Things to do indoors with the kids in the Chicago area

When the weather gets frosty, the kids may not want to go outside, but you still need to get them out of the house. Here are 10 indoor activities around Chicago that kids will love.

FIELD MUSEUM’S CROWN FAMILY PLAYLAB

Sue the T. rex might be the iconic star of the Field Museum, but the institution has plenty of lesser-known draws. One of its best hidden gems is the interactive PlayLab, geared for little ones (ages 2-6) and their caregivers. Renovated during summer 2019, the welcoming space includes Dino Dig, with dinosaur puppets; Illinois Woodland, with animal costumes; and Rhythm Room, with instruments to play. Open daily at The Field, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. $24, $21 for students, $17 for kids 3-11; $5 discount per ticket for Chicago residents. fieldmuseum.org/exhibitions/crown-family-playlab

ADLER PLANETARIUM’S PLAYLAB AND STAR STUDIO

And if the Field wasn’t enough, its Museum Campus neighbor offers PlayLab options too. Late in 2019, the Adler Planetarium expanded its Community Design Lab program, adding two more DIY zones to brainstorm and practice science. The little sibling in the fam is the Community PlayLab, geared for ages 6 and under; it boasts an imagination station, STEAM activities area, toddler zone and more. Meanwhile, as part of the new “Chicago’s Night Sky” exhibit, the Community Star Studio (also suitable for older kids) encourages visitors to think about stars and constellations while making art. Both are open daily at the Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. $19, $8 for kids 3-11; $2-$3 discount per ticket for Chicago residents. https://tinyurl.com/y6xcj5de

THE CATCADE

A video-game arcade that’s really a cat shelter? Fur real! This nonprofit cafe/lounge/rescue org charges a $15 cover to enter, which goes directly into the care of its cat residents. Most of the felines are adoptable, but you don’t have to be a prospective cat parent to visit. Hang out on the couches, play some Mario Kart, pet the cats — just don’t pick them up, please. Guests should be at least 7 years old, and no more than three kids per grownup. The Catcade is open six days a week at 1235 W. Belmont Ave. $15 per hour per visitor. thecatcade.org

KOHL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S ART ADVENTURES

Keep your little ones busy indoors — and don’t worry about cleanup! — during daily Art Adventures at Kohl Children’s Museum. The theme of the art projects changes monthly; sometimes families find seasonal themes, like playing with ice in the winter; other approaches are evergreen, such as designing your own book. The museum provides all materials during this twice-daily drop-in program, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. at Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview. $13 (includes general museum admission). kohlchildrensmuseum.org/programming/art-adventures/

‘BUTTERFLY HAVEN’ AT THE NATURE MUSEUM

The Nature Museum’s signature exhibit is a Chicago classic for a reason. Who wouldn’t love to flutter into the sylvan paradise known as the Butterfly Haven? Visitors flock year-round to this greenhouse space, where you can sit among more than three dozen species of newly emerged beauties. You can also make an educational game out of it: Download the museum’s PDF guide, so you can look for specific colors and patterns on their wings. Daily at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. $9, $7 for students, $6 for kids 3-12; Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. https://tinyurl.com/ujb82a6

GIZMOS FUN FACTORY

One sure way to cure cabin fever is to visit this enormous southwest-suburban indoor playground. Amid the whopping 47,000 square feet, tykes get a space of their own to climb up and slide down four stories of platforms — and even dump buckets of foam balls on the kids below. (Better yet, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday is Toddler Time, restricted to kids under 46 inches tall.) Big-kid fun includes laser tag, go-karts, bumper cars, zip lines and climbing walls. At Gizmos Fun Factory, 66 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park. $10 admission for Toddler Time; $27-$42 for other admission packages. gizmosfunfactory.com

DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Parents with little ones can find daily programming at the DuPage Children’s Museum, including Story Time and Music & Movement Time, each lasting 20 minutes. Popular exhibits include “Make It Move,” which puts the fizz in physics lessons, and “AWEsome Energy,” an exploration of a trio of energy sources: air, water and electricity. If you don’t have a car to get to Naperville but you’re up for a train expedition, DCM is very close to the Metra station. DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. $13. dupagechildrens.org/how-people-make-things

GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY

Garfield Park Conservatory is one of Chicago’s most underappreciated gems year-round, but we have to admit: It’s especially precious during the winter. The weather outside might be frightful, but a symphony of life awaits inside the hothouses. Looking for guided activities? Every weekend, the free Fiddleheads program connects families to nature educators from noon till 4 p.m.; the Morning Glories program for 3- to 5-year-olds is Monday mornings; and Wild Wednesdays for older kids is offered after school. At Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free. garfieldconservatory.org/family-programs/

JUMPS ’N’ JIGGLES PLAYGROUND AND CAROUSEL

It's always a fun time for tots at Jumps ’n’ Jiggles, the beloved Elk Grove Village indoor playground. In addition to the jungle gym, with its maze of tunnels and a spiral slide, admission includes unlimited rides on the ever-popular, 28-foot-high carousel. Ride a horse, zebra or even a swan chariot, around and around. Geared for ages 8 and under, Jumps ’n’ Jiggles is open weekdays at 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. $6 per child; $55 for a 10-visit pass. https://tinyurl.com/r92hfsk

LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER

This paradise for Lego lovers has a wide range of play zones to keep kids occupied, no matter their focus. Designers get busy in the Master Model Builder Workshop — or its little sibling, Duplo Village, for those with tinier hands. Need to expend energy? Dive into Pirate Adventure Island, where kids can climb a ship’s rigging, steer the wheel and fire air cannons; or hunt for big game photo-ops inside the Jungle Expedition. At Legoland Discovery Center at Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. $25-$36 at the door; discounts for advance online purchase. chicago.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/whats-inside

Web Behrens is a freelance reporter.