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North Jersey Indoor Play Spaces for $25 or Less

1. Genius Gems – Millburn

$19.99 + tax per person, adults are $15.99; children under 2 are FREE with an older sibling
Ages 3-12
While kids and adults must pay to gain admission to this STEM-based play space, kids under 2 get in free with an older sibling. If you can swing it, check out this cool and magnetic location. 

2. Hudson's House of Play – West New York

$21 + tax per one-hour session; $16 + tax per sibling; 12 months and under $14 + tax, or FREE with paid sibling
Ages 6 months-5 years
A sweet space for little kids, Hudson's has a lovely, custom-built open play space created to replicate a traditional downtown city square. Each "building" has appropriate costumes, furniture, and toys. There is also a separate area for ages 2 and under, and a small cafe with tea, coffee, and baked goods. 

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Lily & Liam in Englewood has a bubble ball pit for kids to romp in. 

3. Lily & Liam Kids' Indoor Playground and Cafe – Englewood

Ages 2 and up $17.99 per one-hour session on weekdays, $19.99 on weekends; 9 months and under one hour FREE with paid sibling
Ages 6 months – 12 years
Kids 12 and under can climb, build, pretend, and explore at this sweet indoor playground. Attractions include a climbing maze, bubble ball pit, soft play for toddlers, a "sand" pit, a pretend-play area, and more. 

4. Tay + Te Imaginative Play – Northvale

$18 for one hour; $16 per sibling; 9 months and under FREE with paid sibling, $5 per child for each additional 30 minutes
From the organic grocery store to the animal hospital, pizza parlor, or full-service gas station, the vignettes that make up this super clean, creative, and modern kid-envisioned municipality are engaging, enriched, and packed with fun. There’s a coffee bar on site serving Intelligentsia coffee—score!—as well as snacks and drinks for the squirts after they've worked up their appetites.

5. The Great Story – Ridgefield and Hackensack

Price varies by location, however, both locations are just under $20 and each attending adult is an additional $4.99
All ages
A spacious indoor playground and cafe meant to be enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Includes a trampoline, fishing area, ballroom, jungle gym, toddler zone and so much more!

6. Mima Create and Play – Sayreville

First child is $19 and each additional sibling is $12
All ages
This place has a climbing wall and large, interesting blocks your kids can use their imagination to build with. They also offer mixed-age open play time in the evenings and classes such as Zumba, music, and art for kid.

7. Paper Street Play – Park Ridge

Ninety minutes of play for $18 and any non-walking siblings are free!
5 and under
Modeled after a quaint little town, this indoor play space has a diner, shops, a house, and a police car where your kids' imaginations can run wild. 

Central Jersey Indoor Playgrounds for $25 or Less

8. All About Fun – Matawan

$12 per child
Ages 3–8
Each "imagination room" at this indoor playground offers a new and exciting adventure. In the Rock n Roll Room, kids can rock out on drums, guitars, and piano mats. The Dazzling Diva Room is filled with dresses, hats, and jewelry. Other play areas include a carnival, general store, vet's office, and Superhero Alley. Complimentary coffee, tea, and WiFi are available for caregivers.

9. Fort Monmouth Recreation Area – Tinton Falls 

$5 per child or $40 for 10 visits (cash or check only)
All ages
This 21,000-square-foot rec center offers plenty of open-play hours every day. Activity rooms filled with toys and arts & crafts materials, plus table games, basketball courts, and a full gymnasium await kids of all ages. On days when school’s closed (for example, that long week between Christmas and New Year’s Day), drop in for science exploration stations, take-home crafts, and building-block challenges to cure your kids' cabin fever.

10. Children's Play Area in Freehold Raceway Mall – Freehold

FREE
Children under 42 inches
Let your kids work out their wiggles bouncing on squishy play equipment and running around, and then get some shopping done. The Heritage Amusement Carousel is located here in the mall as well. 

