With its year-round mild temperatures and diverse cultural attractions, Houston provides hundreds of activities perfect for the whole family to enjoy — even infants. In fact, the kid-friendly city offers up a variety of activities specifically created for infants, from educational parent/child classes and cultural attractions to playgrounds and water parks.
It is never too early to begin your child’s education. The parent/child classes at the Little Gym help you and your infant work on basic motor and social skills. The classes aim to develop your infant’s balance, body awareness and coordination through age-appropriate gymnastics. The educational theme continues at Prelude Music for Children, which progresses children’s basic music competence by presenting live classical instrument demonstrations. Or, try music classes at Fundamentally Music. The Music Pups classes, for 4-month-olds to 4-year-olds, introduce music into children’s lives through singing, dancing, movement and instrument play. For infants who might prefer a more gentle pace, try the Music Guppies classes, for 4-month-olds to 14-month-olds.
The Houston City Parks Department operates 16 year-round water spraygrounds. These engaging, interactive play areas feature play equipment that shoot, spray, squirt and mist water. You can find water spraygrounds in city parks throughout Houston, such Wiley Park, Blueridge Park, Dodson Lake, Gutierrez Park and Nieto Park. Another water park ideal for infants and small children is the Quillian Center, the sports and recreation ministry of First Methodist Houston. The Quillian Center operates two swimming facilities. The smaller, more shallow pool, known as the “Noah’s Ark Pool,” is geared more toward infants and pre-kindergarten children with play toys that include a mushroom water drop, three slides through the Noah’s Ark structure and a crawl-through.
Socialize your little ones by taking them to the Dairy Ashford Roller Rink. Every Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon, the rink opens up the floor to children 7 and under for its Toddler Skate time. The rink allows strollers, push toys and scooters onto the skating area. Or take a break from your shopping trip and allow your infant to expel energy at the First Colony Mall and allow your infant to play at the Sugar Land Express play area. The structure, which is made of durable yet safe, soft materials, resembles ice cream, sundaes and cookies.
The 2010 recipient of the Houston Chronicle’s “No. 1 Kid-Friendly Attraction” award, the Houston Children’s Museum offers a spot designed especially for infants from birth to 36 months. The Tot Spot features a ball and pillow pit; textured floors and climbing areas; toys with knobs, switches and doorbells; and mirrors. Additional activities for infants at the Tot Spot include the Discovery Center and Toddler Story Time.
If your infant seems to be more interested in animals, check out the Houston Zoo, which offers the Wild Wheels program for infants up to 3 years old. Both parents and infants will enjoy the wild outdoors on a stroll through parts of the park. The journey ends in the petting zoo.
