New play places for kids on Long Island
Theo Roussis plays the piano at Wonder 4 Kids in Carle Place. Credit: Howard Simmons
Jumping in a ball pit, playing in an imaginative village with a fire station and a grocery store, and riding a bicycle on a trike track are just a few ways kids can have fun this summer at Long Island play spaces.
Check out these new arrivals that offer safe, imaginative indoor fun for the little ones.
Little Star Playland
201 Tanger Mall Dr., Riverhead
While you’re at Tanger Outlets, take a break from shopping and stop at this play center where the kids can run around and have fun.
Andrea Pineda, of Medford, and Maiella Deprimo, of Eastport, jump the day away at Little Star Playland in Riverhead. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
The play space, which opened in May, has six separate play zones, including a soft play village for toddlers — 1 year to 18 months — with soft toys play activities.
Other play zones, which are suitable for 2- to 10-year-olds, include a trike track, an active play area with a ball pit, slides, jumping pads and interactive floor games, a mini supermarket for role-playing and a party space.
Plans are in place for painting classes, which will have an additional charge, and storytelling at noon on Wednesdays, which will be free with admission.
- HOURS 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday
- COST $24.99 for all-day play (free for one parent; $10 for additional parent); $99.99 unlimited weekday pass; $149.99 unlimited weekday and weekend pass
- MORE INFO 631-284-9145, littlestarplayland.com
Wonder 4 Kids
186 Glen Cove Rd., Carle Place
Stephen Dawkins, of Oyster Bay, pushes a toy car at Wonder 4 Kids in Carle Place. Credit: Howard Simmons
Near Roosevelt Field Mall, Wonder 4 Kids offers a perfect spot for after or between shopping with the kids in tow.
Boasting over 10,000 square feet, the space features safe play areas for ages 1 to 7, climbing structures, a trampoline with a Velcro wall, slides, a ball pit, building blocks, arcade games and a party room.
The space, which opened in March, has four brand ambassadors: Winnie, a rabbit; Kimi, a tiger; Femi, a dragon; and Sunny, a mouse, all representing the Chinese zodiac signs of the years in which the four moms/partners who founded the business were born, notes owner Joy Huang.
From left, brothers Benjamin, David and Joshua Aminov play in the kitchen area at Wonder 4 Kids. Credit: Howard Simmons
Each of the owners has little kids, so they decided to create their own place.
“Most of the playgrounds are very similar. We have some arcade games, but those are just for the little ones to have fun, but not go too crazy,” Huang says.
- HOURS 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Sunday
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COST $28 plus tax for two hours of open play, includes eight tokens for arcade games, $25 for sibling; $35 plus tax for an all-day pass, includes 15 tokens, $30 for siblings. One parent is admitted free, $10 for additional parent
- MORE INFO 516-243-9439, wonder4kidsplayground.com
Shane Fritsche and his son Colin drive together in the game room at Wonder 4 Kids. Credit: Howard Simmons
Amity Play Cove
188 Broadway, Amityville
Amityville's new indoor play space, which opened on June 1, features open play for kids who can crawl, up to those who are 6.
“We have an imaginative village such as a vet, a grocery store, a fire station,” owner Mara McDaniels says. “We have an entire play structure that’s got slides, a rock climbing wall, an obstacle course. It’s soft play and imaginative play.”
There's also a Lego board, a giant Lite-Brite board and a quiet space for coloring and puzzles.
In addition to birthday parties, the play space hosts special events like Language for Littles — a language-enrichment class for 5- to 24-month-olds — and sensory classes.
- HOURS Monday-Friday and Sunday for four 90-minute sessions per day; schedule changes daily; book online
- COST $17 for 90 minutes of open play (includes admission for one parent; $8 for additional parent)
- MORE INFO 631-201-5201, amityplaycove.com
COMING SOON
Nana’s Wonderland
1759-12 Middle Country Rd., Centereach
With already a Long Island outpost in Massapequa Park and another in Little Neck, Queens, Nana’s Wonderland is slated to open a new “wonderland” in Centereach on Aug. 1. A fourth space in East Northport is expected to open this fall.
An indoor playground, cafe and lounge, Nana's Wonderland is best suited for toddlers to 8-year-olds, offering play spaces, classes, drop-offs, after-school programs and parties.
“Our main attraction is usually the ball pit,” founder/owner Terra Jiang says. “We’ll have slides. There’s going to be imaginative play houses.”
There will be a party space for birthdays, gender reveals and other special occasions, "mommy and me" classes, and a separate area with soft play structures and toys for toddlers.
“We really focus on building community within our playground,” says Jiang. “Everywhere we go, we wanted to create a community where parents get to meet other parents and be a meetup space for playdates.”
- HOURS 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Sunday; can close for private events
- COST $28 per child (one parent admitted free; $10 for additional parent) for a two-hour play session; free for siblings under 10 months
- MORE INFO nanaswonderland.net/centereach
