Playtime spots: Metro Manila edition

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – In the midst of Metro Manila’s hustle and bustle, where can kids truly enjoy playtime?

For parents who live in the metro, finding the perfect play spot can be challenge. A playground – or even a backyard – is not always available to those staying in condos or apartments. Plus, it is a matter fact that playing outdoors is just not as safe as it was back in the day.

However, studies indicate that kids today need more active play than ever. Gadgets and handheld games are not cutting it – kids need to run, skip, and jump to stay mentally and physically healthy. So what’s a mommy or daddy to do?

Fortunately, safe and accessible play spots still exist in and around the city. These spots are worth the drive because they can give your children an afternoon’s worth of learning and active play. Taking your kids out is also a good opportunity to bond and spend more time with them.

Here are some of Rappler’s recommendations for the best play spots in the metro (in no particular order):

The parks in Salcedo and Legazpi Villages, Makati City

A playground trip is a relatively quiet and more beneficial option to staying in and playing noisy video games all day. These parks in Makati are some of the best-kept playgrounds in Metro Manila, and are less crowded compared to public playgrounds. The residential communities around Salcedo Village also have their own indoor sets. Here, your child can meet new friends, especially during early afternoons.

This vast government-owned park is a popular adventure spot for kids. While it’s best known for its waterpark adventures, there are actually quite a lot of activities for kids to try. The train rides and entrance to the petting zoo only cost P20 (about USD0.046). Boat and bike rentals, wall climbing, zip line rides, and obstacle courses are also all available for less than P100 (USD2.28) per person.

Circle of Fun, Quezon City

For kids who grew up in the 80s, do you remember visiting Quezon City Circle in your youth? You will be glad to know that the Circle is still a popular weekend destination for many families living in the north. Bring your own kids here for a break from those computer games. Give them a dose of good old fun and a breath of fresh air! Aside from the Circle of Fun playground, QC Circle also has lake rides, bikes for rent, zip-lines, and seasonal carnivals for kids. 

Cosmic Kidz, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City

MOA’s kid-friendly zone has four levels of activities for kids of all ages (the “level” of play experience is arranged by age group per floor). There are slides, plasma pools, ball pens, and cannons. You can let your kids enjoy a couple of hours of running, jumping, sliding, and crawling while you do your shopping errands.

Active Fun, Bonifacio Global City

This colorful building along 9th Avenue lets kids have exactly what its name suggests. Aside from being a massive indoor playground, it is also a popular party place. Your kids will be spoilt for choice with the colorful array of playpens, slides, and games to try. They also have branches in Megamall and Fairview Terraces.

Fun Ranch, Ortigas

Want to eat out with the kids and distract them from their gadgets? Take them to Fun Ranch, and they’ll be sure to stay occupied enough. There is no entrance fee, and aside from a string of restaurants inside the compound, there are also various obstacles, rides, and gimmicks for the young (and young-at-heart) to enjoy. They also opened a branch in SM Megamall this year.

The Mind Museum, Taguig City

Who says play and learning can’t mix? Visiting museums is a great way to encourage kids to get their brains and bodies moving. At the Mind Museum, kids will meet a T-rex skeleton, touch hair-raising orbs, try earthquake bridges, and weave through floors of interactive exhibits. Here, your kids can learn more about the Earth in the most enjoyable way possible.

Day pass: P450 (about USD10)

The Philippine Science Centrum, Marikina City

If your kid is a budding space buff, they will enjoy a trip to the PSC. This science center and museum introduces kids to physics, gravity, outer space travel, and other astronomy concepts. In lieu of videos or posters, kids ride on swings, turn on switches, and make shadow poses to understand the forces that make the universe move. Even adults might learn a new thing or two!

Entrance fee: P90-P120 (about USD2-USD3) 

Museo Pambata, Manila

If your kids have never gone on a field trip to Museo Pambata in Roxas Boulevard, you need to bring them there. Rekindle your own field trip memories as your kids learn about human anatomy, history, nature, and more. They can also pick up instruments, look at artwork, and take a train ride back in time.

Entrance fee: P150 (about USD3). 

Avilon Zoo, Rizal

The largest zoo in the country is only an hour’s drive from C5 on weekends (but they do have a indoor, smaller branch in Frontera Verde). Here, budding explorers can see over 3,000 species of animals and plants, some of which are endemic to the Philippines. Aside from meeting the animals at the petting zoo, kids can also learn about the conservation efforts being made to protect these creatures.

Entrance fee: P400 (about USD9)

Manila Ocean Park, Manila

If you can’t bring your kids to the ocean, bring the ocean to them! At Ocean Park, you can do just that. Aside from the aquarium tours, the park can let kids meet stingrays, fish and (friendly) sharks up close through wading pools and aquanaut encounters. You can check the rates for their different tours here.

Mall events

Parents, you don’t have to avoid the mall to let the kids enjoy quality playtime. Instead of seeing movies or eating at the usual fast food joints, let them try something new and engaging. Why don’t you take advantage of special mall activities that promote playtime and learning? It’s an accessible, fun, and educational way to level up your usual mall hangout.

Where else do you bring your kids to play in the city? Let us know in the comments below. – Rappler.com

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For more tips on how to activate fun for your child, visit the CHUCKIE Facebook Page.

Circle of Fun Photo used with permission from Ron Ragonton

NOTE: An earlier version of this article indicated Museo Pambata and Manila Ocean Park as being located in Pasay City. Rappler regrets these errors and have made the necessary corrections.