Preschooler & Toddler Activity Guide
Looking for an activity your toddler or preschooler will enjoy? We’ve compiled a list of activities and classes in the Lakeland area specially designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Whether you’re looking for local places to meet other moms, a place for your toddler to use up some energy, or a weekly activity to get you out of the house, you’ll find something on this list. Includes music classes, gymnastics classes, mommy and me classes, and more.
Interested in classes & activities for kids ages 5+? Check out our Class & Activities Guide. It includes dance, art, cooking, martial arts, and plenty of other options.
Ideas for Outdoor Play with Toddlers
☀️ Head to a local playground!
Check out our list of shaded playgrounds
Read our review of The Rotary Playground in Hernando’s Landing at Lake Parker Park
See our directory for a full list of local playgrounds
☀️ Feed the ducks – Lake Morton is the best place to find an abundance of birds. Take corn (canned, frozen or fresh), duck pellets (sold at pet stores), lettuce or greens, defrosted frozen peas, or birdseed. Bread is bad for the ducks and swans!
☀️ Circle B Bar Reserve – Look for alligators, eagles, and other amazing wildlife at Circle B Bar Reserve– named one of the “Top 51 Places in the US to See Wildlife” by USA Today! Entry is FREE. Toddlers will also enjoy exploring the Nature Center and playing in the “treehouse” inside.
☀️ Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden at Bok Tower – Children under 5 are free, adult admission only $15. Click here to read our review.
☀️ Mulberry Phosphate Museum – Dig for sharks teeth and fossils in the outdoor phosphate pile, then head inside to see the skeletons and shark teeth on display inside. Make sure you bring a small shovel or other item to dig through the rock pile, and something to sit on – you won’t want to kneel. (The phosphate pile is always open, visit the website for museum hours)
☀️ Little Free Library – find a little library around town where you can take a book and/or leave a book – for FREE! Clean out your bookshelves and leave a few at each location, and hopefully you’ll find something to take with you. Use the map at littlefreelibrary.org to find one near you.
☀️ Visit a Farmers Market – Pick up fresh local produce at a local market – there are 5 across Polk County that happen on various days during the week
☀️ Go on a picnic – One of our favorite locations is Peterson Park and then we walk the nature trails and boardwalks afterward.
FREE Library Programs for Kids – Storytime, STEM, Crafts & More
All of our local libraries offer storytimes and other activities for toddlers during the week. Visit our calendar to see all upcoming events at our libraries. If your library isn’t listed, visit our Directory for a full list of Polk County Libraries.
You might also like: 10 Great Ways to Meet Mom Friends in the Lakeland Area
More Activities for Preschoolers & Toddlers in Lakeland + Polk County
HELPFUL TIP: Use the filter button (3 horizontal lines) to narrow down the list by city and/or category. All city filters are a general geographic area, check each listing address for a specific location. Use the map at the bottom to find Baby, Toddler, + Preschool Activities Near You.
Don’t see your business listed here? Use the button below to add a Featured or Basic listing.
Family Fun Center of Lakeland is the best place for Family Fun and Entertainment in Lakeland, FL. We have everything! Tons of video and arcade games, Mini-golf, Laser Tag, Funtasia, Parties, and More! Book your next outing today or bring the family in to play!
Funtasia Soft Play – One of the largest soft play areas in the country, Funtasia is active entertainment for all of your little ones ages 12 & under! Your children will explore a 4 story maze of tunnels, tubes, slides, and obstacles.
Arcade Games + Prize Redemption – Our arcade features over 100 video and redemption arcade games ranging from the classics like Pac-Man and Galaga, to the newest cutting edge games including Super Bikes 2, Crossy Road, Monster Drop, Spongebob Pinapple Arcade, and Big Buck Hunter. Our HUGE prize redemption counter has something for everyone.
Mini Golf – Enjoy our 18 hole adventure golf course. Fully lit so you can play day or night! Golfers of ALL ages will enjoy competing on each of the par 2 holes along the way.
Lazer Tag – Our Laser Tag arena offers over 2200 square feet of heart thumping space. You can run but you cannot hide! As a member of the S.T.A.R.R. force team, your mission is to eliminate the mutant aliens before they escape the area 51 compound. You can compete one on one, or team up for capture the flag style play. Grab up to 14 of your friends and give it a try!
Birthday Parties & Team Celebrations – Family Fun Center is the perfect location for birthday parties, team parties, and other celebrations. Party Packages start at just $149 and can be customized with any of our attractions based on the age group of your party. All packages include pizza, drinks, and a birthday gift for the guest of honor. For your next birthday party, let Family Fun Center do the set-up, clean-up, and all the entertaining in between. All you need to bring is the cake and candles!
The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center is a collaboration of organizations committed to strengthening families and our community by increasing access and awareness to resources and services. This Success By 6 parent resource center is a warm, welcoming place where parents and other family members come to access information, support services, and the tools they need to be the best parents they can be. Community agencies offer services on site to provide a one-stop opportunity for parents. Parents come for one service or class and return for others.
Weekly classes for ages 0-5 are offered for FREE! Learn more about classes at The Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children’s Resource Center.