11. Cotsen Children's Library – Princeton

FREE
All ages but geared toward under 10
Located on the beautiful Princeton University campus in the Firestone Library building, this indoor play space provides whimsical places for your child to sit and read as well as a giant Bonsai tree to climb. The library also hosts an interactive storytime on Fridays at 11:00 am. And if you are in Princeton and want to make a day of it, see our review of what to do with kids in the area. 

12. Magic Sky Play – Morganville

$19.99 for first child; $15 for sibling; Babies under 12 months are FREE with paid sibling
Ages 0–8
Magic Sky is a Mommy Poppins Bestie Awards Winner, for good reason. Its bright, open layout and creative activities are perfectly suited to a young child's imagination. There are eight large play structures, including a huge tree house with a twisting slide, climbing cargo net, and lookout points. A "sandbox" filled with plastic pellets lets tiny construction workers dig in. There's even a separate toddler area with its own mini-gym. Eat lunch in the lounge area and enjoy the free Wi-Fi.

Princeton Playspace has a pretend town.  

13. Princeton Playspace – Princeton

$18.50 for first child, $14 for siblings; Infants 12 months and under are FREE when accompanied by an older sibling
Under 10
This 5,000-square-foot indoor play space has tons of activities for little ones, including a train table, the "Mini Princeton" pretend town, a toddler area, a construction building site, and a jungle gym. Caregivers can enjoy free Wi-Fi, magazines, and a microwave to reheat refreshments at the cafe that's adjacent to the play area. 

14. The Jumping Jungle – East Brunswick

$13.99 per child for 90 minute session
All ages
With eight fun inflatables, slides, and laser tag, kids won't get bored at this indoor play facility. Little ones will also love the toddler area, and everyone can hang out at the arcade, which has a hurricane simulator. Parents can relax and grab a snack in the adjacent viewing center.

15. Tod Squad – Branchburg

$10 per child for a two-hour session
Ages 1–4
The Branchburg Sports Complex is bursting with tons of fun stuff for kids to do. Drop-in Tod Squad sessions are especially for little ones to play, climb, bounce, and explore in a safe environment. You'll find a bounce house, soft play equipment, a PlayMaze with slides, tunnels and bridges, sports balls, and more.

16. Little Dreamers – Wall Township

Schedule varies depending on parties so check the website
$20 first child and $10 per sibling
Ages 0-5
With a train table, trucks to ride on, kitchens, a princess castle, and a firetruck with a slide, this indoor play space is sure to keep your younger children happy and entertained. 

South Jersey Play Spaces for $25 or Less

17. Jellybean Jungle – Marlton

$12.50 + tax for ages 1–6; Babies 8–11-months old $10 + tax; right now they have a BOGO admission sale!
Ages 0–6
A fun and safe option for little ones in a bright, stimulating environment, Jellybean Jungle is home to a variety of imaginative activity centers. Little ones will love the ball pit room, the climbing maze, the jungle theater, and the ocean center with a pirate ship. There’s even a carnival center with a carousel. 

18. We Rock the Spectrum – Mt. Laurel and Audubon 

$14 for first child; $12 for siblings
All ages
This play gym is designed for kids of all needs and abilities, with a special focus on catering to special-needs kids. There is suspended equipment for balance and vestibular treatment, crash mats and crash pillows, a zip line, a trampoline, an indoor play structure, sensory-based toys, and a fine motor and arts and crafts area.

19. Brigantine Community Center – Brigantine

$2 suggested donation per child
Ages 0-5
Tucked away in the Brigantine Community Center is an indoor playroom for kids under 5 with slides, a ball pit, toys, books, and more.

20. Peek a Boo Playground — Medford and Bayville

$14 + tax for 1-6 year olds;  $11.50 + tax per sibling; and $8 + tax for 8-11 month olds, non-crawling infants are FREE
Ages 0–6
This bright, airy space offers a fun and creative environment for babies through preschoolers (and their caretakers) to play and socialize. Drop and shop is also an option!

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the play spaces

This article was originally published in December 2017 and has since been updated.