Best Baby and Toddler Activities in Atlanta

Atlanta’s museums and attractions introduce kids to fun and educational environments at an early age. Spend time with your baby or toddler making music, being artistic, connecting with nature and staying active. Check websites to verify current schedules and programs.

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Atlanta History Center
The new Goizueta Experience exhibit has interactive experiences for children ages 1-8, including Tiny Toddler Town. Held the first Wednesday of the month, Storytime at the Atlanta History Center is a unique experience for ages 1-5 that includes a story, along with themed arts and crafts projects and music.

Chattahoochee Nature Center
CNC’s monthly Pee Wee Naturalist program for ages 3-4 encourages an appreciation of nature through exploration, a close-up look at wildlife, and an art activity. You’ll also find a variety of family-friendly activities all year long.

Fulton County Library System
Join Fulton County Library System for toddler programs! Special themed storytimes take place weekly at a location near you. Early literary education activities include stories, crafts, songs, educational play and lots of fun for toddlers and caregivers.

Goldfish Swim School
While swim lessons for your baby may not be top of mind, getting your infant confident and comfortable in the water can start as early as 3 months. Research has shown that attending swim lessons with your baby helps deepen the parent-child bond. Register for mini-lessons today.

The Little Gym
The Little Gym partners with parents to empower children for life’s adventures! Parent/Child classes for ages 4 months-3 years revolve around active play, supporting early development through movement and brain-boosting activities, sharing and more.

The Music Class
This early childhood music program is designed to unleash the musical potential of children from birth-age 6. Parent and child classes feature music, engaging activities, and anytime access to the music on our app. Join the fun at one of our eight locations.

Nurture
At Nurture, children discover and socialize together through play, art, music and storytelling.  Families and tots connect through experiential learning, interactive playtime and social engagement during Mini Cub, Cub Club programs and Parenting Workshops.

Zoo Atlanta
The Adventure Cubs program for ages 5 and younger teaches young explorers about a new animal while making friends and connecting to wildlife. Plus, get up-close and personal with hundreds of animals, including giraffes, pandas, reptiles, gorillas and more.

Museums and Attractions

Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Everything in this museum invites touching and exploring—no display cases or art behind glass here! At CMA, kids can play on a farm, shop for groceries and take a trip around the world. They can build simple machines, problem solve and visit a treehouse. Building Blocks Preschool Playtime for babies and toddlers includes Artsy Mondays, Tinkerin’ Tuesdays, Messy Thursdays and Jam Session Fridays. Atlanta.

Atlanta History Center
The Goizueta Children’s Experience brings Atlanta’s culture and history alive for little ones through immersive activities and displays. Perform onstage at the Mini Fox Theatre, take a trip in the Time Machine, smell the aromas of The Varsity, and visit Atlanta landmarks in Toddler Town. Daily programming for multiple age groups focuses on the arts, geography, STEM, innovation and more. This 33-acre museum also has a working farm with heritage sheep and goats, extensive gardens to explore, and family-friendly storytimes and special events.

Center for Puppetry Arts
Engaging puppet shows, including “Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat” (through May 25) are fun for young viewers; check the calendar for dates and times. At the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, see puppets and costumes from Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock and more.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Explore science and nature at Fernbank! In the Great Hall, tots can stand beneath an awe-inspiring dinosaur battle and look for fossil footprints and artifacts. At NatureQuest, Fernbank’s giant indoor play space, kids can climb and explore as they learn about nature. Outdoors, explore WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, with interactive art and displays, a sensory wall and a canopy walk. Fun special events for preschoolers include storytimes, live animal encounters and family nature walks.

Zoo Atlanta
When it comes to animal adventures, Zoo Atlanta offers up fun for all ages, including toddlers. Get up-close and personal with hundreds of animals, visit the petting zoo, Splash Fountain and KIDZone play area, and ride the train and carousel. Kids ages 5 and younger can learn about animals and nature through games and activities during Adventure Cubs and Twilight Tots.

Southeastern Railway Museum
Trains, trains and more trains – nearly 90 of them – are on display at the Southeastern Railway Museum. Explore locomotives, cabooses, passenger cars and more; admission includes a train ride. The monthly Second Thursday Preschool Program for ages 2-4 has crafts, stories and games.

The High Museum of Art
Toddler Thursdays for ages 1-3 feature a weekly topic and related artwork, art-making, activities and a tour. Toddler Saturdays also occur on the first Saturday of the month.

The Southern Museum
During the Mommy and Me Preschool Program on Thursdays, ages 3-5 can explore a monthly theme through hands-on activities, story time and movement.

