There’s wet weather in the forecast during the holiday break. Here are 10 ideas for rainy day fun with little ones at home:
Under the Sea Treasure Hunt
Run a bubble bath with lots of bubbles and fill the tub with a variety of objects for your child to find buried beneath the foam. Your little one can be in or outside of the tub while exploring.
Stuffed Animal Petting Zoo
Bring out a variety of your child’s stuffed animals and arrange them around the room. Let your child go one by one telling you each animal’s name, then have fun sharing easy-to-understand facts with your child about each critter’s real-life counterpart.
Create an Obstacle Course
Break out the blankets, sheets and pillows to create obstacles to jump on and crawl through. Make blanket tunnels and arrange chairs to crawl under. If you have more than one young child, turn it into a competition and time each child to see who can get through the course fastest.
Window Drawing
Have a supply of washable markers at the ready and let your child get creative by drawing scenes on a picture window. A sunshine scene is great to combat a dreary day outside.
Create a Book
Keep an assortment of blank books and encourage your child to illustrate his own story with crayons or colored pencils. You can fill in the words to accompany the pictures as your child dictates his tale to you.
Make an Indoor Bowling Alley
Save up toilet paper rolls and arrange them at one end of the hall like bowling pins. “Ball up” a few socks and let your child throw them at the “pins.”
Living Room Ice Skating
Wrap sheets of wax paper around your little one’s feet (keep them attached with rubber bands), put on some music and let her have fun gliding across the carpet!
Make Sock Puppets
Rummage through your drawers for orphan socks and use yarn and buttons to create colorful creations — you do the sewing, but let your child pick the eyes and color of yarn for other features. Then, have fun putting together a wacky sock puppet show together!
Musical Glasses
Fill glasses with different amounts of water and let your child lightly tap them with a spoon to discover the different sounds each glass makes. Try simple, familiar tunes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or encourage your child to make up his own melody.
Bake!
What better way to beat the blues of a cold, winter day than to heat up the kitchen with a favorite cookie recipe! Let your child help mix the cookie dough ingredients and help drop batter from a spoon. Don’t forget the hot chocolate and perhaps a kid-friendly movie to watch together after the sweet treats are out of the oven.
For those days when you really need to get out of the house for something to do with your little ones, keep these fun places in mind, and CHECK OUT ALL OF THE DAILY LISTINGS IN “THINGS TO DO!”
Adventure Science Center
800 Fort Negley Blvd., Nashville
615-862-5160
A variety of hands-on science exhibits along with space exploration and shows inside the Sudekum Planetarium. Hours are daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $14.95 adults, $10.95 ages 2 – 12.
Centennial Sportsplex
222 25th Ave. North, Nashville
615-862-8480
Public ice-skating sessions vary by day. Admission is $7 adults, $6 ages 5 – 12. Skate rental is $2.
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
502 S.E. Broad St., Murfreesboro
615-890-2300
The Discovery Center center boasts several permanent exhibits that engage young kids. Special programs take place every day, Mon – Fri. Admission is $8.
Ford Ice Center
5264 Hickory Hollow Pkwy., Antioch
615-742-4399
Public ice-skating sessions are available with various times and times. Admission is $7 adults, $6 ages 3 – 10. Skate rental is $3.
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway, Nashville
615-244-3340
Exploring art is always a fun activity to share with your kids, and aside from looking at it, at the Frist kids of all ages can create it with the 30 hands-on stations in Martin ArtQuest. Admission is $12 adults, and always free for ages 18 and younger.
INDOOR PLAY CENTERS
Little kids can have fun at an area indoor play and activity center. Click on the link for exact operating hours and admission prices.
DAVIDSON COUNTY
Adventure Science Center
Nashville: 615-862-5160
Several science exhibits to explore with hands-on stations, plus shows in the Sudekum Planetarium. The Little Labs program is for ages 3 – 5 where kids can explore age-appropriate lab activities. Hours: daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $14.95 adults, $10.95 ages 2 – 12.
BounceU
Nashville: 615-255-1422
Open bounce times for all ages are generally Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 3 – 6 p.m. for $7.95 per child. Check the website for occasional Preschool Playdate sessions.
