# Indoor play places for toddlers in Des Moines

> We found seven indoor play places in and around Des Moines that work for babies to 6-year-olds: four indoor playgrounds and play cafés and three museums with toddler areas. The cheapest paid pick is Grimes Kids Zone ($5 per family). Each card has ages, prices, sock rules and toddler hours from the place’s own site.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 7 indoor play places
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/indoor-play/
- Free things to do (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/free/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/llms.txt

## Indoor playgrounds and play cafés

- **JouJou Montessori Play Space**, 906 42nd St., Des Moines, IA 50312. Price: See the site for open-play prices. Ages: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Toddler time: A calm Montessori-style space made for little ones. Hours: Open play Mon, Tue, Thu 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 9–11:30 a.m.; Sun 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Official page: https://joujoudsm.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Playgrounds Cafe**, 293 SE Westown Parkway, Waukee, IA 50323. Price: Reserve open play on the site. Ages: Made for 0–6. Socks: Shoes off; socks for kids and adults. Hours: Mon 8 a.m.–1 p.m.; Tue–Thu 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.–1 p.m. A play café with a full coffee bar and a café menu for kids and grown-ups. Capacity is limited, so book ahead. Official page: https://www.playgrounds-cafe.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Bloom Play Co**, Cumming. Price: Two-hour reserved session $14 per child. Ages: Toddlers and older kids. Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Official page: https://bloomplayco.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Grimes Kids Zone**, 101 NE Harvey Street, Grimes, IA 50111. Price: $5 per family per day; registration required. Ages: 6 and under. Hours: Mon, Wed and Fri 8:30–11 a.m., October through March. A city-run open gym for little kids. Official page: https://www.grimesiowa.gov/180/Kids-Zone (checked 2026-10-18)

## Children’s museums and science centers

- **Des Moines Children's Museum**, Valley West Mall, West Des Moines. Price: $6 for ages 1–9; under 1 free. Ages: 1–9. Official page: https://www.dsmchildrensmuseum.com (checked 2026-10-17)
- **Science Center of Iowa**, Downtown. Price: Ages 2–12 $16. Ages: All ages. Official page: https://www.sciowa.org/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- **Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden**, East Village riverfront. Price: Ages 2–12 $10; 1 and under free. Ages: All ages. A warm domed conservatory for a winter walk. Official page: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com (checked 2026-10-17)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s the best indoor playground for toddlers in Des Moines?
For under-3s, look for a separate toddler area or a toddler-only time: JouJou Montessori Play Space (A calm Montessori-style space made for little ones).

### Are there free indoor play places in Des Moines?
We haven’t confirmed a free indoor play space yet. Library storytimes are free; see [free things to do in Des Moines](https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/free/).

### How much does indoor play cost in Des Moines?
Posted prices for little kids run from $5 per family per day at Grimes Kids Zone to Ages 2–12 $16 at Science Center of Iowa. Many places let grown-ups in free and charge per child; each card shows the venue’s own price.

### Do kids need socks at indoor playgrounds in Des Moines?
Usually, yes. Playgrounds Cafe: Shoes off; socks for kids and adults. Keep a spare pair in the diaper bag.

### Do babies get in free?
At some places, yes: Des Moines Children's Museum (under 1 free).

### How do you check these indoor play listings?
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 18, 2026, and we recheck them once a month, plus whenever a place changes its hours or prices. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).