Where to take your kids to play in Lakeview

If you have a child that isn’t yet in school, you’re probably no stranger to the winter doldrums.  Luckily, once you have a baby, you’ll start to notice how many businesses there are dedicated to your child’s entertainment.

Lakeview is jam-packed with indoor play spaces and playgrounds. It’ll seem like they appear out of nowhere, when you’ve actually just never noticed them before because, well, you didn’t have a baby.

But there are play spaces for babies, there are spots for kids, and there are even spaces that will impress the ‘tween set.

Point in case: Lakeview is the place to be if you’re looking to entertain your kids.

Photo: Present Place Chicago

Explore & Much More

This two story play space can entertain babies, toddlers and preschoolers for hours.

It has everything from dress-up toys to a climbing wall to a glow-in-the-dark doodle board to a train table to air tubes for entertaining the kids.

They also offer music and movement classes, along with arts & crafts classes, which are included with the price of admission.

3827 N. Southport Avenue, exploreandmuchmore.com. 

Margaret Donahue Park

Big kids can run and play in the Chicago Cub mini baseball field (gotta start them early!) while little ones tackle the baby swings, the foam mountains and the climbing equipment.

There are also the playground staples: slides, climbing wall and extra fun spider’s web ropes.

Plenty of benches and a fence surrounding the playground make this a win for parents, too.

1230 W. School Street, chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Juniper Park

If you want to understand the sense of community in Lakeview, you just have to check out this playground.

It’s filled with community toys: these are toys that kids leave so that they, and others, always have things to play with when they’re here. Take a toy, leave a toy.

Juniper Park has the oft dreaded sandbox, which is beloved by the little kids (though not so much by the grown-ups who have to clean up after them), and it has twisty slides, big kid swings and lots more to entertain the older bunch.

3652 N. Greenview Avenue, chicagoparkdistrict.com. 

Present Place Chicago

This newbie indoor play space is geared toward kids aged five and under.

With plenty of wooden climbing structures, along with chemical-free and battery-free toys, the focus is on pretend play and imaginative learning in a sustainable environment.

If your kid will leave your side, you can relax and enjoy the free wifi, free coffee and free tea.

3701 N. Ravenswood Avenue, #247-248, presentplacechicago.com. 

Take A Break Playcare

It happens to everyone. You’re having a fabulous morning…until the nanny calls and cancels.

Or you’ve got a fabulous work-from-home opportunity that simply can’t be done with your toddler hanging on your leg.

That’s why Take A Break is the most wonderful thing since sliced bread.

You can drop off your child. Without a reservation. And they will take such good care of him, even if he’s an infant.

Yes, I totally saved your day.

Another option they offer is co-working – you work in another room while your mini-me is happily supervised by the child whisperers.

2818 N. Halsted Street, takeabreakplaycare.com. 

Weisman Park

This park has a water element (it’s got plenty of sprinklers that get turned on in the summer), so bring bathing suits and towels unless you want wet, cranky kids.

It has fences, so you’ll be able to keep your kids safe helicopter parenting, and it has enough happening to keep two-year-olds just as occupied as the 10-year-olds.

901 W. Oakdale Avenue, chicagoparkdistrict.com.