GUIDE: 19 Indoor Playspaces in the Greater Danbury Area

When it's too cold to play outside, my kids turn everything in sight into their play zone. The couch and beds become trampolines. The kitchen floor turns into an ice-skating rink and our open floor layout downstairs becomes a race track for the ultimate game of tag. Sound familiar? If you find yourself in this situation - just pull up this go-to guide and plan your escape. You can also check our Guide to Local Libraries and Park & Rec Departments to find storytimes and open play listings! When you visit, we'd appreciate it if you mention that you heard about these businesses in Macaroni Kid as its businesses like these that support us throughout the year, enabling us to keep on publishing for you!

35 Lake Ave, Danbury (203) 826-7571; Open Tues-Thurs & Sat 10-6; Fri 10-9; Sun 11-5. This art studio is conveniently located just off I-84 exit 4 near WCSU and Stop & Shop. They offer walk-in ceramic painting, canvas painting and glass fusing for all regardless of skill level in a very warm, welcoming environment. We love how the kiln is in open view so those curious about the firing process can ask a staff member to learn. TIP: Meet-up for a playdate. Call ahead if you are a party of 6 or more to reserve a space for you to all sit together. 

32 Stony Hill Road, Bethel (203) 501-9999 (entrance at rear of building); Open Mon 3-6; Wed. 4-8, Sat 10-2; Donation suggested. Paint ceramics while supporting a wonderful cause. Help create the "beads" that become the infamous Ben's Bells that are hidden around our community as a reminder to Be Kind. Keep in mind that you can't take home what you paint but there are kindness coins and jewelry that you can buy as a token to remember your experience. I recently organized a playdate here and it was a lot of fun for both kids and parents. It was nice to "unplug" and just talk all while educating the kids on being kind and charitable. Just go. It's a feel-good experience for all. 

21 Prindle Lane, Danbury (203) 942-2449; If your kids are bouncing off the walls at home then this is the place for them! Open jump courts, a ninja style obstacle course, basketball court, dodgeball court and even a toddler-only play area makes Bounce a great destination when you have kids spanning multiple ages. In addition to cubbies they have lockers to store your valuables plus a snack bar for re-energizing the kids. If you have older kids, check out their Jump 'N Glow on Friday and Saturday nights with free glow-in-the-dark face painting! We attended a birthday party recently on a Friday night and it was very fun! TIP: Make reservations for Jump 'N Glow...it books up!

Chick-Fil-A  

156 Federal Rd. Brookfield (203) 775-7976; Kids and Family are at the heart of Chick-Fil-A's core company values and it shows. They offer more than just kid-friendly food and an indoor playground. On many Saturday mornings at 9AM, local musician Ms. Janine will sing and sign with the kids. Then on Tuesday evenings they bring in entertainment (e.g. magic, balloon twisting, etc.) for family night. A nice break when you are in the Federal Rd. area running errands and need to feed/entertain the kids on the go.

Children's Movement Center 

17 Pickett District Rd., New Milford (860) 799-6602; Open 7 days, 9AM-6PM

Children's Movement Center offers a variety of activities for all ages and abilities. My 4yo loves the Ball Pit and Birthday Cake Bouncer and my 7yo favors the Monster Climbing Maze, Swings and Surf Machine. You can spend hours here and the kids will not get bored. And it's CLEAN. It's ok to pack a lunch and sit in the snack area to eat before/after you play. They also have snacks and drinks for sale. This place will be pure fun for the kids and very much worth the drive all the way up Federal Road. 

1 Independence Way, Danbury (203) 794-1704; Public Skating Sessions all 7 days. Plus DJ Disco Skate on Friday nights. Also, the Danbury Titans Hockey Team plays here on most weekends! Click link above to get to their site for times and pricing for skating and games. Whether you have a future figure skating champion or hockey star on your hands or a brand new beginner who's never ever been on skates, Danbury Arena is a great place to skate! And they have plastic walkers that the kids can use to help them stay on their feet. USE THESE. They will SAVE YOUR BACK! Concession stand is available with tables and vending machines. Bring coins for the lockers.

7 Backus Ave. Danbury (203) 743-3247; When my oldest was a toddler I think I went to the mall easily 3-4 times a week! You just can't go wrong when our local mall offers a kids playground area, historic carousel and coin-operated rides nestled in an atmosphere that if your little one can nap, could allow you some much-needed mom time for shopping, good coffee and some exercise. Keep an eye out for the mall Kids Club events, periodically held in the Center Court typically on Tues.or Sat. mornings. 

120 White Street, Danbury (203) 778-8337; Open Wed-Sat 10-4; Sun 12-4. Closed Mon/Tues. If your kids love trains, then you'll absolutely love this museum. Located at the historic Danbury train station and rain yard on White St., you'll feel as though you've stepped back in time as soon as you step foot in the door. Inside there is a kids play area and several operating layouts where kids can press a button and watch the miniature train sets circle around intricately decorated scenes. Of course the rail yard is filled with history and fun - worth bundling the kids up and venturing out. You can climb the old trains, ring a bell and see what it was like to travel via train in the old days. Well worth the $6 admission fee and it'll feel great to help support and preserve this piece of history in downtown Danbury. 

25 Shelter Rock Lane, Danbury (203) 778-DOME; Open 7 days. Hours vary depending on field rental schedule. Call ahead. Known mainly for its day clinics and sports camp programs, the Dome is truly a state-of-the-art facility. It's huge. Most of their programs are registration only, but keep an eye out for their Open Play Days when they bring in inflatables and the kids can run around the field. Also, unless their's a track meet going on (call ahead) you can pop in and use the track for just $5. Child not napping? Pop him/her in the stroller and go for a jog together at the Dome. It's climate-controlled and they even have a concession stand for you to grab something to eat. Bring your phone/laptop and get some work done; they have free wi-fi. 

