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Little girl enjoying Purple Monkey Playroom. Photo courtesy of Purple Monkey Playroom

Best Indoor Play Spaces for Toddler in Chicago

1. Purple Monkey Playroom — Bucktown 

Two words: Free. Coffee. At this adorable space where families can take classes or play, Purple Monkey is a local favorite for good reason. Ride-on toys, climbing structures, and lots of opportunities for imaginative play keep kids up to age five happy and busy, while free wi-fi, comfy seating, and lots of light make it easy for parents to enjoy a break. Reserve a two-hour group playtime in either the morning or afternoon.

2. Mini City on 21 — Edgebrook

Little kids who like to play pretend will enjoy this tiny city on the far Northwest side. With plenty of open play hours during the week and a mini lunch menu, parents with preschoolers can come to play all day. Check out the classes and birthday party options as well.

3. Marshmallow Play - Elmhurst

Marshmallow Play in Elmhurst is an adorable play space for young kids. There is a variety of play equipment including slides, climbing structures, and several pretend play areas. These features are designed to get kids moving while also encouraging socialization and imaginative play.

4. WonderPlay & Coffee -- Avondale

This new play space on the northwest side has several different rooms for little kids to enjoy! Check out the little library, pretend market and cafe, giant jungle gym, and a pretend camp room that helps kids imagine they're outdoors even on the coldest Chicago days. The space hosts free classes and events weekly for kids interested in art, music, yoga or other fun activities.

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Kids don't mind the traffic at Hello Baby. Photo courtesy of Hello Baby

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5. Fit City Kids — Lincoln Square

Fit City Kids' Cityscape play zone features a 5,000-square-foot multi-level playground where kids can climb, slide, run, and dive through a maze of fun. The soft play structure keeps kids from getting hurt, and toddlers have their own designated zone to keep them away from the wily bigger kids. Come for the open play, stay for sports and fitness classes or parties!

6. Climb Zone Chicago-- North Center

The climbing is just the beginning of this fun kids' play place in North Center. In addition to the giant climbing structure and soft play area, there's a high ropes course, climbing walls, bumper cars, and an arcade. Each part of the climbing area is a work of art-- climb a beanstalk, Rapunzel's hair rope, or a giant keyboard!

7. Kids Empire-- 11 Chicago area locations

Big and little kids alike will love these multi-level indoor playground facilities. Make sure you come wearing socks (grippy socks are helpful!) to enjoy the slides, climbing structures, spinny things, and swingy things. There's also snacks for sale and birthday party rentals available.

8. Next Level Play Center--Norridge

This newer play center has both soft and more solid multilevel climbing structures that are fun for kids as old as 12. Enjoy slides, foam building blocks, swinging structures, air hockey, and more. There's an area for toddlers, but this is a great place for bigger kids to play.

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9. Waterlemon — LaGrange

That's not a typo—this punnily named playroom in west suburban LaGrange is bright and clean and features a balloon bar where kids can get lots of different specialty balloons to make their day special. Outside food and beverages are allowed, or you can buy a snack, drink, or coffee at the playroom.

10. Forest The Fox's Play Box—Westchester

This indoor climbing structure and playroom will remind parents of their own childhood (and so will the price). For just $2 per child, kids can play all day. There's even a preschooler-sized restroom for when kids have to go. Birthday parties are affordable and fun for toddlers and preschoolers.

11. The Exploritorium — Skokie

Skokie Park District's Exploritorium offers a low entry fee ($5 for residents and $6 for non-residents) to enjoy the many amenities of its indoor play space. In addition to the tubes-and-tunnels indoor playground, kids can play with a giant "Lite Brite" wall, design something new at the engineering station, get wet in the water play area, climb the climbing wall, play dress up, or act out a play onstage. There's also a separate toddler zone for the littlest kids. 

12. Imagine That World of Play- Mount Greenwood

From a ball pit to climbing structures to imaginary play areas, there's fun for kids in many different age ranges at this southwest side play room. There are several different party packages, with the premium package including a theme with a visiting character to celebrate your child's birthday party with them.

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13. Edgewater Playhouse — Edgewater 

Kids from crawling age through six years can burn off their energy at Edgewater Playhouse's Open Gym. There is no scheduled instruction during open play, so kids can run wild and use their imaginations. Local parents love the clean facility and reasonable pricing.

