What To Do With A Toddler In Toronto
My son is at an age where he can’t sit still. Our days consist of activity, nap, activity in order to avoid too much time cooped up in the house. Luckily, for both our sanity, living in Toronto means that there are loads of places, spaces and activities for us to explore. From play centres to music classes, galleries to museums, Toronto has so much to ignite, excite and inspire both my son and I. What To Do With A Toddler In Toronto
Over the past week, my son and I have had a blast discovering some our city’s coolest toddler attraction. Attractions Ontario sent us to some real gems and I can’t wait to a) share them with you and b) go back to all of them!
What To Do With A Toddler In Toronto
Royal Ontario Museum
I love the Royal Ontario Museum. As well as hosting unique and inspiring temporary exhibits, their permanent galleries are always engaging and cater to all ages. I had been through the dinosaur gallery with my five year old nephew before (He loved it!) but I wasn’t sure what I could do with my toddler. It turns out, everything!
Together with some friends, my son and I headed to the CIBC Discovery Gallery where within minutes, the kids were dressed up like dragons, building castles, digging for dinosaurs and putting together puzzles.
C was reading books, creating a meal in the play kitchen and practicing animal noises with some of the toys.
The ROM volunteers were on hand, helping the children explore and discover, making it both a learning and play opportunity. The ROM hosts a lot of programs for families and kids including Family Fun Days, ROM Sleepovers and ROMKids Junior for toddlers from 2-4.
Skyzone – Toddler Time
Imagine a room full of trampolines, a massive foam pit and yes, snacks. It’s a kid (and mum) dream!
Four times a week, Skyzone Trampoline Park hosts Toddler Time, an opportunity for the little ones to bounce their hearts out without big kid interference. For anyone else with a toddler, you know that a ‘big kid free’ zone is key. My son, who recently discovered the magic of a trampoline, was in bouncing heaven.
He bounced from trampoline to trampoline, playing with balls and singing songs before throwing himself in the foam pit. He squealed with delight as he performed this same sequence again and again and again…
After our mega bounce, all the kiddos headed to the Sky Room where we had snacks, coloured and practiced giving the enthusiastic staff high-fives. From 9:30- 11 on Tuesdays/Thursdays and from 9-10 on Saturdays/Sundays, Toddlers can get their jump on at one of Skyzone’s many GTA locations.
*For 20% off of a Toddler Time session, use the code NATTYP20 when purchasing your pass online.
Ontario Science Centre
I remember the Ontario Science Centre as place I loved visiting as a kid. We used get up early in the morning, pack a lunch and make the long drive into Toronto to check out one of our favourite attractions in the entire province. I hadn’t been in years and let me tell you, this place has changed- It is even better than you remember, folks!
C and I headed right to KIDSPARK, an exciting and engaging area of the Centre made just for kids. The area is split into two separate sections: one with a water table, colourful light/dark play and mirrored displays; and the other with an interactive grocery store, farm to pick vegetables, a construction site and more.
My son’s little legs couldn’t move him fast enough from activity to activity. He wanted to touch everything, discover new sights and sounds, engage in every single interactive display possible. He was excited: I was excited.
Both KIDSPARK areas also have a a three and under gated toddler play space.
Although we were very busy exploring, learning and interacting, there was still so much that we didn’t have time to enjoy including animal encounters, experiments with scientists and all the other areas of the Science Centre. This just means that we will have to go back and we can’t wait!
You can check out the KIDSPARK calendar of events here.
Ripley’s Aquarium Canada
If you haven’t been to Ripley’s Aquarium Canada, go! Literally stop reading this post and go. It is one of my favourite places in the whole city.
Visually, it is captivating. It is as if you have been submerged into a whole new world of beautiful aquatic creatures. The greens, the blues, the light – It all has a weirdly calming effect. I learn something new every time I go to the aquarium. Pardon my ignorance but I did not know how big a Grouper is and I didn’t know that Stingrays lose their stinger should they ever have to use it (RIP Steve Irwin). My son LOVES the coral reef, spotting colourful fish as they flash across the tank, darting up and down, back and forth, creating rainbows as they go.
We love watching the live shows at Ray Bay while a diver inside the tank tell us all about our favourite rays. And while I hate, hate, hate jellyfish more than anything else that has ever or will ever exist, the jellyfish wall at the aquarium is stunningly beautiful, the clear jellies changing colours as they float through space.
My son loves to stare at the jelly wall, gape at the swordfish and pet the sharks. He also likes climbing the play submarine, crawling through the glass crawlspace and would stay at the water table all day if I let him. Every trip to Ripley’s Aquarium Canada is an exciting one. Aquatic life has never been so fascinating….for both of us.
What To Do With A Toddler In Toronto
*This post was sponsored by Attractions Ontario who did not pre-approve this post