There should be a National Hug a Mom of a Toddler Day! Seriously, the toddler years are among the most challenging times. It’s a potpourri of independent streaks, tantrums, crying, whining, exhaustion, frustration, etc. I have come to the conclusion that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was inspired by a toddler. They are happy and giving mommy kisses one second, and then suddenly lying on a dirty public restroom floor, kicking their feet and screaming the next, all because they wanted to pull the paper towel out of the dispenser themselves. How dare you? Now you must suffer with severe embarrassment as strangers walk in and give you “the look”.  And you can forget about ever being on time because toddlers will find a way to sabotage that whole punctuality thing you had going on before you had kids. They will want to put their coats on themselves, and it will be the most agonizing 15 minutes of your life. They will put it on upside down, inside out, miss snaps, snap their fingers accidentally, put their hood on, take their hood off, and then, just when they almost have it, will declare that they aren’t wearing a coat. Then they will focus their attention on the invisible bumps in their socks!

Raising a toddler is a lot like trying to raise that obnoxious, drunk roommate from college. They both can do everything themselves, they are more than happy to cause a scene in public, they both need sippy lids, they refuse to eat the food you give them, they will yell and scream and fight you when you say it’s bedtime, ten minutes later you find them passed out under a piece of furniture, and neither seems to be able to make it to the bathroom in time. Raising a toddler isn’t for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. And while it can be embarrassing to take the equivalent of your drunken roommate out in public, it is the best thing you can do for yourself and your toddler, promise!

Getting out of the house, for even just an hour or two, is the best way to maintain your sanity! Besides, what are you going to do at home? Pick up the same Mega Bloks 18 times while trying to multitask cleaning up spills, doing dishes, and laundry, all to have your husband come home and ask you what you did all day? Call up some friends and get out! Don’t have any mom friends yet? Make them….they will not come knocking on your door, you need to take the initiative, seek out playgroups online, on Facebook, shoot, start your own playgroup on Facebook. You need adult conversation, you need someone to say “I can totally relate”, and playgroups are just as much for the moms as they are the toddlers. When you start that playgroup, you are going to need to post events. Here is a list of fun, toddler-friendly destinations in Toledo to get you started!

 

 

 

Ten Places to Take Your Toddler in Toledo:

 

 

Waddles Playground

Open Play Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9 am–3 pm
Friday- Sunday: (Book your Moms Group)

 Pricing:

$13 per child (valid all day — come and go as you need)

Two free adults per paid child

Siblings under 6 months are free

Play passes available for even more value

Location: 5345 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43614

Phone: (419) 214-1234

Website: 
https://waddlesplayground.com

Click here for more details and images! 

Made for the littlest ones
Everything at Waddles is designed specifically for children ages 5 and under. That means no giant kids racing past or knocking your toddler over. It’s a space where little ones can safely climb, slide, and explore at their own pace, without you having to hover nervously every second.

 

Sunrise Gymnastics OPEN Gym

 

Address: 3640 N Holland Sylvania Rd, Toledo, OH 43615

Phone: (419) 841-2902

Website: http://www.sunrisegymnastics.com/

When: Saturdays 12pm- 1pm (No registration necessary)

Cost: $15 for the hour

Children can enjoy an hour of jumping on the trampoline, swinging from the rings, trying the balance beam, etc., inside Sunrise’s back gym. Parent participation is required.

Toledo Lucas County Public Libraries! Story Times (FREE)

Address: Main Branch-325 N Michigan St, Toledo, OH 43604

Phone: (419) 259-5200

Website: https://www.toledolibrary.org/virtualstorytime

When: Varies

Cost: FREE

Each of the library branches offers magnificent events, activities, story times, etc. for toddlers. Click on the link above to be directed to a list of Storytimes. If you’re looking to stop in and grab a bag of books to go, I will tell you the Main Library has an awesome Children’s Area! There is an actual car children can sit in, an aquarium where they could literally stand for days, Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat character, and more….and there is a café (that should be opening again sometime soon?!…or bring your own coffee for the time being).

House of Coffee: Toledo’s Epic Spot for Moms

.

.

