Best Indoor Play Spaces for Kids in New York City

A smiling child in a rainbow-striped shirt plays in a ball pit, holding blue and yellow balls over their eyes and laughing.
Getty Images

A Guide to the Best Indoor Playgrounds in NYC

After a long day of school, bundle the little ones up and hustle them out of rapidly dropping temperatures into one of New York City’s many indoor play spaces! Indoor play spaces offer comfortable and secure play areas for children to play in while they burn pent up energy, explore fun games and stimulating activities, and make new friends. Every play space is unique, offering obstacles courses, games, and activities that will keep kids of all ages laughing and at play.

Psst… Check out The Orchid Show Returns to NYBG February 26th!

Too Long, Didn’t Read:

  • New York features a wide array of fantastic indoor play spaces, like Cosmic CAMP, Fairytale Island, Recess d.u.m.b.o., and Brooklyn Children’s Museum Totally Tots Exhibit, where kids can explore, climb, and play in a safe and imaginative environment all year round.
  • New York’s play areas offer a variety of activities, from obstacle courses and inflatable slides at Kids ‘N Shape and Safari Adventure to climbing walls, ball pits, and interactive games at Kids’N’Action and Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter.
  • Many of the spaces, including Good Day Play Cafe and JCC Harlem, allow parents to relax, enjoy refreshments, or join in, making the visit enjoyable for the whole family.
  • Places like Recess d.u.m.b.o. and Fairytale Island give kids simple sensory play and easy creative activities that help them stay calm, have fun, and use their imagination in a safe indoor space.
  • Admission costs are simple and family-friendly, with many locations offering group discounts, weekday rates, or free entry for adults in certain cases, making it easy for families to plan a full day of play without stress.

Cosmic CAMP

City Point, 1 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201

First introduced to the city in the Flatiron District of Manhattan during early September, Cosmic CAMP is coming back to the Big Apple! Cosmic CAMP is an intergalactic, spaced-themed experience that employs the whole family to participate in physical challenges such as traversing lava fields, interactive games involving blasting asteroids, and much more! Admission is $25 for all ages.

Fairytale Island

7110 3rd Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11209
(718) 395-0835

Have some whimsical fun at Fairytale Island! This play space’s features a sand pit filled with herbal seeds for sensory cognition,  a two-level train, an oversized ball pit with several slides for entry, two mini rock-climbing walls, and much more! Fairytale Island is open Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. Admission is $20, with a group discount rate of $17 per person.

Recess d.u.m.b.o.

81 Washington St. Brooklyn, NY 11201
(347) 987-3509

The vision of two working mothers following Hurricane Sandy, Recess d.u.m.b.o. is a unique and flexible take on an indoor play space. This play space’s custom-built play equipment includes a wooden climbing wall, hidden ladders and tunnels made from rope netting, educational, crafty classes, and much more! Recess d.u.m.b.o. operates Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 6pm, Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm. Admission is $30 for the first child, $20 for the second, and $20 for an additional hour.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum Totally Tots Exhibit

145 Brooklyn Ave.,Brooklyn, NY 11213

This exhibit is the perfect place to bring the little ones for some much needed play time. Kids will love playing in the nine different sensory play areas and allows them to let their imagination soar and while creating new memories!

Kids’N’Action

1149 McDonald Ave. Brooklyn, 11230
(718) 377-1818

Boasting itself as “New York’s premier family entertainment center,” Kids’N’Action will bring your children the fun and thrills of play! From net climbing to a soft playscape to an indoor rollercoaster, Kids’N’Action will keep your children certain to enjoy action-packed playtime! Kids’N’Action is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm and Friday 11 am to 4 pm. General Admission is $12 on weekdays for ages 1-14, $14 on weekends and $7 for adults.

Good Day Play Cafe

591 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(347) 294-4334

Make sure to book some time for your kids to play at Good Day Play Cafe! Due to Covid-19, all families who would like to visit have to book a 2 hour session before they would like to come. Once your designated time is booked, parents can Good Day Play Cafe’s delicious refreshments while their kids have a blast playing in their facility.

Kids ‘N Shape Children’s Fitness Play & Party Place

162-26 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, NY 11414
(718) 848-2052

Let’s get the kids active and keep them fit at Kids ‘N Shape! This play space houses a variety of equipment such as an inflatable obstacle course, a bounce house, sit-down scooters, hand and  foot twisters, a zipline and much more! Kids ‘N Shape is open Sunday through Thursday with locations in Queens and Staten Island. Admission is $15.