Alliance Theatre
Alliance’s Theatre for the Very Young Program features engaging, professional-level performances designed for kids ages 5 and younger. Through May 8, see”Dinosaur” at the Selig Family Black Box Theatre. Toddler Takeover, April 26-27, offers art-making, music, performances, a parade and more.

Interactive Neighborhood for Kids
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids A longtime kids’ favorite, INK will reopen at a new location in Oakwood this fall. Kids will have a ball exploring a world sized just for them — shopping at the grocery store, visiting the post office and Oliver’s Diner, and acting on stage. There’s even a “Preschool Paradise” for the smallest visitors.

The Georgia Aquarium
There’s plenty to see and do at the Georgia Aquarium – sharks, whales, otters, birds and hundreds of species of fish. Walk through an underwater tunnel and see aquatic life through a 25-foot viewing window, take in the sea lion show, and touch a ray in the petting area.

Marietta Cobb Museum of Art
Explore the museum’s collection of sculptures and paintings; during Toddler Time sessions on select Tuesdays and Fridays, kids ages 1-5 can listen to a story and make a corresponding art project.

Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Location: This beautiful greenspace in the heart of Atlanta is a family destination. The Lou Glenn Children’s Garden has places for young children to play and learn, along with special programming including Garden Playtime and Garden Grooves. On Fridays from June-Oct., Shows for Seedlings has performances by puppeteers, storytellers and musicians.
Gainesville Location: The Ada Mae Pass Ivester Children’s Garden has interactive water features, a fairyland trolley, and play structures.

Play Street Museum
Explore city living on a kid-sized scale at this Alpharetta space, with a pretend café, doctor’s office and fire station, along with blocks and plenty of soft places to play. Check their calendar for special events like kids’ pottery painting and dino digs.

Kids Avenue
At Kids Avenue, explore a mini city with market, construction site, salon, restaurant, fire station, bakery and more spots to play. Pretend to camp, play in the ball pit, and even drive a car around the streets. This Buckhead play space is just for kids ages 8 and younger.

ChildrenConnect Museum
This cute red-and-white house in  Newnan has four rooms full of creative play. Build with LEGO and K’Nex blocks, create art and role-play with costumes. The Pre-K Play Room has foam mats and toys just for toddlers.

LEGO Discovery Center
This ultra-fun LEGO playground has a special Duplo Park just for toddlers ages 2-5, with oversized bricks for stacking, building and sorting. There’s also a slide and oversized animal models.

It’s Art!

Hudgens Center for Arts and Learning
Offered on the last Friday of every month, Toddler Fridays for ages 1-4 include music, story time, craft making, and movement, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

The Art Barn at Morning Glory Farm
This Canton farm is a fun mix of art and animals. During Play Dates, kids can take a hay ride, pet the animals and then head over to the barn for arts and crafts.

Ready Set Fun!

Get Moving! Places to Explore, Jump and Play

The Playroom East Cobb
Explore an obstacle course, dive into a pillow pit, explore sensory toys and experiment with blocks and magnets at this play spot. For babies and early walkers, a crawling corner has soft toys, blocks and games.

Little Leaf Play Studio
Designed just for ages 5 and younger, Little Leaf is located in Woodstock and has open spaces for exploring, along with lots of toys to push and pull, climbing structures and more. Moms and dads can enjoy the coffee bar and connect with other parents, too.

Isaac’s Sandlot
This popular spot for kids in Chamblee has an indoor sandbox with lots of trucks and toys for scooping, digging and exploring. There are separate sandboxes with kinetic sand, perfect for molding, building and sensory experiences. Adults can join in or relax with a coffee in the comfortable seating.

Billy Beez
Kids will love the super speed and rainbow slides, tunnels, swings and foam ball cannon. The Mini Beez area is perfect for toddlers.

Dino Dash
This prehistoric playground has slides, obstacle courses, basketball, dodgeball, and a rock-climbing wall, plus a separate toddler area.

HippoHopp
This indoor play place in Atlanta has an eco-friendly indoor play area, a café with healthy choices and a large toddler area.

Kids Empire
Explore the maze, climb on play structures, build with giant blocks, play indoor soccer and dance at this high-energy play place. The playground for toddlers has ride-on trikes, a ball pit and mini trampolines.

Ready Set Fun!
This modern indoor playground has lots of toddler spaces, including a Soft Play Adventure area for kids 6 months and older. Ages 2 and older can play in the Imagination Sandbox, create art that comes alive, and play in the Just Dance! playroom. Reserve 90-minute playtime sessions online.