 

House of Coffee has carved out a dedicated space for young children, a thoughtful touch that transforms an already great café into the ultimate hangout for families.

• Enclosed, but not boxed in: The kids’ area uses clear partitions, so you can keep an eye on your child while still feeling part of the grown-up space. No “caged off” vibe, just smart design.
• Developmentally appropriate activities: The toys and play materials are curated to engage little minds and hands, encouraging creativity and calm exploration rather than chaos.
• Real-life friendly: There are highchairs, enough variety of toys to hold your child’s interest while you enjoy a hot drink (yes, hot) and an adult conversation.

Address: House of Coffee inside The Ohio Building at 420 Madison Avenue, Suite 110, Toledo, OH 43604.
Hours:  Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday–Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 

Website: hoctoledo.com

Phone: (567) 315-8567

Click here for more details and images!

 

 

 

Little Leapers at Sky Zone

Address: 1600 Albon Rd, Holland, OH 43528

Phone: (419) 491-1194

Website: https://www.skyzone.com/toledo/

When: Monday-Friday- opening until noon 

Cost: $21.99 hr, Plus One Adult FREE for 90 minutes

Little Leapers is a great shared experience for child and parent. A time for your little ones to discover the joy of being active, bouncing under the supervision of their parents, and without interference from the big kids!

Imagination Station 

Address: 1 Discovery Way, Toledo, OH 43604

Phone: (419) 244-2674

Website: http://imaginationstationtoledo.org/

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm, Sunday: Noon – 5pm, Monday: CLOSED*

Cost: Get a Membership! Totally worth it (all five of us got in for FREE at COSI in Columbus thanks to this membership…and it would have cost us more than the membership for admission to COSI for one day. You can also receive 50% off at the Michigan Science Center. Adults: $15 Kids: 3-12 $13 Kids 0-2: FREE and on SATURDAYS Lucas County kids get in for FREE with a paid adult. 

Little KIDSPACE is seriously THE BEST place to take a Toddler in Toledo!! I used to just go there for two hours and then go home, it is ah-mazing! It is an enclosed, gated space, so you don’t have to worry about constantly chasing after your toddler, and it gives them their much-needed freedom/independence. I also like the fact that there are hand sanitizers on the way in and out. And there is so much to touch, see, do, etc. that they won’t get bored.

Little KIDSPACE is specifically designed to help kids, kindergarten age and younger, learn and explore. Children learn through play. They have an innate interest in the world around them, and the skills and knowledge that children acquire as they play help them to make sense of the world. Young children are active learners who engage in science every day as they observe, wonder, experiment, and talk about their findings. Our littlest adventurers can hop aboard a fire truck, shop in the grocery store, or climb their favorite tree house while learning about forces, motion, math, and life science.

Family Center at Toledo Museum of Art (FREE admission, FREE parking, FREE Glass Blowing Demonstrations, FREE artwork to take home)

Address: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43620

Phone: (419) 255-8000

Website: Family Center at Toledo Museum of Art 

Hours: The Family Center is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (with sessions available hourly, 11am-5pm by reservation) and is a workshop setting designed for young children and their grown-ups to complete that week’s project together. 

Free, fun, and open to everyone! Looking for something fun to do with your littles? Something safe, close to home, and creative? Look no further than our amazing Toledo Museum of Art! They know precisely what we parents want: a space outside the home to take children that is safe, and, what little need, tactile projects that stimulate cognitive development, and their Family Art Club provides both.

Chuck E Cheese

 

Locations

Monroe Street

Address: 5077 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43623

Phone: (419) 841-9714

Airport Hwy

Address: 5455 Airport Hwy Ste 9-I, Toledo, OH 43615

Phone: (419) 382-0220

Website: https://locations.chuckecheese.com/us/oh/toledo/5455-airport-hwy

Hours: Monday-Thursday 12pm-8pm, Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 11am-8pm 

“Where a kid can be a kid.” That infamous tag line is precisely what kiddos are longing for these days. Join their new Fun Pass family membership program for as little as $7.99 a month and enjoy Chuck E. Cheese whenever you want. Each Fun Pass includes gameplay, huge discounts on food, and exclusive bonus benefits for the entire family. It’s the best deal they’ve ever offered! See FAQS for more details on their website. 

