Tag Archives: DC Indoor Play Areas

September 11, 2017 · 9:01 am

Put Some STEAM into Your Child’s Play at Gymboree Play & Music

Want to introduce your little one to new ways to learn through play? Gymboree Play & Music DC is now offering classes that let children explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) in fun, exciting ways that combine active play with curated manipulatives to spark innovation. There are unique baby focused offerings as well as after (pre)school activities for children from infants to 5 years old.

BABY LAB
Designed for babies through 10 months of age, this immersive cutting-edge play experience is filled with sensory discovery for the littlest explorers. Baby Lab brings thematic sensory learning in language, movement, music, social awareness, tactility and sensory integration. Along with sensory experiences, classes also encourage coordination & balance, problem solving, togetherness and social awareness. Themed sessions include SIGNS, MINDFULNESS, ARTSY BABY, & SUN/MOON/STARS.
BabyLab classes held Tuesdays @ 11:45am, Wednesdays @ 12:30pm, and Saturdays @ 12pm | $90/month

PLAY LAB
This class for children ages 2-5 years old takes STEAM learning beyond what can be found in many traditional class settings. Scientific Thinking, Problem Solving, Art, Sensory Experiences, and Whole Child Innovation are the driving forces behind these classes, with an approach that inventive play instills confidence that they can bring their ideas into matter and share innovation with a world that is listening. Themed sessions include: SPLASH, DWELL, SPIN, SOUND, SQUISH, GROW, SHINE among others.
Play Lab with Caregiver Classes held Mondays @ 4:30pm, Fridays @ 11:30am, & Sundays @ 9:30am | $90/month
Play Lab STEAM Drop-off Classes held Wednesdays at 4:15pm | $99/month

All memberships include unlimited open gym and access to special events. And Gympboree Play & Music has a special promo through the end of September that waives the $60 initiation fee. And the space is conveniently located across the street from the Woodley Park Metro station at 2639 Connecticut Avenue NW.

Are you ready to get your kiddo started on a journey of fun and learning? Register here for Gymboree Play & Music DC!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by DC Kids Play, LLC, however, I only promote activities, events, and services that I sincerely enjoy and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

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Filed under 2017, Babies, Class, DC, Educational, Indoor Play, Preschoolers, Sponsored Post, Toddlers

Tagged as BabyLab, DC Baby Classes, DC Children Play Classes, DC Indoor Play Areas, Gymboree of Washington DC, Gymboree Play & Music, PlayLab, STEAM Classes for Toddlers and Preschool Children

February 1, 2015 · 5:55 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 2-6

Get on the L train at the American History Museum

Monday – Join National Park Service Rangers at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site for the new Reading Ranger series. Geared toward children under 5 and their caregivers, the weekly sessions include a fun and educational story time as well as a craft activity. Start time is 10:30am, and admission is free. The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House is located at 1318 Vermont Avenue NW.

Tuesday – Show the kiddos relics from the nation’s past at the National Museum of American History. One of the most popular exhibits with children is America on the Move, a history of transportation in the U.S. featuring some of the earliest automobiles,locomotives, and an old Chicago Transit Authority car that they can actually climb aboard. Toys and games, items from pop culture past, sports memorabilia, and the star spangled banner will also grab little ones’ attention. The museum is open from 10am – 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Roam the enchanting gardens at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown. The grounds don’t open to the public until 2pm, but you can play at nearby Montrose Park or grab a bite to eat on M Street beforehand. I promise, it’s worth waiting for the afternoon visit. And admission is free to both — there’s never an entry fee at Montrose, and Dumbarton waives it from November 1 – March 14.

Thursday – Let little ones burn some energy during an open gym session at Sport Bounce of Loundon, where a massive roomful of giant inflatables is a blast for kids. Open gym time is 10-11:30am, and admission is $10/ages 2 and up, $6/18-23 months. And while open gym occurs every weekday, the time varies, so be sure to check the schedule if you go a different day.

Friday – Take a toe-tapping trip to the Bayou at Adventure Theatre, where their newest production Petite Rouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood is running through March 8. Showtime is 10:30am. Tickets are $19.

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Filed under All ages, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Park, Theatre, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as DC Indoor Play Areas, DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, DC Parks, DC Story Times, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia, Weekdays February 2-6, Winter 2015

January 25, 2015 · 7:37 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 26-30

Little ones love exploring the Botanic Garden

Monday – No matter what the weather outside, it’s always pleasant in the U.S. Botanic Garden. Walk amid tropical rainforest, desert, and woodland flora without a drop of precipitation falling on you, unless you count the misters in the jungle area. Be sure to stop in the “Plants in Culture” exhibit, where you can smell the scents of herbs and spices and learn about their everyday uses. Hours at the USBG are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Let the kids take the wheel at the Washington Auto Show. The annual event showcasing the newest models of cars and trucks will be at the Washington Convention Center through February 1. Kids (and adults) can sit in the driver’s seat, pretend to cruise around, check out dashboard details, and more. Hours are 12-9pm Monday – Thursday (12-10pm on Friday). Admission is $12/adult, $5/ages 6-12, free for 5 and under. Read more about what to expect in this post about one of our experiences there.

