Activities for Children in or Near Phoenix, Arizona

Early childhood experts agree that socialization-enrichment activities improve cognitive skills, increase vocabulary and can enhance intelligence. Phoenix hosts a multiple of exciting businesses for children younger than 5. If your little one is bored to tears (and perhaps you are, too), maybe it's time to get out! With more than 114,000 children younger than 5 in the Phoenix area, there's plenty to do. If you're the parent of a baby, toddler or preschooler in the Phoenix area, these ideas might help you.

1. Visit Imagination Avenue
http://www.imaginationavenue.us
10614 N. 32nd Street (Near Shea)
(602) 765-3192

Imagination Avenue is one of the best resources for Phoenix toddlers and preschoolers. It is essentially a giant play room. Basically, you can bring your kids to play and you don't have to clean up! (Okay, it's not quite like that, but it is nice to play outside of home.) They offer a variety of interactive activities including a little town where kids can drive cars, a puppet theater (children can act out puppet shows), story time, puzzles, arts and crafts, inflatable air bouncers, and much more. The place is solely for infants - 6 year olds, so you don't have to worry about them being trampled by older kids. It offers over 3000 square feet of play area, what more can you ask for? Imagination Avenue is the perfect place to stimulate your child's creativity!

2. Stop by Fun Time 4 Kids
http://www.funtime4kids.com
3202 E. Greenway Road
(602) 485 - KIDS

Fun Time 4 Kids is another excellent indoor play area. If you want to get out of the heat, this is definitely a great spot to go! They provide numerous activities including a Thomas the Train Table, a "Town Center" with a grocery store, pretend doctor's office, cars, a "countryside" area with a barn, fishing pond, camping area and more. There is even a toddler area for little ones under 2 years old. You'll make your small town friends jealous when you tell them about this play area. Fun Time 4 Kids will definitely entertain your little one!

3. Visit the Phoenix Zoo
www.phoenixzoo.org
455 North Galvin Parkway
(602) 273- 1341