Sylvania Playland Toddler Town & MORE! 

Phone: (419) 517-9094

Address: 3620 Centennial Rd, Sylvania, OH 43560

Website: http://sylvaniaplayland.com/

Sylvania Playland is the one and only indoor bounce house and playground in Sylvania! Come in and play on their five inflatables, four swing sets, and toddler area. Their glow-in-the-dark mini golf is also OPEN! 18 holes, 4 themes (underwater, pirates, dinosaurs, knights, and dragons). Win prizes in their arcade and have a taste of Toft’s ice cream!

Hours: Sunday-Friday: 10 AM – 6 PM

Saturday: 10 AM – 8 PM

Cost: Varies, click on the website 

 

 

Lattes and Littles: Experience the Joy of Playtime and Caffeine

Address: 7565 W Sylvania Ave, Sylvania, OH 43560, USA

Phone:  419-517-5090

Website: https://lattesandlittles.com/

When: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-4pm

Cost: Reservations are required online, one play pass is for hours and costs $15 

 

20 Awesome Playgrounds in Toledo & Surrounding Area (all FREE parking & admission)

Need a break? Why not meet up with other parents/ grandparents and enjoy some adult conversation while the kiddos run off all that excess energy?

Here’s a list of awesome playgrounds in Toledo and the surrounding areas.

 

 

Learning Express – Sylvania, OH

Celebrate that huge milestone, Potty Training HERE!!! In a world where so much of our kids’ lives are online, virtual learning, digital wishlists, screen time galore, it’s honestly so good for their little hearts and minds to be present, in the moment, and connected. Walking through the aisles, physically holding the toys, chatting with the friendly Learning Express staff, and getting to share those real-time “Ooooh look at this!” moments? It’s all part of the magic. It’s not just about picking out toys; it’s about connection, decision-making, and making memories. And let’s be honest, you can’t get that from clicking “add to cart.”

Also, imagine this: Your birthday kiddo walks into Learning Express, eyes sparkling with excitement. They get to shop the store in advance and handpick the toys, books, and games they actually want. The store creates a personalized bin just for them, like a mini birthday registry!

Now, when friends and family stop by to pick out a birthday gift, they don’t have to guess. They simply shop from the bin.

Address: Promenade Shops, 5577 Monroe Street (Suite 9), Sylvania, OH 43560 

Phone Number: (419) 885‑3959 

Website: Learning Express Sylvania

Hours: Monday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Click here for more details and images! 

.

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium: Nature’s Neighborhood is perfect for toddlers! (They’ll get a kick out of feeding the Giraffes too!…Oh, and the merry-go-round & train ride!…SO much to do at OUR Zoo!)

 

Address: 2700 Broadway St, Toledo, OH 43609

Phone: (419) 385-5721

Website: https://www.toledozoo.org/

Hours: Varies, see website 

Cost: Get a Membership! 

I always let the kiddos pick one animal to see, and then we lived in Nature’s Neighborhood for the rest of the time. Thanks to the membership, I never felt obligated to see EVERYTHING; we could always go back later in the week. My personal favorite part about the zoo, once school starts for the big kids, is the fact that no one is there; it is the best!  So soak up the secluded retreat while it lasts. Go see an animal, then park the stroller at Nature’s Neighborhood. (We would even pack lunch and eat it there in the kitchen area). For more info, click the link, https://www.toledozoo.org/natures-neighborhood/

 

 

 

Added Tips for living with Toddlers:

Always pack bubbles- the quickest way to get your toddler’s attention is to blow bubbles, truth!

Leave the house early, around 9:30am, so that you can get to places right when they are open, that is, when they are the cleanest, and since toddlers love touching everything, and sometimes licking things, this is the best time to avoid maximum germ exposure/ germ lollypops.

Always have a change of clothes for yourself in the car…because puke, spills, and bloody noses happen!

Never run out of wine! 😉

Enjoy it! Take LOTS of pics, it goes by WAY too fast!

Do you have a favorite local spot to take your Toddler? Please share. Let’s make this a great resource for all toddler parents to reference.