Cheekwood
Nashville: 615-356-8000
Tuesday for Tots takes place every Tuesday during the school year from 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. Ages 3 – 5 and a parent can enjoy hands-on creativity in the studio. Free for members and with gate admission ($16 adults, $9 ages 3 and older).
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Antioch: 615-731-0271
Madison: 615-859-0859
Classic games for little ones include Skee-Ball and Whack-A-Mole, plus there are kiddie rides. Hours are Sun – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Prices vary per game and food.
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Nashville: 615-416-2001
The Hall offers a monthly “Preschool Program: Song & Storytime” event with a changing theme like “Guitars in Country Music” that includes a story reading, sing-alongs and crafts for ages 3 – 5. It’s free for museum members and with regular gate admission ($24.95 adults, free ages 5 and younger).
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
Nashville: 615-244-3340
Kids are always free at the Frist, and you can have fun creating art with your tot in the Martin ArtQuest Gallery featuring 30 stations varying in art mediums. Plus, there’s the free monthly “Artful Tales” program for ages 3 and older that includes an interactive story followed by a family art project.
Gymboree Play & Music
Nashville: 615-221-9004
An assortment of offerings for preschoolers include sessions in art, music, sports and general play. Prices vary per option.
Monkey Joe’s
Madison: 615-915-0561
The inflatable play center’s Mini Monkey Zone is specially designed for ages 3 and younger for a safer experience. Hours are Mon – Thu 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun 12 – 6 p.m. Prices are $9 Mon – Thu, $10 Fri – Sun, $6 ages 2 and younger if playing, free for parents.
RiverGate Skate Center
Madison: 615-868-7655
Younger Kids Skate for ages 8 and younger is Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. ($4 per person). Family Night is Thursdays from 6 – 9 for $5 per person. Skate rental’s $3.
Sky High Sports
Nashville: 615-366-4252
This indoor trampoline park features a Kids Court designed for little ones that includes a foam pit. Hours are Sun 12 – 8 p.m., Mon 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Tue – Thu 2 – 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. $14 per hour (each additional hour Mon – Thu is $6). On Mondays, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., ages 5 and younger jump for $7 per hour.
Wishing Chair Productions at Nashville Public Library
Nashville: 615-862-5785
Most Fridays and Saturdays in February, enjoy the musical extravaganza, Tall Tale Circus, with Pecos Bill, Calamity Jane and Johnny Appleseed. Free admission.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY
BounceU
Murfreesboro: 615-893-8386
Open bounce times for all ages are generally Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 3 – 6 p.m. for $7.95 per child. Preschool Playdate sessions are select Fridays from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. for ages 18 months – 7 years for $7.95 for the first child, $6.95 for each additional.
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Murfreesboro: 615-217-8842
Classic games for little ones include Skee-Ball and Whack-A-Mole, plus there are kiddie rides. Hours are Sun – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Prices vary per game and food.
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro: 615-890-2300
Animal Antics allows kids to meet the center’s resident animals and takes place Wednesdays at 4 p.m. for all ages (cost is free with admission). Snack Attack happens Mondays at 4 p.m. and gives ages 3 and older a chance to make a yummy snack (cost is free with admission). The SPARK! enrichment program for ages 1 – 6 happens Mondays and Tuesdays at 9 a.m. (cost is $1 for all children ages 1 and older, plus admission for all visitors). Admission: $8 ages 2 and older, free ages younger than 2.
JumpStreet
Murfreesboro: 615-900-3060
Ages 3 and younger can play in the Earthquake Area every day for $4 per person. Hours: Sun – Thu 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri & Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Patterson Park Community Center
Murfreesboro: 615-893-7439
Busy Bees for ages 3 – 5 takes place Tue and Thu from 10:45 – 11:15 a.m. and costs $3. The FITMommy program takes place Tuesdays from 10 – 10:45 a.m. Prenatal moms, postpartum moms and moms with babies/toddlers welcome and costs $4. Movers and Shakers for ages 1 – 2 takes place Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 – 11 a.m. and costs $3. Twist and Shout for ages 3 – 5 takes place Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:05 – 11:45 a.m. and costs $3.
