Leisure for Kids: Winter Edition

Oh, the weather outside is frightful

But Brno dear you’re still delightful!

And since kids’ve no place to go

Let it snow and let them play indoors.

But where?

My colleagues and I (plus a bunch of really cute experts in the field of fun for kids) prepared a list of places and activities that families can enjoy despite the cold weather.

Indoors

Brno museums are very active and rather inventive when it comes to programs and spaces dedicated to children. Technical Museum for instance has a technical playroom where one can put to test various laws of physics, as well as 17 exciting permanent displays (vehicles of all shapes and forms are currently my daughter’s favourite mainly because kids can ride toy motorbikes and drive a mini car).

Also, Pavilon Anthropos  and Moravské zemské muzeum are praised for their exhibitions (respectively) on Amazonia (with opportunity for interaction, sensorial activities and all kinds of replicas to play with) and animals living in Moravia (especially their three big freshwater aquariums).

If you and your family are a rather creative lot, check out Moravská galerie and their Designlab and learn more about fabric printing or sewing.

For young architects, there is a special playroom in Villa Arnold.

For those more into science, VIDA! offers a number of hands-on exhibitions as well as science shows, lab workshops or 3D movies (also in English).

If, however, you have an astronaut at home then Brno Observatory and Planetarium with their movies and evening sky observations are a must.

Brno also has two fantastic children’s theatres – Radost and Polárka – some of whose plays are suitable even for children younger than one.

(Source: VIDA! Science centre)

Hobbies and learning

There are many more opportunities for kids to learn and practise various skills, of course. Little bookworms should join the local book club A proč  or occasional events for young readers organised by Dlouhá Punčocha bookstore. Also, we recommend you find a Municipal Library branch nearest to your home or visit the main library for children in the city centre (with a small read and play area for kids and books in Czech and other languages).

Also, those into music, dance, looking after animals, cooking, sports, technology or any kind of visual arts and crafts (and more) will for sure find a club or course to join. Out of those many opportunities I would like to highlight a couple which seems to stand out: the educational centre Smart Bricks with a (all LEGO) playroom and courses in (LEGO) robotics and engineering and Jaseli Centre offering sensory play and fun speech therapy courses.

A bit of physical activity

Children burning energy while enjoying some meaningful physical activity is always a win-win situation. Also, it is usually fun for the whole family. Even indoors there are plenty of opportunities in Brno. First and foremost, playrooms and family centres. Most of them offer a well-equipped space as well as extra programs and activities that one can sign up for. From personal experience, SEV Hlídka, with a beautiful garden overlooking the city and located in the park right under the Špilberk castle, is one of the cosiest.

Others – also recommended by friends and colleagues – are Vesněnka, a large well-equipped (microwave, sink, changing table and playroom ) public Family Point,  MC Kuřátka, Swinging Carrots or Miniklubko with a February pop-up dinosaur mini playroom.

And then, there are big playparks such as BRUNO Family Park, TOBOGA Bongo, Jump Park where one can spend hours, a laser arena Tron, Brno  Bowling, go-karts in Brno Arena, indoor tennis, badminton and more for example in Fit4All, swimming and climbing.

Those not afraid of the cold can also take advantage of a number of ice skating rinks around Brno.

Outside

There is actually much more to do outside. One just needs to dress appropriately.

Young animal lovers should wear multiple layers and be ready for both the indoors and outdoors when visiting Brno ZOO, Llama centre Hády and the butterfly centre Papilonia which are open all year round.  Finally, after a freezing day outside, the whole family can rest and get some quality (and fun for the kids thanks to an indoor sandpit) time in a salt cave right in the city centre.

Cafés

And on that relaxing note, there are never enough children-friendly cafés and restaurants where one can switch their head off for a minute and enjoy a nice meal or beverage. Here are those we like the best: cafés Mamakafe, Adrinela Café, Kafárna and Mezi stromy, restaurants UM, Moje Pomlk, BTW and La Patas.

Even more

You will find many more tips for leisure activities and spots in our guide Leisure for kids. Tips for family-friendly restaurants and cafés are for example here. We also recommend to follow the FB account and blog Brněnská máma (Brno mum) or websites where you can filter spots and activities with kids according to the regions or that cover the whole country.

And don’t forget to let us know if you discover some new cool place or activity for kids in Brno – we will gladly add it on our list.

Written by Lucia Konôpková, pictures by Lucia or by the City of Brno.