Life
Indoor Energy Burners
We know how you feel during winter, parents. You can’t watch any more Pixar DVDs without losing it, and you’ve scraped your last chunk of Play-Doh out of the carpet for the month. To the rescue, our handy chart full of kid-friendly indoor energy burners.
By Katie Pollock Estes
Jan 2016
Sky Zone
2765 S. Kansas Expy., Springfield, skyzone.com/springfield
This indoor trampoline park is the best way to expend some serious energy in a short amount of time. Jumping is harder than it seems! Kids can come in during open jump time to hop around at their leisure, and kids 16 and older can join Sky Jam on Saturday nights.
Jump Mania
2745 S. Kansas Expy., Springfield, jumpmaniaspringfield.com
Kids can bounce away at several soft and gigantic inflatables inside Jump Mania. (They can also climb and slide, so there’s plenty of fun for kids of all ages.) There’s even a baby and toddler section for the wee ones.
Indoor Pools
Doling Indoor Aquatic Center, 301 E. Talmage, Springfield; The Aquatics Center at Ozark Community Center, 1530 W. Jackson St., Ozark
Kids can splash around in spray water features and fun play structures. And although every kid loves to play in the water, little ones will be especially happy about the toddler-friendly zero-depth entry in Ozark.
Mediacom Ice Park
635 E. Trafficway St., Springfield
In addition to ice hockey teams and ice skating lessons, kids can take it easy breezy and just pop in for public open skating times. Rent a pair of ice skates, tank up with a little hot cocoa, then hit the ice.
Warrior Fitness
425 W. Farm Road 182, Springfield, springfieldwarriorsports.com
If you have a little American Ninja Warrior fan at home, this is the perfect spot for them to get their game on. There are lots of the familiar obstacles, like the curved wall, all in a safe environment where they can run wild.
Glow Golf
4121 S. Cox Rd., Springfield, opryglowgolf.com
It’s all the fun of mini-golf, but indoors with black lights. Kids can get their competitive juices flowing in a bright and colorful environment. Bonus: There’s also a laser maze, where kids can scoot under and over laser lights, just like James Bond might do.
Andy B’s
1127 E. Battlefield, Springfield, 417-883-1234, andybspringfield.com
This is the place where bowling got cool again. Kids can battle it out for the highest score on the lanes, or they can spend some change in the arcade before heading downstairs for a game of laser tag.