South Florida can be a paradise for those of us lucky enough to live here. Find the top Activities for Kids with the 2020 South Florida Family Favorites Awards as your guide. Here you’ll find the places and programs that parents voted as best in Broward County.
Published: July 7, 2020
Activities for Kids
Favorite Indoor Playground For Little Ones
Flippo’s
One of the biggest challenges for parents of the younger set is finding a place for them to burn off some of that boundless energy, while keeping them cool and safe at the same time. Flippo’s features over 10,000 square feet of activities at its three locations in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise and Hallandale Beach. In addition to a jungle gym, there’s a Toddler Zone, Ball Blaster, Laser Maze, Sports Court, arcade games and more, as well as a café that serves up kid-friendly foods and drinks to fuel the fun.
Favorite Fitness Fun
YMCA
Well-known for family fitness, the Y promotes healthy activity through afterschool and preschool programs, summer camps, aquatics, adaptive sports for those with special needs, and youth sports such as basketball, flag football, gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, competitive swimming and much more. The YMCA also offers swim lessons for all ages, and invites mom and dad to get in on the action with exercise classes in Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Weston.
http://www.ymcasouthflorida.org
Favorite Party Place
Dave & Buster’s
Planning birthday parties is a piece of cake at this family-friendly sports and arcade bar. The Party Platter and Premium Buffet Birthday packages keep guests fueled for fun with a selection of kid-friendly foods, as well as adult pleasers. With hundreds of games in the Million Dollar Midway, as well as plenty of sports on the large-screen TVs, entertainment is easy. Packages include video game cards for guests and personalized online invitations. 3000 Oakwood Blvd., Hollywood, 954-923-5505
Favorite Indoor Fun For Older Kids
Monster Mini Golf
Upbeat music, glow-in-the-dark decor and occasional contests run by a DJ turn a simple game of mini golf into a party in air-conditioned comfort in Coral Springs and Miramar. Moving elements and tricky obstacles within the colorful course add to Monster Mini’s challenge. When they are not putting around, guests can try to beat a timed laser maze in Coral Springs, play games in the arcade or get lost in a new reality with a virtual attraction.
http://www.monsterminigolf.com
Favorite Arts Program
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Have a rising star in the family? Help them take center stage with camps, classes and intensive workshops for all ages and abilities. Classes are offered in singing, dancing and acting for musicals, plays and more, and several programs allow students to study for a final performance on stage. Intensives offer small-group instruction with stage professionals as well as special sessions on different facets of the Broadway experience, such as choreography, directing, tech theater, audition prep, and more. 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222
Favorite After-school Program
David Posnack JCC After-School Adventure Program
Once school lets out, the fun begins for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. After-school adventures include crafts, a computer lab, a game room, playground time, a supervised homework room and access to a number of extracurriculars, such as basketball, gymnastics, swimming, karate, tennis, cooking, robotics, stop-motion animation and more. The JCC also has a Vacation Days program and mini camps during the winter and spring breaks. 5850 S. Pine Island Rd., Davie, 954-434-0499
http://www.dpjcc.org/afterschool
Favorite Camp Program
Camp Kadima at David Posnack JCC
Summer is a great time for learning life skills, and this camp program aims to teach just that. Designed to promote personal growth, social skills and self-esteem in its campers through its fun summer program, Camp Kadima helps foster cooperation, communication and friendship among the campers. Kids can try sports, swimming, yoga, hip hop, karate, art and more, and a special-needs inclusion program is also offered. 5850 S. Pine Island Road, Davie, 954-434-0499
http://www.dpjcc.org/camp/camp-kadima
Favorite Academic Enrichment/tutoring Program
Code Ninjas
There’s no better way to learn coding than by working with one of the most popular kid activities: video games! Code Ninjas provides a fun, safe and inspiring learning environment that helps boost kids’ problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. The program motivates its young coders with level-ups, allowing them to move from white belt to black belt as they master ninja coding concepts. The program is flexible, with convenient drop-in hours in Plantation, Aventura, Cooper City and Coral Springs on weeknights and weekends, as well as camps.
Favorite Infant/Toddler Enrichment Program
Broward County Library Storytime Programs
There’s no better way to teach your child to love reading than to start early, and make reading fun. Storytimes at library branches throughout the county help engage and excite your children about the wondrous world of imagination that books can open up for them. Some programs are geared for babies as young as 3 months old, and many include crafts, singing and playtime to make the hour even more fun. For dog lovers, Wags & Tales storytimes allow children to practice their reading with a fluffy friend.
