Looking for ways to keep the kids busy? Here are a few ideas, feel free to add your own in the comments!
iPlay Café and Play Centre
A place for mother’s groups, kids’ parties or just an every day play, the iPlay Café and Play Centre offers different toys, equipment and a space for parents to relax.
They’re open seven days a week 9am to 2.30pm (check their website for school holiday opening hours as they differ) and it’s $8.50 for 1-2 year olds, $9.50 entry for 2-12 year olds. They often have two-for-one specials and stallholders, make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news.
Free kids’ activities at Grand Central
The shopping centre holds regular holiday and weekend activities. Coming up: healthy living workshops every weekend in February. The four workshops are My Earth, Doily Dream Catcher, Tassel Garlands and Mini Terrariums. No bookings are required for the children’s workshops.
Toowoomba Library
What kind of list would this be without including the Library? They offer a range of activities during school and school holidays. There’s story time Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings, Baby Rhyme Time and even an Anime Club for manga mad kids.
Inflatable World
Obviously. Jumping, running, bouncing, it’s all here. During school term they’re only open Saturdays, on school holidays they’re open throughout the week. It’s $15 for 2 hours per kid, children four years and under are $8, there are packages and parties available too.
Kloud9ine
Obviously. Jumping, bouncing, tramampolines! They have reduced opening hours during school term. It’s $13.95 per person; you can party on there too.
LA Circus: Lorraine Ashton Classic Circus
Your kid might already be a clown. Let them hone this skill at Lorraine Aston’s Classic Circus school. Classes are held weekly, with skills including plate spinning, trapeze, hula hooping and more. Check them out on Facebook to enquire about times and prices.
Kindermusik at Leisa’s Music Place
Got the next Kanye on your hands? (For your sake, we hope not.) Music is a great social and physical development tool – get the kids started in finding their rhythm at Leisa’s Music Place. Classes range from for babies to older kids, prices and semesters vary.
Dance and Drama
While we’re talking about grooving, check out the classes at Dance Central. There are a range, including a mums and bubs class, hip hop, ballet and even drama. Here’s their website. The Empire Theatre also offers drama workshops throughout the school term for kids of all ages.
Toowoomba’s PCYC
The PCYC has always offered affordable kids’ activities – karate, boxing, gymnastics, for kids of all ages. Find out more about a membership here.
Cooking class at The Sauce Kitchen
Toowoomba’s own cooking school often has classes for kids. The next one is coming up 11 April – Easter cooking for kids – it’s $60 a ticket, they’ll learn how to make their own hot cross buns and rocky road, and there’s also a Hungry Boys’ Cooking Class ($65) on Wednesday 12 April that’s great for helping boys 12-15 find more independence in the kitchen.
Kangatraining
For mums who want to ease back into exercise, this a light dance class where you carry your baby. Kangatraining is fun for mums and fun for bubs. Contact Nat for a free trial class – term 1 begins 24 January.
Babes and Picnics Toowoomba
New mums and mums-to-be are invited to get together once a month to meet and mingle. Ask to join the group on Facebook to find out how to join.
Get arty
Art Frenzi offers kids’ parties, while Kontraband Studios often opens their studio up for workshops – be alerted to the next one by signing up to their newsletter.
Swim, swim, swim
Oh Willow Springs, how we miss you. Your kids will never know how good it was, but they can hang out at Milne Bay, which has a wave pool and waterslide, 25m indoor pool, toddler’s pool and 50m outdoor pool. Check their website for opening times and prices.
The Highfields pool has a heated wading pool, toddler’s water slide and playground.
Cobb and Co Museum
A favourite for keeping kids occupied, Cobb and Co has regular workshops and festivals. Coming up, the Have a Go Festival on 25 February, where kids can learn an artisan’s trade like blacksmithing or leatherplaiting. Family tickets $40 (2 adults, 2 kids) or $10 for kids and $15 for adult entry.
Toot toot!
The last Sunday of every month a mini steam train named Myrtle May cruises around the Highfields Pioneer Village. Tickets are $3 per child, $5 per adult. There are also other worthy attractions like a toyshop and museums where kids can feel a little like an olden day person, just for a while.
Ten pin bowling
An old faithful, especially on a rainy day. The Bazinga Entertainment Centre has lanes and the added benefit of laser tag too, while Sunset Superbowl is all about the bowling.
Darling Downs Zoo
There’s a zoo on the Darling Downs? Well yeah. And it’s quite good. Don’t go expecting Australia Zoo, but you’ll see some pretty cool stuff like lions, tigers, meerkats and the super weird looking Brazilian Tapir. Admission is $21 per child and $35 for an adult, or a family pass is $95. It’s a short drive from Toowoomba, at Pilton.
Abbie Lane Arts and Crafts Village Highfields
A café, shopping and a place where your kids can get the goods to build their own fairy garden. Score. Find out more on Facebook.
Tick Tock Escape Room
Send your older kids in and test out their problem solving ability at the same time. $36 per person for a group of five to eight players, there are three different rooms to choose from. Each is themed – there is the Da Vinci, Submarine Escape and Chernobyl Meltdown. Tempted? Find out more on their site.
How do you keep your kids busy? Share your favourite activities in the comments.
