Clown Around (Flanders)

Clown Around is a jungle themed playroom for children ages 0-7. Complete with a ball pit, slides, and soft play area for little ones, it is definitely a safe, engaging and CLEAN play space. Two of the reasons I  enjoy taking my girls (ages 1 and 7) to Clown Around is because they offer play areas for them both to enjoy safely and the area is contained enough so that I can have a good chat with a friend while my girls are playing. Open play pricing: $10/child for 2 hour sessions, $6/child for 1 hour sessions (non-holiday sessions). Check the Special Events tab on their website for their open play schedule. (973) 691-6999

Monkeydoodles Play Room (Lake Hopatcong)

Monkeydoodles is a new  interactive playroom play place for children up to 5 years. They offer private play dates for groups, classes, parties, and open play in a bright, colorful and engaging play space. My one year old loves to fly the helicopter and play in the wooden treehouse, complete with a slide. Open play pricing:  $8 per child, $6 per additional sibling. (973) 810-2522

Camp Iliff (Rockaway and Newton)

Go on an indoor camping adventure in a 3 level forest-themed playground.Located in the Rockaway Mall, Camp Iliff is unique and different due to the concept of combining a family entertainment center and a licensed childcare facility all under one roof. In addition they have an inhouse pizza parlor and video games. There are many different options such as family play and drop n’shop. Check the website for detailed pricing choices. 973-383-7231

Kid Junction (Branchburg)

Kid Junction is a fantastic indoor play space and amusement center that is also open to the public for walk-in open play every day of the week. There are play areas especially for the under 1 crowd separated from older ones which is a bonus. My girls absolutely adore the kid-sized indoor town. Children can run their own post office, play veterinarian at the animal clinic, or shop at the mini grocery store complete with kid-sized grocery carts and cash registers. They even provide the appropriate costumes for  each establishment. If you can get a group of parents and 10 children together, you can book a play date and receive 20% off admission. Open Play Prices: Children over 2 years are $8.95; under 2, $6.50. Infants and non-crawlers are free. 908-252-0055

Riverside Kids (Hackettstown)

Riverside Kids is a brand new fitness facility specifically developed for children of all ages. They offer classes for all ages, including sports performance courses, yoga, dance, and soccer. My 1-year old takes a Mommy and Me class once a week. I really like the format of the class as it allows for structured and open play. On certain Fridays, Riverside Kids offers KNO (Kids Night Out). Parents can drop children off for 3 hours and enjoy a quiet dinner out, or like me, a night of grocery shopping in solitude. KNO has come in handy for me when I am running errands for a birthday party or tackling the 30 loads of clean laundry that need to be folded in my basement. Open play pricing: Children can be dropped off at a rate of $3 per hour if parents are working out at the Riverside Gym. $7 per hour for Open Play ($6 for members) $5 for additional sibling. Riverside Kids offers 2 hours of supervised play, every day (parents stay with their children under the age of 3). 908-684-JUMP