There are not many sights that excite a child more than a huge area filled with things to run, jump, swing and climb on. This is why we have so often taken advantage of the open gym time offered at our local gymnastics school.

I’ve found there are many gymnastic and ninja businesses that offer open gym time during off peak hours. For a minimal fee, kids (and sometimes adults) get to run free in a wonderland of springy floors and exciting equipment. I’ve only put my kids in formal gymnastics classes for a few weeks, and it was a great experience, but it seems they get about as much enjoyment from having free rein of the gym. At ours they enjoy foam pits, obstacle courses, bars, rings, trampolines, and a zip line, among other things. It’s always an affordable and enjoyable experience.