Indoor Field Trip Ideas for Young Kids
Hot days, rainy days, fussy days – maybe you are looking for indoor field trip ideas for young kids.
We hope you find some fun inspiration in this post that has been put together with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in mind.
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Be sure to:
- browse online
- search your local parent group on Facebook
- ask your friends and neighbors
about some of the ideas listed in this post. You might be surprised what is available right in your hometown.
We have lived in our area for years and years, and it is amazing how we continue to discover new-to-us things for families to do together.
Now for some of our favorite ideas!
Library Storytime or Children’s Play Area
Check your local library’s schedule.
Many libraries have an event calendar available on-line.
Don’t see an upcoming story time or event that interests you?
Simply visit to read books, play in the children’s area, or use the educational computer games.
What would your child enjoy most?
Children’s Museum or Science Center
Are there any upcoming classes being offered?
A short-term exhibit that has been set up for kids to explore?
Aquarium or Other Indoor Animal Exhibit
If your kids love animals, this is a great option.
Maybe there’s not an aquarium near you, but a butterfly house…or a drive-thru animal park…or a bird sanctuary?
Trampoline Park
I’ve tried to include some ideas that older siblings would also enjoy – and this is one!
Movie Theater or Stage Play
In the summer months, many movie theaters will offer free or low-cost movies on certain days of the week.
Be sure to check around – and don’t forget about local theaters that offer kid-friendly stage performances.
Pet Store
This one was a big hit when my kids were small – especially so because we have never had any pets.
We would stroll through the pet shop and visit with the animals.
Car Wash
On the day pictured here, someone had gifted my kids a container of cookies. So we took those as a treat to have in the car wash.
Bringing along a little treat only adds to the fun of this outing.
Bakery
This can be such a great way to spend quality time!
You can take a book to read together – or some coloring sheets to color together.
Color Wonder Sheets from Crayola are a great mess-free option to take into public spaces.
Grocery Store
Need to pick up a few things from the store?
These Shopping Hunts are the perfect thing to keep little hands busy will you shop – or just something fun to do together if you’re looking for an air-conditioned outing for you and your child.
A Few More Ideas
- tour the post office – Yes, this is a thing! Just ask!
- restaurant kitchen tour – It’s amazing how many local restaurants will offer something along these lines to kids – with certain protocols and safety considerations in place, of course.
- indoor putt putt – We’ve seen lots of these popping up in various places. We visited one in TN. It was a HOT day, and we were grateful for the option!
- bowling – During the summer months, some bowling alleys offer Kids Bowl Free.
- arcade or indoor amusement center
- local rec center – These will oftentimes offer an indoor track or sports courts available for play.
- indoor play space at a restaurant – Some of the restaurants that used to offer these no longer do, but there are still some of them out there.
- Invite friends over for Shell Painting or to have fun doing a Coloring Table together!
Does your child want to learn to play chess?