Funville Factory
Designed just for ages 6 and younger, this indoor playhouse has slides, swings, a crawling tunnel, playhouses and sensory toys. Play sessions are available in two-hour increments.

Buddy’s Indoor Playhouse
Kids 6 months to 6 years will love this indoor activity center. A soft play zone is designed just for toddlers; they can also play on the toddler driving track, explore the climbing areas, role play and experience exploration stations. Call ahead to verify hours and playtimes.

Kids Land
A town village, art studio, toys, magnetic table, train tables and more offer toddlers plenty of options for play at Kids Land. Climb, jump and explore on the play structures or role play in the home living area.

Jumping World
Toddlers will burn off plenty of energy at this family entertainment center. The park offers a safe and monitored space just for them, with foam blocks, balls, trampolines and more.

Sky Zone
This indoor trampoline park has a Toddler Zone, where young children can jump and be active away from the bigger kids. Check each location for availability, schedule and prices.

Get Air
This indoor park has trampolines, play structures and more, with a special Kiddie Court area where younger kids can jump and play. (under 46”). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon is Toddler Time, when the facility is open only to those under 46.”

Music Classes for Babies and Toddlers

Bach to Rock
Designed just for toddlers, the Rock n Roll class is a weekly high-energy music and movement class, with sing alongs, instruments and group activities.

The Music Class
The popular Music Class for ages 4 and younger is packed with singing, dancing, movement and instrument play. Times and dates options by location.

European School of Music
Mommy and Me “Learning Groove” program for ages birth-4 years include music games, songs, dances, exercises & fairy tales with music and nature themes.

Kindermusik
Children can learn about music and movement, storytelling and imaginative play through virtual and in-person classes for infants-age 7.

The Learning Groove
Virtual parent and child classes and CDs for singing, dancing, playing and making music, perfect for ages 4 and younger.

Music Together of Decatur
Ages newborn to 4 years will love singing, moving and making music at this studio. A wide variety of classes are offered throughout the week.

Oodazu
During music classes for ages 18-36 months, toddlers develop physical skills and patterns of movement – all while having fun clapping, singing, and moving to the music.

Gymboree Play & Music
Music and play classes for all ages are specifically designed for early childhood development, encouraging children to play, explore and learn.

Small Steps Music
Music therapy, private classes and lessons, workshops and summer programs for ages 6 weeks and older. Choose from in-home, in-clinic or virtual sessions.

Swim Classes for Babies and Toddlers

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
From infant safety classes to swimming technique classes, you can start your child young as young as 4 months here. Five metro Atlanta locations.

Big Blue Swim School
The Baby Blue program, for ages 3 months to 3 years, is designed with skills and activities that give children a greater sense of comfort and confidence in the water.

Diventures
This Alpharetta swim school has lessons for kids as young as 10 months (with parents in the water through age 3); they also have a free Baby Splash Class for babies ages 3-9 months old.

Dynamo Swim Club
Dynababies classes are for 6 months-2 years in a heated pool; these introductory classes help get baby comfortable in the water. Preschool classes are for ages 3-5 to work on basic swim skills (several Atlanta locations).

Goldfish Swim School
With three metro Atlanta locations, Goldfish offers year-round swim lessons for children 4 months-12 years and for swimmers of all abilities.

SafeSplash Swim School
SafeSplash offers private and semi-private lessons for all ages, including Infant and toddler swim classes for kids 6 months-3 years. Four locations make scheduling easy.

SwemSchool
Year-round lessons for all ages. The parent/tot and toddler classes focus on getting kids comfortable in the water, parent safety skills and more.

British Swim School
British Swim School’s Tadpole class is designed for kids 3 months-3 years and introduces them to the water for the first time, reducing fear and the potential for tears. Multiple Atlanta locations.

Nature Experiences for Babies and Toddlers

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
On select Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. (check their calendar), Autrey Mill’s Preschool Adventures encourage kids ages 3-6 to learn about the natural world. Adventures include a story, hands-on activity and craft. Advance registration preferred.

Dunwoody Nature Center
This 22-acre nature center has so much to see and do – miles of trails and native gardens, a wetlands boardwalk, and much more – and admission is free. The playground has an area just for toddlers. At the center’s My Chickadee and Me Nature Program, toddlers and their caregiver can explore the park with a naturalist and enjoy themed activities.

Chattahoochee Nature Center
Along with an ever-changing list of family-friendly activities, this Roswell gem has a monthly Pee Wee Naturalist program for ages 3-4 that encourages an appreciation of nature through exploration, a close-up look at wildlife, and an art activity.