Safari Adventure

1074 Pulaski Street, Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 727-4386

Looking for an exciting excursion or extreme expedition? Then look no further than Safari Adventure! This play space offers a four-level open play area featuring an 18 foot tall soft playground, an inflatable obstacle course and two-lane slide, an arcade and much more! Safari Adventure is open all week from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission is $14 for ages 1 and 2, $20 for ages 3 – 10, infants and adults are free.

Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter

32-15 37th Avenue, Long Island City, 11101
(718) 606-2216

Have a good time at Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter! Your children can jump, slide, and run through this play space’s multi-level playground, inflatable bouncy attraction, several ball pools with up to 20,000 plastic balls, and much more! Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter is open all week from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is $18 on weekdays, $25 on weekends, and one adult per child is free with $10 for an additional adult.

JCC Harlem

318 W 118 St. New York, NY 10026

The JCC offers a great program and play space for kids ages newborn to 8 will love to play in! When visiting, family members will pay $10 per drop-in and are able to take advantage of all the fun sports and activities. To make it even better, afternoon activities will be held outdoors so kids can get some much needed time outside.

How NYC Indoor Play Spaces Create a Safe Place for Kids to Play ?

Reference URL: https://torlykid.com/best-indoor-play-spaces-in-new-york-city/ 

No matter how busy the day feels or how active your child is, Indoor playgrounds like Cosmic CAMP, Fairytale Island, and Recess d.u.m.b.o. work hard to keep every play area clean, safe, and comfortable so kids can enjoy slides, ball pits, tunnels, and climbing zones with simple joy and gentle confidence.

Play spaces across NYC make sure parents can stay nearby while friendly staff keep an eye on the play areas, and the points below explain the simple steps these indoor playgrounds follow to keep every child safe.

  • Soft and Safe Play Areas: Many indoor play places use soft floors, cushioned walls, and smooth corners. These gentle surfaces help kids stay safe when they run, jump, or slide because even if they fall, the padding keeps them comfortable.
  • Clean and Well-Checked Equipment: In most play spaces, the slides, tunnels, mats, and toys are cleaned many times a day. Staff also check everything to make sure it is not loose or broken, so kids can play without worry.
  • Staff Who Watch and Help Kids: Friendly staff are often close to the play zones, and they keep an eye on children as they explore. They give simple reminders and help when needed, which keeps everyone safe and calm.
  • Easy Rules for Safe Play: These playgrounds use simple rules that kids can understand. They remind children to wait their turn, be gentle with others, and use each play area the right way so everyone has a good time.
  • Parents Can Stay Nearby: Many places let parents stay right next to their kids during playtime. This helps children feel safe because someone they trust is close, and it helps parents relax while they watch their little ones play.

Wrapping Up
Indoor playgrounds in NYC make families feel safe and happy because kids can run, climb, and explore even when the weather is not friendly, and that is why these places feel like small indoor adventures where parents can relax while children play in a clean and bright space. Whether your child loves soft play zones, tall climbing walls, pretend play areas, or simple activity corners, you will always find a spot in New York City that feels welcoming, fun, and easy to enjoy, and it truly helps families spend calm and joyful time together without stress.

FAQs

What is the cost of indoor playgrounds in NYC?

Indoor playgrounds in NYC have different prices, and each place shares its cost clearly so families can plan their visit with ease. Most locations, like Cosmic CAMP, Fairytale Island, and Kids’N’Action, charge a small fee that usually starts around ten to twenty dollars, with some places offering discounts for groups or extra hours of play.

Where to go in NYC indoors?

Families looking for indoor fun in NYC can visit playful places such as Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter, Kids ‘N Shape, and JCC Harlem, because these indoor playgrounds offer gentle activities, soft play zones, and friendly spaces where kids can run, jump, and learn even when the weather outside is not nice.

What are those indoor playgrounds called?

Indoor playgrounds in NYC are often called play spaces, play centers, or activity centers, and places like Safari Adventure, Cosmic CAMP, and Fairytale Island use these names to show that kids can enjoy safe and simple play inside, with ball pits, slides, tunnels, and many fun areas designed just for them.