Unlike the UK, nurseries and daycares in Riyadh close for the Summer. We decided against spending hundreds of pounds a week for Summer Camp this time so I've been hard at work coming up with ways to entertain our two energetic toddlers. The days are also noticeably getting hotter, and while the pool is still a great option for early mornings and late afternoons, we're spending more and more time indoors.
Finding activities is really hard not least because most soft plays, play groups or sensory sessions take place in the afternoon. With nap time it's often a hit and miss so most days we end up staying in the compound and going to the pool or the indoor play area there.
Doomidoo
This trusted soft play has two locations in Riyadh. Both provide a few hours of fun for kids aged between 1 and 4. In my opinion neither of the locations are spacious or challenging enough for older kids, but they're perfect for us. It's also great that when one of them is closed for a private event, the other one is just around the corner. There's also a cafe and parents can sit down and still supervise the kids in the play area which is a huge bonus.
The only major drawback of Doomidoo, as with most other soft plays is that it only opens at 3pm in the afternoon
Adventura
When we first arrived last August, Adventura in The Zone was our main go to soft play. It's a little small but has good facilities for younger toddlers, and is immaculately clean. They also open earlier than most entertainment areas, you can head over from 12pm.
Sondouki
This one I recently found on Instagram and we have yet to try one of their sessions. They do messy play and water play sessions as well as special themed ones for the Summer. Their Instagram looks really promising!
IKEA
As a last resort, this one is fun for almost the whole family (dad isn't a fan). A huge advantage is that IKEA is open in the morning. There's usually not many people around so the kids can freely roam and play around in the showrooms. It's also a good spot to have a cheap and cheerful lunch and stroll around. Larger locations have supervised play areas for older, potty trained kiddos too.
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