Indoor Winter Activities for 2 Year Old Twins

Pump It Up has been a lifesaver for me this winter. There are a few different locations, depending on where you live, and they have open bounce times almost every day. Hang in there.

I agree, Pump It Up has great stuff! I think there's one in Elmhurst and Schaumburg.

Also, try your park district. They may have indoor swimming and activities. The one I work at has an indoor merry-go-round and other play stuff.

Get them into an exercise or tots gymnastics class in your park district or neighboring park district. It will wear them out, give them the exercise they need in the winter, and tire them out. When you get home they will be ready for a nap. Give them a non-messy treat to eat on the way hom so they don't fall asleep in the car. Enjoy some private mom time while they sleep. Sit back and have a ho bubble bath just for you...........

K. G
I have walked the mall and done open gym at a local gymnastics place it generally cheaper then signing up for a class. Stay warm and try not to go crazy.
J. O

Not exactly close to you, but I read online the Lake county forest preserve opened a children's museum. I haven't been there yet, but I'm guessing it's nature oriented and not a full fledged childrens museum, but a smaller scale one, geared towards what they do.

Also, you might check your local gymnastics for open gym times. Ours has them at least once a week, and it's $5 per child. Great way to get some energy out.

Hi K.,

Please check out my website, www.kidwinks.com - it's The site to know with kids in tow. There, you can find kid-friendly events, activities, restaurants (there's even a Dining Deals calendar in the Restaurant section where you can find out where kids eat free), shops and services throughout the Chicago area and suburbs. You can read parents' reviews of places they've visited and write your own (if you become a member, which is free). You can also get search results sorted in order of distance from your house (again, you must be a member for that benefit). So, for example, you can go to our Ongoing Activities Section and browse through the Indoor Kids Activities (there's a sub category with Indoor Play Areas that may be especially helpful to you) for all kinds of ideas. You can then sort them in order of distance from your house if you're a member and logged in.

A couple of people mentioned Pump It Up - we have all of the free jump times listed on our Events calendar - just click through the days to find out when the jump times are near you. Pinstripes has a very cool mom & tots playgroup / bowling time; I think it's on tuesdays (check our calendar). Kids bowl for $5, moms bowl for free, and kids get a free yogurt and snacks buffet while the moms get free coffee. Park Ridge Community Church just started an open playgroup from 10-noon on Mondays. They open up their gym, and put out a bunch of toys and things for the kids to play with. It's open to everyone, and the people are very nice (I'm a member at the church, so I know!). It's also listed on our calendar.

If you become a member of kidwinks, check the box to join our mailing list, and we'll do the work for you on finding fun things to do - we'll email to you twice a week links to upcoming fun, family-friendly events. We've received tremendous positive response to our emails - moms love them!

I hope this helps.

J.

Not sure where exactly you are.
- The children's museums in Glenview (Kohl's) and Naperville (DuPage) both have special areas for younger children. We bought the membership at Kohl's and paid $20 extra to have reciprocal membership at tons of other museums so we went to DuPage free, and the Navy Pier one and Milwaukee were also free.
- Woodfield has a great new play area right in front of Macy's that is soft.
- Pump it Up is fun but with 2-year-olds by yourself it could be daunting. My 3-1/2 year old got stuck inside and needed me to go in and help her get back out.
- The Little Village in Arlington is nice but you're going to pay around $15 just to get in with the twins ($7-8/kid).
- Train ride to the library? Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect, Park Ridge are all within a block from Metra.
- Check the park districts, a lot of them have their ball pit/party areas "open" for a small fee...in Mt. Prospect at the Rec Plex it is $1/kid.

I don't know where you live, but The Swedish American Museum in Andersonville (in the city, near Clark and Foster) has an adorable Children's Museum on the 3rd floor. We go every week! Kids can dress up and pretend they are farming, or riding a boat, fishing, cooking, etc... it's very quaint (and quiet and calm for parents!) and my 2 & 5 year olds love it! The fee to get in is nominal. We love it there!

Pump It Up. They have open jump times here and there. Check their website for a location closest to you. The older kids can come too!

I'm not sure where you live, but Jumps and Jiggles in Elk Grove is a fun indoor play area; Have you checked your park district for activities? I used to go to a Mom and Tot play time thru my park district (Arl Heights) and my twins could run free in the gymnasium. What about an indoor pool? A mall play area (Woodfield Mall has a new one for tots), or go to a different library in a neighboring town. Village Playplace in downtown Arlington Heights is very cute, as is Nibbles cafe in Wheeling. It can be costly, but what about signing them up for a class at My Gym or Gymboree?
A trip to a pet store can be free entertainment too. Good Luck!! I've been there.. let's hope for an early spring.

1. Kohl's Museum in Glenview
2. River Trails Nature Center in northbrook
3. Deerfield and Highland Park Park Districts both have indoor playgrounds
4. Nibbles Play Cafe
5. My daughter is 23 months and she LOVES to throw pennies into fountains at the mall.
P.S. I am expecting twin girls in March - any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Great question and answers! I live in Winthrop Harbor, across the street from Pleasant Prarie, WI. Any suggestions for Wisconsin?

Definitely check into your park district. I live in Rolling Meadows and bring my 20 month old to tot gymnastics, they have an open gym play once a week that's only $3, there's several classes that do crafts, etc.

Also the library has Storytime once which the kids love. It's free. I've been told there's an indoor playground in Elk Grove.

And the Woodfield play area is great. Another free alternative. It's big, soft, and will keep them entertained for a while!

Just an addition to what you've already received:

Palatine Park District has a nice open gym time that costs $1 per child.

Arctic Splash in Wheeling has open tot times when it costs $3 per adult. I don't have twins, so I'm sure it would be a lot to handle in a watery environment, but maybe this would work if you had a helper to come with you?

Best wishes beating the winter doldrums!