31 Pecks Lane, Newtown (203) 364-4009; Open 7 days. Mon-Sat 10-5. Sun 11-5. 

What a hidden gem! It's so nice to finally have a children's museum in our area. My 3yo LOVES the toddler area with the various interactive rooms to explore. My older one (6) loves the magnet table and dancing wall. The two of them will also easily spend an hour or so in the Imagination Playground, building all sorts of forts and creations with the big blue foam blocks. This is a super-fun place to set up a playdate with friends. Plan to spend a few hours there to really be able to experience everything. TIP: They don't sell food, but have a nut-free snack room. So you can bring your lunch if you want. 

1106 Federal Rd., Brookfield (203) 546-8470; Open 7 days. Hours vary; see link above. Two words: Bouncy Houses. If your child loves to bounce all over your furniture (raising my hand!), this will be their dream playspace. Bouncy houses are at every turn. There is a toddler bounce area and bouncers for bigger kids including a giant slide. They also have arcade games where kids can earn tickets and turn them in for prizes. Tables and vending machines are available for snacks/drinks and they also sell pizza on weekends. They do discourage bringing your own food so be sure to eat lunch before/after you go. The hardest part will be getting the kids to come out and put their shoes on to go home.  

69 Kenosia Blvd. Ext., Danbury (203) 790-8034; Open 7 days. Hours vary; see link above. Located near Babies R Us by the mall, Gym Spectrum offers a variety of classes (which require advance registration). However keep an eye out for special Drop & Play Kids Time on days when there is no school (there's one coming up on Jan. 18!) as well as monthly themed programs on Saturday evenings. These programs feature inflatables, trampolines, a foam-filled pit and more. Also, did you know you can take a free trial class for any of the programs they offer? Definitely worth checking out. 

14 Starr Rd., Danbury (203) 744-GOLF; Open 7 days. Hours vary; see link above.

How does 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini golf fun sound? My kids love this place. At ages 6 and 3, they care little about how well they are playing mini golf but very much enjoy puttering through the course while marveling at the glowing monster-themed decorations at each hole. Then afterwards we like to spend some time at the arcade, winning tickets to exchange for prizes. There's also a DJ that plays music while you play. The overall atmosphere is up there on the "cool scale" especially if you have tweens and teens to entertain or looking for a fun place to take guests from out of town.

100 Silvermine Rd., Brookfield, CT (203) 740-8100; Mon-Thurs 4-10; Fri/Sat 12-11; Sun 12-8. There aren't many places that can successfully say they cater to the likes of kids and their parents. But On-Track Karting is one place that absolutely can. Whether you are a racing enthusiast or not, you'll appreciate the impressive layout and decor the minute you step inside. They offer two of the longest and fastest tracks in the country and all of the equipment you need to ride. They have both Junior (ages 7-14) and Adult Carting so you can make your visit an outing for the entire family. They also have a "Pit Stop" concession area on site for food/drink. They've thought of everything to make your visit a memorable one. Both drop-in and membership rates available. 

13 Francis J. Clark Circle, Bethel (203) 428-4080; This indoor trampoline park has quickly become Bethel's go-to play space for kids looking to release energy and jump around! They offer Open Jump during regular business hours, a SkySlam Court (think basketball on trampolines!), a dodgeball court and Foam Zone...many areas for kids to explore and have fun. Safety rules are big here - only one jumper per trampoline square and all who jump must sign a waiver. We like that they have a special Toddler Time where little ones ages 3-5 can jump with their peers. TIP: Weekends get busy, so book your time online to save time!

28 Main St. Redding (203) 587-1329; Open Tuesdays-Fridays 1:30-5:30 and Saturdays 10-1:30 for walk-in crafts and glamour appointments. 

Most well-known for its fab birthday parties, this adorable and quaint shop along historic Georgetown's Main St. is perfectly fit for a princess. Walk-in crafts include painting ceramics, soap and candle making as well as POP crafts like make-your-own lotions, sugar scrubs, bubbles, sparkles or lip gloss. Mother/Daughter Manicures, Pedicures and hair styling are offered by appointment. What a fun place to visit for a mom/daughter day out! Be sure to browse their on-premise gift shop too - lots of adorable princess and sparkly things you can't find in the big box stores. 

Federal Rd. Brookfield (203) 885-0100; Open 7 days. Mon-Thurs. 10-6; Fri/Sat 10-9:30; Sun 11-6. What's not to love when it comes to painting ceramics? Just drop in, pick your piece, paint it and they'll fire it up for you! Pieces range in price so there is something for every budget. They also offer candle making, mosaics and glass fusing as well as special classes and story times on weekends with canvas painting for tweens, teens and adults. We have quite the growing collection of painted ceramics from The Pottery Factory and bet that after a visit or two you will too!  

14 Del Mar Dr. Brookfield (203) 885-0554; Open Mon-Fri 9:30-5, Sat/Sun: 3:30-6:30 

If you have a child ages 8 and under, you'll love Tot Town Party & Play. We can't say enough about this play space. If you could dream up a giant play room to create for your kids, this would be it! Not only is it cleverly laid out and well-organized but it's VERY clean. They've also continually made efforts to update the play areas with new equipment and toys over the years to keep those imaginations engaged and growing with every repeat visit.