It can be tricky sometimes when you want to get your cooped-up toddler out of the house while the scorching hot Arizona summer looms over the once tried and true method of taking him to an outdoor playground. We explored some great destinations for places to take your kids during the summer in this post, but sometimes you’re not in the mood to get wet, and a few of these places aren’t exactly toddler friendly.

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The i.d.e.a. Museum

The i.d.e.a. Museum exhibits, teaches, and encourages interaction with the fine arts; it stands for “Imagination, Design, Experience, Art.” The i.d.e.a. Museum is primarily designed for younger age groups but has exhibits, classes, and activities for most age groups. You can learn more about the different age groups and events by visiting their website. Still, for the sake of this article, I’m going to dive into my own experience with my 2-year-old boy, whose energy is endless.

ArtVille

As you enter the museum and turn right, you’ll run straight into “ArtVille,” a play area designed for kiddos 0-4. Be sure to either wear or bring socks for both you and your kid(s), or you won’t be able to enter. Also, remember that you must always supervise your child/children while playing in ArtVille. Inside, there are nine unique play areas and different ways to play and be creative:

• ArtVille Library: here you can sit, read books to your child, and maybe relax a bit.
• ArtVille Café: kids’ imaginations can run wild while pretending to run their cafe. This didn’t hold much interest for my 2-year-old, but I could tell the older kids were having a blast.
• ArtVille Farm: in the middle of the open play area, there’s a cute barn complete with stuffed barn animals kids can move and ride.
• ArtVille RV: the first thing to your left is a life-sized RV where kids can pretend to drive and work their fine motor skills with various buttons, zips, and levers.

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• Performing Arts Center: here, kids can pretend to take the big stage, but from the lens of a toddler, the coolest part about this room was the wacky mirrors and the tiles that changed color when he stepped on them.
• Tot Square: next to the RV, there’s a cute play-pen-like area for the youngest kids. There’s a height restriction, so only the youngest kids are allowed.
• Color Trail: this consisted of a bunch of bouncy horses that my toddler didn’t quite get but was determined to bounce around just like the big kids.
• Wee Design: the hit of the day, this room had many building activities, including a huge light-bright wall that was my son’s favorite.
• Art Studio: as the title suggests, this area in the back is where your kids can create fun art — at the time, the scissors and glue sticks were a little too advanced for my little, so we moved on quickly.

This was a great time to spend a Saturday afternoon just with my toddler and me. The museum closes at 4 pm, so be sure to get in with enough time to have fun!

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