39 Things to Do With New Jersey Preschoolers Before They Turn 5
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Preschoolers grow and develop faster than they will at any other time in their lives, and New Jersey gives us ample opportunities to fill their days with tons of opportunities to learn, laugh, and love life. Check out our mega-list below to advantage of the many play spaces, mommy-and-me classes, playgrounds, and other treasures the Garden State offers toddlers.
Bonus: In lots of cases, your kids will be young enough to score FREE admission.
For more can't-miss NJ offerings, check out 100 Things to Do in New Jersey with Kids Before They Grow Up and our rundown of NJ Attractions Offering free admission.
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1. Take a Dip
Get kids acclimated to the water in their very first swimming lessons.
2. Hit a Play Space
Let imaginations run wild at NJ's top indoor play centers, including these options in North Jersey, Central Jersey, and South Jersey.
3. Visit a Preschool-Friendly Amusement Park
Have a blast on rides geared toward the younger crowd at Storybook Land, Land of Make Believe, or nearby Sesame Place.
4. See the Holiday Lights
Dazzle little ones with impressive holiday lights across New Jersey.
5. Jump for Joy
Bounce the day away at an indoor trampoline park. Many facilities, like Sky Zone, offer special toddler-only time slots for little jumpers.
6. Celebrate a Milestone Birthday
Plan a great preschooler birthday bash with these party destinations. Grab gifts at cool NJ toy stores ahead of time.
7. Take a Class
Get physical at these mommy-and-me classes.
RELATED: Great Amusement Parks for Preschoolers and Toddlers in New Jersey
Kids get hands-on learning experiences at the Liberty Science Center. Photo courtesy of LSC
8. Explore the Liberty Science Center
Encourage hands-on learning at Liberty Science Center's Wobbly World exhibit, which is aimed at kids under 41 inches. Or catch a show at the enormous planetarium.
9. Visit a Free Romper Room
Play for FREE at these indoor playgrounds and stores around the state.
10. All Aboard a Local Train
Take a ride on an antique train on a rainy day, visit a destination for train-obsessed kids, or plan a trip with the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus during the holidays.
11. Introduce Them to Boardwalk Fun
Or hit the kiddie amusement park rides and try skeeball for the first time at these popular boardwalks.
12. Hit a Local Bookstore
Take part in storytimes at indie bookstores.
RELATED: Top New Jersey Playgrounds for Toddlers
Spend a fall day at Alstede Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
13. Enjoy a Fall Day on the Farm
Plan the perfect fall day picking pumpkins, taking a hayride, navigating a corn maze, and jumping in a corn pit at one of New Jersey’s great pumpkin farms.
14. Immerse Your Kids in the Arts
Introduce your little one to the magic of the theater at an acting or musical theater class for kids.
15. Build a Love of Nature
Embark on an outdoor nature adventure during Discovery Saturdays at Reeves-Reed Arboretum, a treetop walk at the Morris Arboretum, holiday lights at Longwood Gardens, or a scavenger hunt at Frelinghuysen.
16. All Aboard a Train Adventure
Take your Thomas and Chuggington fans to see the world’s largest model railroad at Northlandz. Read this post for other ideas for train-themed day trips to take in and around NJ.
17. Go on a Fairy Hunt
Walk through the woods and search for the tiny fairy houses nestled among the trees on the South Mountain Fairy Trail, Hopkins Pond, or Morris Arboretum.
18. Get Musical
Dance, sing, and make music at a mommy-and-me music class.
19. Hit the Theater
Some of our favorite spots to visit with kids include Mayo Performing Arts Center, State Theatre NJ, Count Basie Theatre, bergenPAC, and Paper Mill Playhouse.
20. Enjoy Creative Fun
Get messy (and create a keepsake of the day) at an art studio meant for little hands.
RELATED: Great Day Trips to New Jersey State Parks and Forests
You can't beat a beautiful day at the Jersey Shore. Photo by Kate Lewis Andrews
21. Find a Jersey Shore Gem
Build sandcastles and play in the surf at these Jersey Shore beaches.
22. Take in all Van Saun Offers
Enjoy a zoo, carousel, train, and super-sized playground at Van Saun County Park.
23. Visit a Local Water Park
Let kiddos conquer their fears with a whoosh down the slide at a Jersey water park this summer or at one of these indoor parks year-round.
24. Take a Hike
Enjoy an exploration of nature and get some exercise (which could lead to a nap) with one of these kid-friendly hike ideas in South Jersey, Central Jersey, North Jersey, and even winter hikes throughout the state.
25. See the Dinosaurs Roar
Go prehistoric at Field Station: Dinosaurs, a dinosaur theme park right here in Jersey.
26. Explore Duke Farms
Take a hike at the enchanting Duke Farms and enjoy one of the special events geared toward families.
27. Make Some Animal Friends
Visit furry friends and ride the train at Turtle Back Zoo, Cohanzick Zoo, Cape May Zoo, or another of Jersey's top zoos.
28. Learn the Meaning of Garden State
Pick your own apples, strawberries, and blueberries at the Garden State’s wonderful pick-your-own farms.
29. Drive a Big Rig
Indulge your young builders in construction adventures at Diggerland, which now has an awesome water park and more rides geared toward preschoolers.
30. Get Close to Nature
See live creatures, dig for fossils at the sand table at Trailside Nature & Science Center, visit the animals at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, pop in for a nature program at Ranccoas Nature Center, or hit the playground or a nature trail at Watchung Reservation—and don't miss the new sensory trail!
31. Visit a Petting Zoo
Meet some baby animals at a family-friendly farm, including Brookhollow's Barnyard, or feed the animals and check out story time at Muddy Paws Farm Rescue.
RELATED: The Best NJ Zoos and Aquariums for Animal Encounters with Kids
See sharks up close at Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
32. Meet Seafaring Residents
Have some fishy fun at Jenkinson’s Aquarium or Adventure Aquarium.
23. Splash at a Local Sprayground
Make a splash with the sprinklers at one of New Jersey's many– and mostly FREE–water playgrounds and splash pads.
34. Find a Destination Playground
Swing and slide at your favorite playground, enjoy a picnic lunch, and watch the clouds roll by.
35. Bug Out at Insectropolis
Learn about, and even touch, creepy crawlers at Insectropolis, New Jersey’s “bugseum.”
36. Go Back in Time
See what life was like in the 19th century at one of these open-air, living history museums like the Tuckerton Seaport Museum, Historic Cold Spring Village, and many others!
37. Explore a Kid-Friendly Museum
Try the Small Explorers Series on the second Saturday of each month at the NJ State Museum, where kids can learn about the theme of the month through stories, crafts, and play. Explore something new—like insects, dinosaurs, or geology—and then let your kids under 5 play with a train table, building blocks, and puzzles at the Spark!Lab Junior at the Morris Museum. Or visit any one of these family-friendly museums in South and Central Jersey or North Jersey.
38. Spend a Day in Princeton
There is so much to do and see in Princeton! Check out the campus and visit the magical Cotsen Children's Library playspace (FREE!) and the FREE Princeton University Art Museum, have lunch in town, or go for a hike along the D&R Canal State Park. See our roundup of the best things to do in Princeton for more ideas.
39. Visit a Real Battleship
Climb aboard the Batthleship New Jersey, just down the river from the Adventure Aquarium. This decommissioned battleship turned museum is bigger than the Titanic and your kids will love it!
Originally posted in 2014, this article has since been updated.