Skate Center Smyrna
Smyrna: 615-459-7655
Saturday Little Kids Skate session for ages 8 and younger is available 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and costs $6. The center offers supports that roll with your child as he skates or you may walk beside him. Regular skate session hours and admission prices vary, see site for details.
SkateCenter West
Murfreesboro: 615-895-1403
Bounce House is available to kids 48 inches or smaller during matinee sessions. Hours and admission rates vary, see site for details.
Sports*Com
Murfreesboro: 615-895-5040
Toddler Time with Thomas for ages 5 and younger takes place Fridays at 10 a.m. and costs $3. Tumbleweeds for ages 3 – 5 takes place Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. and costs $3.
The Wilderness Station
Murfreesboro: 615-217-3017
Wild Things for ages 1 – 4 takes place Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and costs $3.
SUMNER COUNTY
Holder Family Fun Center
Hendersonville: 615-590-4386
Roller skating, the arcade includes games for little ones, a soft play area and more. Hours: Mon – Thu 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 12 a.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 12 a.m., Sun 12 – 10 p.m. Prices vary per activity.
Hoppity Hop Inflatable Play Center
Hendersonville: 615-265-8020
Check website for open play times as they vary monthly. Prices are $7 ages 1 – 3, $8 ages 4 and older, free for parents.
JumpStreet
Goodlettsville: 615- 756-4098
Ages 3 and younger can play in the Earthquake Area every day for $4 per person. Hours: Sun – Thu 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri & Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Strike & Spare Family Fun Center & Circus World
Hendersonville: 615-824-5685
Bring your little ones for fun on the bungee trampoline, Time Freak, bumper cars, roller skating and the soft play area. Hours are Mon – thu 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., Sun 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Price depends on activity.
Sumner Skate Zone
Gallatin: 615-206-9669
Family Skate is Sundays from 2 – 5 p.m. for $5.50 per person or $15 for a family of four; $3 skate rental.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
A-Game Skate Academy
Franklin: 615-778-9825
Learn to Ice Skate for ages 3 and older take place Monday, Thursday or Saturday through Feb. 20 from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. (Tue/Thu) and 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. (Sat) and costs $150 for seven classes, $275 for all.
Brentwood Skate Center
Brentwood: 615-373-8611
Lil Kids is for ages 8 and younger and skate from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Admission: $6, $3 skate rental).
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Franklin: 615-771-0708
Classic games for little ones include Skee-Ball and Whack-A-Mole, plus there are kiddie rides. Hours are Sun – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Prices vary per game and food.
Goofballs Family Fun Center
Franklin: 615-861-3668
Indoor playgrounds that free for ages 3 and younger.
JumpStreet
Franklin: 615- 778-1304
Ages 3 and younger can play in the Earthquake Area every day for $4 per person. Hours: Sun – Thu 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri & Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Monkey Joe’s
Brentwood: 615-377-5900
The inflatable play center’s Mini Monkey Zone is specially designed for ages 3 and younger. Hours are Mon – Thu 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun 12 – 6 p.m. Prices are $9 Mon – Thu, $10 Fri – Sun, $6 ages 2 and younger if playing, free for parents.
Monkey’s Treehouse
Brentwood: 615-942-7911
Indoor play center with open play times for ages 1 – 8 Mon/Wed/Fri 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thu 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $8.
My Gym Brentwood
Brentwood: 615-371-5437
A children’s fitness center offering classes and programs for age 3 months and older.
Pump It Up
Brentwood: 615-373-8340
Open jump times are Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. for preschoolers. Admission is $8 per child.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Franklin: 615-721-3626
The Toddler Time program for ages 6 and younger (with their parents) takes place Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 – 10 a.m. during the school year.
WILSON COUNTY
Chuck E. Cheese’s
Mt. Juliet: 615-773-8400
Classic games for little ones include Skee-Ball and Whack-A-Mole, plus there are kiddie rides. Hours are Sun – Thu 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Prices vary per game and food.
Pump It Up
Mt. Juliet: 615-758-5126
Preschool open jump takes place Mon – Fri from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Admission: $4 1 and younger, $8 ages 2 and older.