Wednesday – Little ones can shop at the market, tend to the ranch, bake in the kitchen, decorate cupcakes, and do some art projects — all possibilities in the Playseum’s various themed rooms and crafts areas. Visit the Capitol Hill or Bethesda location and plan on lunch while you’re out; both are convenient to many eateries for a pre- or post-play meal. Hours are 9am – 4pm. Admission is $7/person (siblings under 10 months are free) and is good for the whole day.

Thursday – Catch a colorful magic show with The Great Zucchini at Jammin’ Java. Doors open at 10am and the fun begins at 10:30am. General admission tickets are $5.

Friday – See “Grandest Show on Strings” at The Puppet Co., where Circus! is the new main stage production. Featuring a collection of clowns, death-defying acrobats, and an amazing menagerie of fauna from the farthest reaches of the globe, children are guaranteed to be entertained. Showtimes are 10am & 11:30am. Tickets are $10.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Theatre, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as DC Indoor Play Areas, DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia, Washington Auto Show, Weekdays January 26-30, Winter 2015

January 19, 2015 · 9:17 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 20-23

Catch a cool, educational film (and wear some rad glasses) at an IMAX movie

Tuesday – With relatively warmer temps on the way, plan for some outdoor and indoor time at Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington. Hike the short trails and let the kids romp on the playground, then visit the nature center where you can see live animals, plus some brand new exhibits within the “Energerium,” that offer visitors a fun, accessible way to learn energy basics and how they can help create sustainable energy solutions. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Go see a movie on the really big screen. You’ve got your choice of several IMAX films playing right now: Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D, Titans of the Ice Age 3D, Jerusalem 3D, and Mysteries of the Unseen World 3D are all playing at the Natural History Museum’s Johnson IMAX Theater. And the Air & Space Museum’s Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater presents Hidden Universe 3D, D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944, Hubble 3D, and To Fly! Tickets are $9/adults, $8/seniors, $7.50/youth. Be sure to check schedules for showtimes. And, of course, plan for some time before or after to explore the museum, too.

Thursday – Burn off some winter energy at an Open Jump at Pump It Up in Lanham, Md. Children and accompanying adults are invited to bounce in the giant inflatables from 10am – 12pm. If you can’t get there that early, go for Family Open Jump from 5-7pm or find sessions on different days or at other area Pump It Up locations.

Friday – Jam out at the Smithsonian as Discovery Theater presents Karen K & the Jitterbugs as part of their “Tot Rock: Jammin’ at the Smithsonian” series. As this post goes live, tickets are still available for the 11:30am show. Tickets are $8/adults, $6/ages 2 and up, $3/children under 2.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Music, Outdoor, Park, Virginia, Weekdays, Winter

Tagged as DC Indoor Play Areas, DC Kids Activities, DC Museums, DC outdoors, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Things to do with Kids in DC, Things to do with Kids in Maryland, Things to do with kids in Northern Virginia, Weekdays January 20-23, Winter 2015

January 4, 2015 · 5:52 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: January 5-9

These weekday recs come with a special shout out to my girl, who turns the big 6 this week. After all, she’s one of my very favorite people to join in on these DC adventures — and one of my very favorite people, period. So, as you read through these ideas, know they are also endorsed and inspired by one silly, kind, spunky, hugely adored little girl. Happy Week! And a very Happy Birthday to my sweet Sashi.

Monday – Go for Story Time at the National Postal Museum, the new program that includes a book reading, plus other activities for little ones in the museum’s education space. Stay after to explore the rest of the museum — it’s full of interactive exhibits that all ages can enjoy. Story time is at 10:30am and repeated at 11am. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Let the kids burn some energy at Dynamite Gymnastics Center in Rockville. Tumbling mats, trampolines, the jungle crawl (a huge tunnel to run through), and more equipment will keep them active during Open Gym time. Sessions take place 12-12:50pm and 3-3:50pm. Admission is $8/child, $12/participating adults.

Wednesday – Get a nature fix indoors at Watkins Nature Center. There, you can see and learn about birds, reptiles, and other creatures that inhabit the surrounding area. If weather permits, head over to Old Maryland Farm where ponies, cows, chickens, rabbits, and other animals live. The Nature Center is open 8:30am – 5pm, the Farm 9am – 4pm. Admission to both is free.

Thursday – Catch a performance of Inside Out at Imagination Stage. At this interactive show about two children using their imaginations to turn their room into a wonderland of mess, little audience members will discover the joy of turning things inside out. Stay after for a “free play” session featuring items used in the play. Showtime is 11:45am. Tickets are $12.

Friday – Locate secret doors, see outrageously fabulous themed rooms, and browse a trove of secondhand treasures on a tour of The Mansion on O Street. The Dupont Circle landmark is a mansion, museum, restaurant, vintage store, and hotel all in one — and visitors are welcome to explore it all. Open daily 11am – 4pm. Self-guided tours start at $10.