Scottsdale Farms
This family-friendly garden center has pigs, goats, chickens, cows and fish for kids to meet; check their website for toddler and preschool events.

Fitness and Gymnastics for Babies and Toddlers

Sparkles Family Fun Center
Kids younger than age 5 may use ride-on toys and skates on the roller skating rink or play in the bounce house during Sparkles’ Tiny Tots events. Check the online calendar.

Jump Start Gymnasium
This Sandy Springs gym offers Just You and Me, classes for ages 3 months to 4 years. Themes include movement, music and introduction to gymnastics. The 3 months to crawling class, Moving Monkeys, is free; other classes vary in price.

The Little Gym
Parent and Child classes for ages 4 months-3 years at The Little Gym support early development through movement and brain-boosting activities, sharing and more. Gymnastics classes start at age 3.

Champion Kids
At this Marietta gym’s Buddy and Me class, parents and kids (ages 15 months to 2.5 years) are led through obstacles to learn basic gymnastics skills and better prepare for without-parent classes.

Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education
Creative Movement for ages 7 and younger is offered with virtual and in-person options. A variety of classes introduce children to music, teach beginner dance skills and enhance body awareness, coordination and confidence.

See the Animals

North Georgia Wildlife Park
This Cleveland park has a drive-through safari experience as well as a petting zoo, where kids can interact with miniature farm animals. Take a guided wildlife walk and see kangaroos, lemurs, foxes, alligators, a giant tortoise and more.

Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary
This 25-acre attraction has plenty of wildlife, including bison, peacocks, pigs, wallabies, sheep and lemurs. Visit the petting zoo or purchase a bag of lettuce and carrots to feed the deer, goats, bunnies and alpaca.

Zoo Atlanta
The Adventure Cubs program for ages 5 and younger teaches young explorers about a new animal while making friends and connecting to wildlife. Twilight Tots gives ages 5 and younger a chance to learn about animals after-hours through activities and games. Plus, get up-close and personal with hundreds of animals, including giraffes, pandas, reptiles, gorillas and more. Don’t miss elephants Kelly and Tara, and Mumbles the White Rhinoceros, visit the Petting Zoo, and take a ride on the Zoo Train and Endangered Species Carousel.  Online ticket purchase is recommended.

Storytelling

Fulton County Library System
Special themed story times take place weekly at multiple library locations, with stories, crafts, songs, educational play and lots of fun for toddlers and caregivers.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Enjoy a story and special demonstration with a Fernbank educator during Story Time. Recommended for ages 1-6, Story Time is held on Mondays and select Tuesdays.

Gwinnett County Public Library
Check the calendar at your local Gwinnett County Library branch for story times designed just for babies and toddlers.

Free and Almost-Free Fun

These toddler-friendly spots offer a great time without breaking your budget, which means you can enjoy them week after week. Plus, most neighborhoods offer their own finds in each category, so you don’t have to drive far to have some serious toddler fun.

Playgrounds
Many Atlanta-area playgrounds have separate areas for toddlers to play, shaded covering, and shock-absorbing mats. A few to check out: Brook Run Park playground (Dunwoody), Kenwood Park Playground (Fayetteville) and Kidscape Village Playground (Smyrna).

Splash Pads
On a hot day, toddlers love to splash (and burn off excess energy!) at a splashpad or fountain. Check out the splash pads at The Battery Atlanta, Legacy Fountain at Piedmont Park and the Duluth Town Green Fountain.

Storytelling
Many neighborhood bookstores offer weekly story times, including Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Foxtale Bookshop in Woodstock, Avalon in Alpharetta, and Barnes & Noble in Buckhead. Check your local library branch for toddler story times.

Nature Centers
Admission is free at the Dunwoody Nature Center, where you can explore the trails and play on the kids’ playground. Explore the woods at Morningside Nature Preserve and see a variety of animals at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.

Trains
Train-loving toddlers can explore the Southeastern Railway Museum; admission includes a train ride (Duluth, train-museum.org). At the Southern Museum for Civil and Locomotive History, see the General Locomotive and explore more train-related artifacts (Kennesaw, southernmuseum.org).

Fire Trucks
Check out fire-fighting equipment at the Marietta Fire Museum (mariettaga.gov/189/fire-museum) or Roswell Fire Museum (roswellgov.com); both are open for self-guided tours. 

More Places to Play
Visit the Decatur Toy Park for a great selection of tot-sized slides, push toys and trikes; mall play areas a great places to burn off energy – two to try are the Mall of Georgia in Buford and North Point Mall in Alpharetta.