Craft Hall
Craft Hall. Photograph by Jeff Fusco
Whoever came up with the notion to build a playground inside a brewpub — with video games, a projector, Skee-Ball, and bunnies and chickens outside — deserves so much more than a Best of Philly. How about a Nobel Prize? 901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Bucks County Children’s Museum
A smaller Please Touch, with a way smaller ticket price. 500 Union Square Drive, New Hope, PA 18938
Kith + Kin
It’s an indoor play space, sure. And there’s toddler yoga and snacks, yes. But all the fantastic offerings are secondary to the vibe they’ve created — a place where parents of young kids from all over the city can bitch about the challenges of breast-feeding, cry over their traumatic birth stories, and meet their new besties. 3060 West Jefferson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Perkins Center for the Arts
Perkins — we aren’t talking about the pancake chain here — goes niche with its classes, which range from “Painting With Markers” to “Portfolio Prep for Teens.” Additional location in Collingswood. 395 Kings Highway, Moorestown, NJ 08057
Butcher’s Sew Shop
Butcher’s Sew Shop. Photograph by Jared Gruenwald
Wide-leg jumpsuits, flower pillows, messenger bags … The classes here teach kids and teens they can make anything they dream up. Additional location in Grad Hospital. 800 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The Shop at Puttyworld
Goo, slime and putty obsessives, take note: At this new shop, you can mix up custom putties, play with giant blobs of neon yellow and cotton-candy-scented glop, and occasionally get a glimpse of inventor “Crazy Aaron” Muderick. 700 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401
The Little Circus by Give & Take Jugglers
Jugglers, tightrope walkers, trapeze artists and clowns affiliated with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts bring Big Top fun to block parties and jumbo birthday bashes.
GameTruck Cherry Hill
They’re going to play Fortnite anyway, so why not have them play in the same room (or, in this case, tricked-out truck)? And for those who want to limit screen time, the party coaches also set up a mean game of water-gun tag.
Drag Queen Story Time at Mister John’s Music
Miss Maria TopCatt at Mister John’s Music. Photograph by Jared Gruenwald
It's a dance party and a story time hosted by a drag queen named Miss Maria TopCatt. If that all sounds like a lot to take in, look at it from a toddler’s perspective: All they see is that it's okay to look different and be different and be friends with people who look different. And actually, that’s pretty awesome. Keep reading here. 904 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The Blue Béret
Like walking into the pages of a Madeline, Paddington Bear or Winnie the Pooh book — or any other tome that’s European and ultra-sweet. What started as an online shop last spring is now a pop-up shop (open until January at least …) that’s shared with other local makers and artists. 122 East Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087
Monnalisa
The KOP outpost of this Italian brand offers bright, playful, high fashion for boys and girls as well as some mommy-and-me outfits — if that’s your thing. Beyoncé, Gisele and Madonna are fans. 160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406
Colugo Strollers
Wharton School grad, twin dad and Philly resident Ted Iobst created a genius stroller that weighs 16 pounds, folds with one hand, is well-priced, and still looks cool. Wavering? Don’t; it comes with a 100-day trial run.
LaScala’s Birra
Instead of boring crayons and paper, this Italian restaurant gives kids a knob of raw pizza dough to twist, pull and roll out while you sip on an icy beer and savor that big bowl of prosciutto-stuffed long hots. (And yes, they’ll bake the dough.) Additional location in Pennsauken. 1700 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Sue’s Art Class
From candy sushi modeling to clothes for American Girl dolls to the most creative self-portraits you’ve seen, upbeat owner Sue Puchowitz keeps her art classes focused on the journey, not the end result. (Fun fact: Her son is Cheu Noodle Bar co-owner/chef Ben.) 2119 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
LiceDoctors
Because finding one little bug on your child’s head is a freak-out emergency, the local offshoot of this national company will immediately dispatch an expert to hand-remove (no chemicals here) each creepy-crawly.
Jenzy
Shoes from Jenzy. Photograph by Livie and Luca
This e-comm app created by two local women tells you what size shoe you should order in a variety of popular brands (See Kai Run, New Balance, Livie & Luca) based on a photo of your tot’s feet.