As the cold weather approaches, our days of enjoying sunny days at the playground with the kids are becoming less frequent. Particularly now as a parent (with an active toddler who does not want to stay still for too long!), there are other things about winter that worry me more than the usual “winter blues.” Finding indoor activities with my little one during the cold months can be challenging. Plus, there is only so many arts and crafts activities I can do at home before this mama needs a break!

This time around, I plan to get more creative and utilize the resources already available to me to help my family and I get through the long cold days with our toddler. Below is a list of indoor activities we have tried that my family and I have enjoyed with our small child:

• Indoor Pools – all throughout Frankfurt: This might be an obvious one but I do often forget about it – going to the pool! While there are a few indoor pools throughout Frankfurt, one of my favorite indoor pools we have visited is Panoramabad in Bornheim. It offers a nice area for adults, children, and babies. It is spacious and really convenient to reach using public transit. Plus, they offer a variety of swimming courses for both adults and children.
• Mainhattan Music – Westend/Sachsenhausen: This a great weekday activity for children who enjoy music and instruments. The class is available at both Westend and Sachsenhausen locations – alternating between days – and each class runs for about 45 minutes. The course costs approximately 170 euros for 10 weeks (with discounts available for both second and third children). The instructors have great energy, are friendly and make the music class a fun and enjoyable one for everyone.
• Playgroups at Familienzentrum Monikahaus – Gallus: I cannot rave about this place enough! Monikahaus offers a variety of playgroups (for free!) where parents can join with their kids. Our favorite activities here are Monikaffee (family cafe), Familienkunst (family art), Krabbelfrühstück (breakfast for little ones), English Babyclub, and Offener Bewegungstreff (open gymnastics class). They also offer other activities that we wish to try in the future like, Vätertreff (Dad’s meet-up), Monikaffee mit Hebamme (family cafe with a Midwife), Sprach-Cafe für Frauen (women’s coffee chat) and Offener Yoga-Tress (open yoga meet-up). This place is very special for our family as we spent many days here during my child’s first year. It was beneficial not only for my daughter but, it was therapeutic for me to have a space I can go to and connect with other expat families.
• Workshops at 2sonMas – Westend/Bockenheim For Spanish-speaking families or those interested in having their kids learn Spanish, 2sonMas offers tons of workshops for kids up to 8 years old. Our favorite one is Palmas Palmitas (kids ages 6-24 months) every Saturday morning, where they sing and play to music in Spanish. 2sonMas is also a popular Kita for Spanish-speaking families and while it is very difficult to get a spot here for school, attending these workshops is a great way to gain exposure and visibility to hopefully increase your chances of getting a spot at the Kita.
• Museums – all throughout Frankfurt: Many museums in Frankfurt offer a kids-friendly area or even childcare services so parents can explore the museum on their own. We recently visited the Schirn Museum and it worked out really well with our little one. We checked out of their recent exhibitions, “Plastic World”, and it was a nice place to walk around with kids. Of course, every child is different so you have to see if going to museums is something that works for you and your family. Our little one was really interested in the exhibition and loved looking around – though, we had to remind her a few times to not touch anything. Plus, for an extra cost, the “Mini Schirn” area offers childcare for parents to drop off their kids while they explore the museum.

Schirn Museum, Frankfurt

Schirn Museum, Frankfurt

There are so many indoor activities for families to try in and around Frankfurt. Of course, my list above is just a small glimpse into what you can try (I only recommend things I have tried myself). However, I hope to get creative this fall/winter and continue to add more to this list. What other indoor activities for families in Franfurt should I add to this list?

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