Enchanted Fairytale Hollow is a whimsical location full of fun and magic-perfect for your next event! Dreams Come True Entertainment – Central Florida’s best character entertainment company – also has a physical location for events and parties.
Enchanted Fairytale Hollow hosts weekly character events for children & families, upcoming events can be found on Facebook and Eventbrite. Enchanted Fairytale Hollow is also available for birthday parties, private character parties and as an event rental space.
Let us help you make your next event UNFROGETTABLE!
As Florida’s “Official Aviation Museum and Education Center,” the Florida Air Museum features a dynamic display of unique designs, classics, ultra-lights, antiques, and warbirds. More than a collection of airplanes; it stands as a tribute to the history and joy of flight. Exhibits educate about pioneers like Howard Hughes, early air racers, Floridians, and others who have influenced the world of aviation.
The Aerospace Center for Excellence also offers a variety of year-round educational experiences for all ages including field trips, storytime, camps, tours, workshops, and speaker presentations. ACE and the Museum continue to grow and meet the challenge of showcasing aviation history through exhibits, restoration and preservation, education and outreach, and sharing a passion for flight with visitors of all ages.
Learn more:
7 Things to Do on Your Next Visit to the Aerospace Center for Excellence + Florida Air Museum
Adventure is in the Air: Book an Interactive Field Trip with the Aerospace Center for Excellence.
Lakeland Xpress Athletics is an 8,000 sq ft, air-conditioned sports facility. We offer recreational and competitive all-star cheerleading programs, cheerleading classes, tumbling classes, after school program, summer camps, holiday camps, Parent – Tot classes and more!
Lakeland Xpress is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy, and fun-filled environment where children are sure to learn, grow, and create lifetime memories. We take pride in teaching teamwork, sportsmanship, self-esteem, & confidence to children in a motivating and X-citing atmosphere. Our gym is full of experienced professionals and positive role models – with USASF certified coaches and passionate volunteers, who share a love for children and CHEERLEADING!! Check website for full description of programs and scheduled classes days/hours.
Soccer Shots is the most trusted and engaging children’s soccer program for ages 18 months to 8 years old. Join the best coaches in the business on the Soccer field for age-appropriate soccer skills, character-building, and FUN!
514 Ariana Street, Lakeland, Florida 33803
5002 Tillery Road, Lakeland, Florida 33812
455 East Cummings Street, Lake Alfred, Florida 33850
The Florida Children’s Museum {formerly Explorations V Children’s Museum} opened in November 2022 at Bonnet Springs Park.
Art Centric Studio is an art studio for children of all ages in Lakeland, Florida, providing them with authentic opportunities to make and create. The studio offers a wide variety of classes for ages 1-101! Whether it’s a Homeschool Class, After School ArT, or even a KiDz NiGhT OuT, you’re sure to find a new way to create a lasting memory with us.
Bible Study Fellowship’s mission is in-depth Bible study producing passionate commitment to Christ, His Word and His Church. Our vision is to magnify God and mature His people as they cultivate a deeper relationship with Him, with classes for all ages – infants to adults.
Bok Tower Gardens is a Polk County Gem. With over 50 acres of beautiful gardens, a variety of plants, trees, and flowers, 205 foot Singing Tower carillon, and a fantastic children’s garden play area, it is one of our favorite places to be outdoors. Learn more and see photos in our article on Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden at Bok Tower Gardens.
We believe piano lessons should be fun, creative, and engaging. We take time to learn about your student, and use creative materials and resources to help them engage and learn in the best ways. We teach piano lessons kids LOVE! Piano lessons are available Monday through Thursday, from 10am-7pm. Lessons for ages 3 – adult.
Come enjoy our indoor play area while you grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an ice dream treat. Offering mobile ordering through our app to have your food ready the moment you arrive.
Come enjoy our indoor play area while you grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an ice dream treat. Offering mobile ordering through our app to have your food ready the moment you arrive.
Come enjoy our indoor play area while you grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an ice dream treat. Offering mobile ordering through our app to have your food ready the moment you arrive.
Our mission is to bring positive enlightenment to diverse audiences through offering a variety of dance classes and community performances, to strive for excellence in dance education, and to teach students a unique style and approach to dance! Crystal’s World of dance offers dance classes, holiday camps, and after school programs.
Serving the South Lakeland area. Offering classes in ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz, and hip hop. Ages ~ 2.5 to adult. Beginners thru advanced.
East Lakeland Baseball runs both a Fall and Spring Baseball League. T-Ball begins at age 4.
At Elite World Gymnastics we offer a program that can meet your child’s and your family’s needs. We have girls’ and boys’ recreational gymnastics for all levels, competition team gymnastics, cheerleading, aerial acrobatics, trampoline, tumbling, and so much more.
Gymtek Gymnastic Center is located in Lakeland since 1987. Serving Polk County, GYMTEK offers gymnastics and cheerleading classes for all ages and abilities. Gymtek offers classes for pre-school age children up to competitive cheerleading and gymnastics teams.
Rachael Hamblin is a devoted music educator for students of all ages. She has over 9 years of experience and has taught a wide range of students from Kindergarten to adult. Her desire is to make lessons fun and engaging as students learn to make music. Rachael has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and is certified in the state of Florida to teach music in grades K-12.