130, offers a preschool play day for ages 1 to 6, accompanied by an adult, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays. On Fridays, the same age group can play in a blow-up bouncy house from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The cost for either activity is $6 per family. Check with the center for spring break closures.
The rec center's pool, which has a giant turtle and rain tree and a frog slide, is open for preschool swims from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For details, visit www.washingtontwp.org/rec/ .
Preschool classes will be offered during the day this spring, including swimming, cooking and reading classes. Visit www.washingtontwp.org/rec/prog-preschool.html for details.
Storm Athletics
Storm Athletics, 3197 Beaver Vu Drive, Beavercreek, (937) 427-4694, is a cheer-and-dance facility that opens its doors to preschoolers for an open gym from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. The drop-in activity for ages 1 to 5 allows for free play with balls and gym equipment and costs $3. Parents be present.
Museums
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton, (937) 275-7431, is a treasure trove of activities for small children. The facility includes an indoor zoo, hands-on science experiments and plenty of opportunities to play. It also has That Kids’ Playce, just for ages 6 and younger, including babies.
For a more structured visit, register for a My Family and Me class for 2- to 4-year-olds from 9:30 to 11 a.m. the first Monday of each month. The class offers guided hands-on science exploration and follows a different theme each month. The cost is $10 for one child/one adult. To register, call (937) 275-7431, ext. 116. At 2:30 p.m. Fridays, kids can gather for a storytime in the Mead Treehouse. Museum admission is $8.50 for adults; $7.50 for children ages 2 to 12; and free for children younger than 2. For more information, visit www.boonshoftmuseum.org .
Dayton Art Institute
The Experiencenter at the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton, (937) 223-5277, is a safe, fun area for children to play within the museum. Located in the lower rotunda, the space hosts temporary exhibits for children as well as the permanent Art Place for Young Learners, which focuses on ages 3 to 6. Admission is free, although visitors are encouraged to donate $8 per adult. For more information, visit daytonartinstitute.org .
Entertainment
The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle, 4990 Wilmington Pike, Sugarcreek Twp., (937) 434-4911, is an indoor and outdoor entertainment center for kids. The highlight of the indoor portion for kids 11 and younger is a three-story soft play area filled with tunnels, slides and mazes and is half-price from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, except on school holidays or breaks. Admission is $2 for kids 3 and younger and $3.95 for ages 3-11. The Magic Castle also has an arcade with more than 70 games. For more information, visit www.themagic-castle.com .
Bounce U
Bounce U in Miamisburg, 109 Lyons Road, (937) 610-0500, offers inflatable play areas with slides, sports equipment and plenty of opportunities for exploring. Playtimes for kids 7 and younger are from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. All ages are welcome from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Fridays. Admission is $9 per child; free for parents. For details, visit www.bounceu.com .
EnterTRAINment Junction
EnterTRAINment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester Twp., (877) 898-8000, is an indoor play experience catered to train enthusiasts but with features that will appeal to all. Located 30 minutes south of Dayton, it features the world's largest indoor train display, as well as a railroad museum, train rides, a funhouse and a kids play area. Admission is $9.95 for kids 3-12; $12.95 for adults; and free for kids younger than 3. For more information, visit www. entertrainmentjunction.com .
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Chuck E. Cheese’s has several locations in the Miami Valley. The restaurant/entertainment center serves pizza and offers interactive video games, carnival-like games and kid-friendly stage shows. Locations include 30 Prestige Place, Miamisburg (937) 439-2364); 2345 Valley Loop Road, Springfield, (937) 324-4155; and 1429 Kemper Road, Sharonville, (513) 772-2720.
Libraries/book stores
Libraries
Most libraries have designed children’s sections to be welcoming to kids and often have toys as well as books available for hands-on play. Check with your local library to learn when story- times are held. Some are for children as young as 6 months.
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Both the Beavercreek, 2720 Towne Drive, No. 200, (937) 429-1660, and the Dayton Mall, 2619 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, (937) 433-0750, locations have large children’s book areas and host free storytimes for kids on a regular basis. The Beavercreek location holds storytime at 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while the Miamisburg location offers it at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Books and Co.
Books and Co. offers regular storytimes at both of its Dayton locations as well as large play and book areas for the little ones. The location at The Greene, 4453 Walnut St., Beavercreek, (937) 429-2169, hosts storytime at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, and the Town and Country location, 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, (937) 298-6540, hosts one at 11:15 a.m. Saturdays.
Malls
Your small one can run around at the large playland at The Mall at Fairfield Commons, 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, (937) 427-4300. The soft area includes lots of equipment to climb and crawl through and a soft floor to prevent injuries. The mall also occasionally hosts free "Momtopia" events on weekdays that include entertainment for children. Visit www.momatfairfieldcommons.com for a schedule.
Similar amenities are available at the Dayton Mall, 2700 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Miami Twp., (937) 433-9834, which also has a large playland. Momtopia events are held here as well. Check www.daytonmall.com for schedules.
Restaurants
Numerous McDonald's in the Miami Valley area have indoor Playlands. To find one near you, check the restaurant locator at www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/restaurant_locator.html .
Several area Chick-fil-A restaurants have indoor playgrounds. They include 2360 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek; 1482 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton; 3339 Benchwood Road, Dayton; and 733 Voice of America Park Drive, West Chester Twp. Visit www.chick-fil-a.com for details.
Indoor playgrounds can also be found at some Burger King restaurants. They include locations at 352 E. National Road, Vandalia and 2141 E. Main St., Springfield. Visit www.bk.com/en/us/restaurant-locator/index.html for details.
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