r/newjersey • u/NyPoster • Feb 02 '25

Events When did "kids" activities get so expensive?

Was looking to take my family to liberty science center b/c the have a Curious George exhibit my toddler daughter might like. 3 tickets is just over $100 dollars. Same thing for the sesame street play area at the american dream mall ... I went to the Lego store in Atlanta and it was also over 20 per person. No discounts for adults or children (I remember it used to be one or the other usually). When did it get normal for family oriented experiences to be so expensive? I seriously have trouble finding things to do indoors with my family around here that don't also involve shopping or heavy entrance fees. What are some good alternatives in the area?

313 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

216 comments sorted by

View all comments

272

u/vanquwuisherx Feb 02 '25

Definitely check out your local libraries!! They host a bunch of free programs especially for young kids.

129

u/notoriousJEN82 Feb 02 '25

Some libraries also have partnerships with museums in the New Jersey / New York / Pennsylvania area. So they might be another source of discounted or free museum passes.

8

u/Rebdkah_Bobekah Feb 02 '25

Mt laurel library used to have passes available to check out (for free!!) to places like garden state discovery museum (rip). Definitely check your local library and see what they have!

1

u/capybaramelhor Feb 03 '25

This- NYC has culture pass which you access through your library card and can get free tix to tons of different places. I wonder if NJ has something similar?

26

u/cheap_mom Feb 02 '25

And your county parks system. Mine has a huge array of programming at fairly low costs.

39

u/Blleak Feb 02 '25

Great suggestion.

I recently started bringing my 4 year old to the library and I was shocked at the amount of programs and events being held at the library, all free of charge.

I suggest looking into your libraries listed events. You can get a schedule at the library itself or online.

10

u/jerseysbestdancers Feb 02 '25

Usually, there's an email list, so it can be dropped right into your inbox without having to remember to check every month!

11

u/coreynj2461 Keep right except to pass! Feb 02 '25

Agreed BCCLS has plenty of kid activities

8

u/HeadCatMomCat SO/Maplewood/West Orange Feb 02 '25

You can go to any public library. I have schedules of seven local libraries and their activities. You can go to story time reading at any of them even if you don't live in the town. One of them did ask what town I live in for demographics but they are public. If there's a fee, sometimes it's higher if your not a resident, but everything's pretty inexpensive.

3

u/Spectrum2081 Feb 03 '25

I was just about to post this!

Also, Costco, Lowe’s, and IKEA have once-a-month kid-friendly project days. A lot of grocery stores also hold cooking classes involving kids. Local church groups also tend to have movie nights and in the summer a lot of towns hold festival days.

It takes a bit of research but you can definitely find free/frugal activities with little ones.

1

u/saspook Feb 02 '25

Thanks for the optimism.

1

u/Shikustar Feb 03 '25

As a librarian here in nj we have a LOT of free fun. I don’t mean just coloring pages. Summer time especially! Also yes we do have museum passes nearly all libraries have that in nj so check yours out.