14. Jumps 'n Jiggles — Elk Grove Village

The first room in this two-room play center features a giant two-story play structure and foam play pieces for little kids. The second room houses a 28-foot tall carousel with 18 hand-painted horse figurines. You can ride as many times as you want once you have paid the admission fee. Jumps 'n Jiggles frequently hosts events like outdoor movies or DIY Valentine's Day card-making sessions for preschoolers and early elementary school kids.

15. Luna y Cielo-- Palmer Square

This adorable west side play space has lots of imaginary play and a small climbing structure for little kids. It's geared toward kids who are bilingual, with Spanish classes and camps and play items geared toward Latin American cultures.  There are limited food options here, but the owners encourage families to order in from local restaurants nearby.

16. We Rock the Spectrum -- Franklin Park

Kids on the autism spectrum will love this gym made just for them. Enjoy suspended equipment and swings, crash mats and pillows, a zipline, a trampoline, indoor play structure, and sensory toys and crafts. The equpment is all designed for kids with sensory processing disorders, and they can come with their parents or therapists to use the equipment for relaxation and play. All are welcome in this accepting envorinment. 

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17. Hello Baby — Woodlawn

A free play space in Woodlawn just for babies up to age three (with their caregivers), Hello Baby is a bright, welcoming spot packed with books, educational toys, and space for physical play. Regular story times and sing-alongs make this a sweet neighborhood hub for little ones.

18. Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo — Lincoln Park Zoo

Hitting the Lincoln Park Zoo might not be your first thought during the colder months, but the Treetop Canopy Adventure climbing structure in the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo building is irresistible fun—plus, it’s free! Once your kids have had their fill of the ropes, tunnels, and walkways, visit the North American animals and learn about their habitats.

19. Garfield Park Conservatory — Garfield Park

Housed within the Garfield Park Conservatory, The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden provides a little patch of green on gray winter days in Chicago. Kids can learn about plants and gardening through large sculptural displays that show plant birth, growth, and reproduction, or they can climb a giant vine with roots, seeds, leaves, and flowers. Kids might get hungry from smelling the French Fry Plant, learn about evolution by touching the sensitive plant (which retracts when touched), or enjoy the beauty of nature with the Bird of Paradise. The Genius Garden is currently undergoing renovations and will soon include a giant plant-themed climbing structure.

20. Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens — Near South Side

Chicago Women’s Park and Garden has a variety of outdoor amenities but also offers an indoor kids’ playground and café featuring a climbing wall and a kids’ science lab. Playhouses and a multi-level play structure help kids get in some physical activity during the cold winter months. The building also has plenty of soft spaces for new walkers to safely enjoy.

How Can Parents Make Indoor Play Visits Easier?

Plan a play date with a friend to one of these indoor play spaces to help get your sanity back after a cold Chicago winter week at home. I recommend checking out the snack and coffee situation at each venue before you go and making plan to bring your own or buy something nice there. Go first thing in the morning or immediately after nap to get the most valuable time with kids. Hopefully you can wear them out enough to get a good nap or sleep afterwards!

Indoor Play Spaces in Chicago FAQ

Q1: What are the best indoor playgrounds for kids in Chicago?
A1: There are so many good ones! We like Jumps 'n Jiggles in Elk Grove Village for its carousel, Kids Empire for it's many locations and variety of attractions for big and little kids, and free play spaces like HelloBaby and Garfield Park Conservatory are great, too!

Q2: Where can I take toddlers to play indoors in Chicago?
A2: Look for places with lots of soft play space and maybe some emphasis on imaginary play. Purple Monkey Playroom in Bucktown and Marshmallow Play in Elmhurst are really great for little kids.

Q3: Are there indoor play spaces suitable for birthday parties?
A3: Many indoor play spaces offer party packages, private rooms, or rentable areas perfect for birthdays. This is great for third and fourth birthday parties for kids that need to get out of the house!

Q4: Are there hidden or unusual indoor play spaces in Chicago?
A4: Yes, some offbeat spots offer unique activities like creative arts, climbing, or themed play areas that aren’t widely known. You should also check out We Rock the Spectrum, even if your kids aren't on the spectrum, but are accepting of kids who are, and Luna y Cielo for indoor play with a focus on Latin American cultures.

Q5: How can parents make indoor play visits easier?
A5: Plan your snacks-- some places will let you bring in your own food, which is better if you don't want to spend a lot of money. Go right when a place opens if you have little kids and want a space to sit, or right after nap when there's a lull in the crowd. Lots of people will try to get out of the house on the third or fourth day of a cold snap when they start to get sick of being in their house, so be prepared for crowds or have a back-up plan for most of the month of January.