Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago, IL 60614 · Lincoln Park
AgesAll ages
Price$15 adults, $8 ages 1–12 (Illinois residents; a little more from out of state)
Toddler timeNot listed
Socks—
Indoor playChicago · The Windy City
Indoor play for toddlers in Chicago, for cold and rainy days.
We found four indoor play places and two toddler classes in and around Chicago that work for babies to 6-year-olds: four museums with toddler areas and two gym, music and art classes. The cheapest paid pick is Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ($15 adults, $8 ages 1–12 (Illinois residents). Each card has ages, prices, class times and toddler hours from the place’s own site.
Rainy-day quick picks6 places
Cheapest paidPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum$8
Compare
Every indoor play place and toddler class in Chicago, side by side
Filter by kind of place, then sort by price. The highlighted boxes are what most parents ask first: ages, price and toddler time.
Museum
Kohl Children’s Museum
2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026
Ages0–8
Price$20 ages 1–64; under 12 months free
Toddler timeNot listed
Socks—
Chicago Children’s Museum
700 E. Grand Ave. (Navy Pier), Chicago, IL 60611
Ages0–10
Price$21 Illinois residents, $25 non-residents, ages 1 and up; under 1 free
Toddler timeNot listed
Socks—
DuPage Children’s Museum
301 N. Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540
Ages0–10
Price$22 children and adults; under 1 free
Toddler timeNot listed
Socks—
My Gym Chicago (Lincoln Park)
1730 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60614 · Lincoln Park
AgesWaddlers 6m–18m; Gymsters 18m–2y6m; Terrific Tots 2y6m–3y6m (parent-and-child classes)
Price$29 trial
ClassesWeekly class times include Waddlers (6m–18m): Mon 9:00 a.m., Tue 8:45 a.m., Tue 11:45 a.m., Wed 9:00 a.m., Wed 3:45 p.m., Thu 10:00 a.m.; Gymsters (18m–2y6m): Mon 10:00 a.m., Wed 10:00 a.m., Thu 9:00 a.m., Thu 11:00 a.m., Fri 10:00 a.m., Sat 10:00 a.m.; Terrific Tots (2y6m–3y6m): Tue 9:45 a.m.
BookingBook a trial class online first; enrolled families book classes through their account
Parent-and-child gym classes with tumbling, songs, swings, games and puppet time, grouped by age.
My Gym South Loop
1333 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL 60605 · South Loop
AgesWaddlers 4m–20m; Gymsters 21m–2y6m; Terrific Tots 2y6m–3y6m (parent-and-child classes)
Price$29 trial
ClassesWeekly class times include Waddlers (4m–20m): Mon 10:00 a.m., Tue 9:00 a.m., Tue 4:45 p.m., Wed 10:00 a.m., Wed 12:00 p.m., Thu 12:00 p.m.; Gymsters (21m–2y6m): Mon 9:00 a.m., Tue 10:00 a.m., Tue 5:45 p.m., Thu 11:00 a.m., Fri 10:00 a.m., Sat 9:45 a.m.; Terrific Tots (2y6m–3y6m): Mon 11:00 a.m., Tue 11:00 a.m., Sat 10:45 a.m.
BookingBook a trial class online first; enrolled families book classes through their account
Parent-and-child gym classes with tumbling, songs, swings, games and puppet time, grouped by age.
Nothing of that kind here yet.
Before you go
What to pack for indoor play
SocksGrip socks, for everyoneMost play places and trampoline parks require socks, some for grown-ups too. Each card has the sock rule when the place posts one.TimingGo at toddler timeWeekday mornings are calmer, and toddler sessions keep big kids out.
WaiversSign the waiver at homeTrampoline parks and many play places ask for an online waiver. Doing it before you leave skips the line.Keep planning
More for little kids in Chicago
November: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ChicagoEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ChicagoFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in ChicagoFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets in
Library storytimes in ChicagoBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in ChicagoHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in ChicagoParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ChicagoKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in ChicagoParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in ChicagoPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in ChicagoBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ChicagoChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ChicagoWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in ChicagoDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Indoor play in Chicago: the FAQ
We haven’t confirmed a free indoor play space yet. Library storytimes are free too; see library storytimes in Chicago.
My Gym Chicago (Lincoln Park) (ages Waddlers 6m–18m; Gymsters 18m–2y6m; Terrific Tots 2y6m–3y6m (parent-and-child classes), $29 trial); My Gym South Loop (ages Waddlers 4m–20m; Gymsters 21m–2y6m; Terrific Tots 2y6m–3y6m (parent-and-child classes), $29 trial). Classes run on a set schedule, so sign up before you go. Each card has the class times and how to book, from the program’s own page.
Posted prices for little kids run from $15 adults, $8 ages 1–12 (Illinois residents at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to Trial: 1-week guest pass for $29 at My Gym South Loop. Many places let grown-ups in free and charge per child; each card shows the venue’s own price.
At some places, yes: Chicago Children’s Museum (under 1 free); Kohl Children’s Museum (under 12 months free); DuPage Children’s Museum (under 1 free).
Head inside: this page has six indoor play places that work for babies to 6-year-olds, including Chicago Children’s Museum, Kohl Children’s Museum and DuPage Children’s Museum. This week’s indoor storytimes, shows and classes are on this week’s list.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them once a month, plus whenever a place changes its hours or prices. How we choose and check.
Rainy-day ideas every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Chicago that weekend, indoor picks included.
