Hi Melissa,
We have friends who have an 8 year old boy coming to stay at our house in a couple of weeks. This will make 3 kids in the house. Since it is too cold right now to send them outside, what are some fun, indoor activities to do with them, so that we don’t all go stir-crazy?
We have friends who have an 8 year old boy coming to stay at our house in a couple of weeks. This will make 3 kids in the house. Since it is too cold right now to send them outside, what are some fun, indoor activities to do with them, so that we don’t all go stir-crazy?
When the weather is nice and sunny, it is so easy to simply show the kids the door and say, “Go play!” Even with our crazy, hot and humid summers here in Arkansas, you can still send them outside if you have a sprinkler or some water squirters. But what about winter activities? Personally, I love having activities to do with the kiddos, but I can't stand the cold. Movies are a good option, but they are so expensive, and it is also hard to find something that everyone can agree on. Here is a list of my favorite family activities in Northwest Arkansas to keep you and your kiddos occupied on a cold, winter day.
Indoor Activities for Kids in Northwest Arkansas
Crystal Bridges We are so fortunate to have such a world-class, FREE museum here in Northwest Arkansas! I know that works of fine art and young children are often a risky combination, but take a quick stroll through the art exhibits, and head straight for the kids' section. They have puppet shows, hands-on arts and crafts, building projects, and more. It is a fantastic place to take kids of all ages! And, if the sun happens to come out and warm things up a bit, there are miles and miles of beautiful hiking trails to burn off a little extra energy. Check out their calendar for specific children’s activities coming up soon!
Scott Family Amazeum Explore dinosaur skeletons, pretend you are one of the first pioneers to Arkansas, climb stories high in a tree house, be inspired in the art studio, mix science and sweet treats in the Hershey Lab, etc. The list goes on and on! My daughter’s favorite activity was pretending to be both a worker and a shopper at the simulated Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market. I had to drag her out of it after an hour of play in just that one section! While this fantastic children’s museum is not free, they do have several “Priceless Nights” this winter/spring where the museum is on a “pay as you wish” basis. Check their website for details.
Brick-by-Brick My kiddos LOVE Legos! Our friends’ kids LOVE Legos. Therefore, we spend a lot of time at Brick-by-Brick. For a very reasonable hourly fee, your child (and you!) can pick out any of the facility's huge Lego sets and build away. For the younger child/toddler, they also have the larger Duplo Lego bricks, as well as some pretend play kitchens, etc. The best part is that nothing is for sale! Therefore, your child can spend the afternoon building the $50 Lego set, but won’t beg you to buy the Lego set. But wait, it gets better! On certain evenings/afternoons, you can even drop off children who are age 5 years and older, and then run a quick errand or get an afternoon snack at Apple Blossom Brewing Company and Restaurant, which is right next door. And if you have been dealing with loud children all day, you might just need an hour of “inside voice only” time!
The Jones Center Public indoor swimming, public indoor ice skating, public indoor basketball courts… so many fun indooractivities! The whole family can get rid of cabin fever together! Looking for more of a long term activity than just getting out of the house for the day? Ask them about their classes for dance (for children and adults), fitness, gymnastics, ice skating, hockey, martial arts, swimming, and many more! Nominal fees apply for many activities so take a look at their website for further details.
Highrise A huge gym with wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, balance beams, climbing walls, trapeze, and so much more… What could be more fun? My family recently found the joys of this fantastic facility, and loved it so much that we went back just a week later. Their prices are a bit higher than some of the other facilities that I have listed, but I loved how the whole family could have a blast and burn off some energy as well!
Gymnastic Joe's Located in the Northwest Arkansas Mall, this gymnastics facility opens its doors for kiddos to bounce on inflatables, jump on trampolines, and crash into foam pits, all at very reasonable prices. Their website states that their “open gym” times are generally geared toward children ages 2-10 years of age. So much fun!
Now that we have reviewed several fun, kid-friendly places in Northwest Arkansas, our own family has houseguests coming in a couple of weeks… Let me know if you have other ideas for children’s activities in Northwest Arkansas! share@childrenstherapyteam.com
