Babies & Toddlers (0–3 years)
Community & Education
Why Play Matters:
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Play builds the foundation for learning and development. Early experiences support sensory regulation, motor skills, and early social communication.
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Sensory-motor play and exploration helps young children learn cause and effect and about the world around them.
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Socially, children begin parallel play in this age range. Parallel play is when children will play next to and around their peers, without interacting directly, with an emphasis on mainly watching and learning from others
“What to know before you go”
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Community-based play activities and events for infants and toddlers typically require the presence of a caregiver and may involve caregiver co-participation.
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Activities may be structured to support small groups of young children learning and playing together to promote early social interaction. Alternatively, activities may be less structured to allow for exploratory play.
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As you explore community events and activities, look for features such as the level of caregiver participation needed, number of participants in the group, and access to quiet spaces or flexible participation.
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Programs designated as sensory-friendly means there are features that support a more relaxed experience such as reduced capacity, availability of sensory tool kits. These times of day, programs or events are designed for children who may benefit from quieter environments with less stimulation, noise or crowds.
Example Activities (Seattle & Surrounding Areas):
Public libraries and children’s museums offer a wide range of programs and many offer sensory-friendly programs and features.
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Seattle Public Library – Free story times and sensory-friendly toddler programs: www.spl.org
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PlayGarden: www.childrensplaygarden.org
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Seattle Aquarium – Tots & Tails Program: Sensory-friendly tide pool exploration: www.seattleaquarium.org
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Woodland Park Zoo – Zoomazium: Indoor play with a nature focus for ages 0–8. Sensory-friendly mornings are offered seasonally.
Local parks and recreation programs, farms and playgrounds have programs or spaces designed for infant and toddler play and safety needs.
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Nature-based “mommy-and-me” groups – like Tiny Treks or Seattle Children's Little Farmers Program at Fox Hollow Farm (Issaquah): Hands-on animal and garden time.
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Arena Sports (Multiple Locations) – Indoor play spaces. Call locations to inquire about sensory-friendly hours.
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Kelsey Creek Farm (Bellevue) – Free drop-in animal visits and toddler-friendly trails.
Playground tip: Inclusive playgrounds like Yesler Terrace Park (Seattle) and Inspiration Playground (Bellevue) are great for toddlers with various sensory and motor needs.
Tips for Choosing Activities
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Ask about staff training in neurodiversity or special education.
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Look for sensory-friendly hours, visual schedules, or social stories to help prepare.
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Consider the size of the group – some kids do best in small or 1:1 settings.
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Start with short-term or drop-in events to test the fit before committing.
See our Pathways to Play Recreational Guide and Recreation Decision-Making Guide for more information about choosing play and recreation activities in your community that are right for your child and family.
Want to Explore More?
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Seattle Children’s Resource Directory:
King County Parent Coalition Resource Hub:
Check out the Find Resources Near Me map on AS360 for activities and programs near you!