Bay Area Free Activities for Kids

The best way for children to learn is by doing the things they are learning about.

Hands-on activities allow children to play and find out how things work, and there are many free activities for kids throughout the area. Making education fun helps kids develop an interest in learning.

SF Giants Fan Lot
Baseballs fans young and old will enjoy the SF Giants Fan Lot. It is free to ticket holders on game days, and free to the community at large on select non-game days. Exhibits and activities include:

• Coca-Cola Super Slide
• Giant Baseball Glove
• Miniature Version of AT&T Park

Additionally, the whole family will enjoy the excellent views of the games and the San Francisco area available from the mezzanine. The Fan Lot is open September to May on the weekends, and daily during June, July and August

Randall Museum
Combining Science, Nature and the Arts, Randall Museum is always free and fun for the whole family. Saturdays feature special hands-on experiences for children, but there are many things to do every day, such as:

• 188 Seat Theater
• Live Animal Exhibit
• Toddler Playroom
• Woodshop, Arts and Ceramics Studios

The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, although some exhibits may be temporarily closed for maintenance and renovation.

Tilden Little Farm
Tilden Nature Area and the Little Farm are a popular attraction in Berkeley. The farm is free to the public every day of the year, and includes:

• Petting Zoo
• The Famous Red Barn
• Children’s Garden

Touring a working farm helps children understand the importance of animal diversity, locally grown crops, and helps foster environmental respect.

Adventure Playground
Berkeley’s Adventure Playground is considered one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Playgrounds, and has received numerous awards from other publications. Unlike most attractions, this one encourages children to create and build, so be prepared to let your children get a little dirty.

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Free for infants and reasonably priced for the rest of the family, the Children’s Discovery Museum offers many hands-on and educational activities for kids, with an emphasis on how things work. Exhibits include:

• Cultural Art Gallery
• Investigating the Principles of Bubbles
• The Science of Circles

Even though a small charge is involved for most visitors, the Children’s Discovery Museum is an experience that all kids will love to be a part of.

Bay Model
Created and administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bay Model allows visitors to see how the San Francisco Bay changes with the tides, in just a few short minutes. This working bay model gives visitors the opportunity to understand the diversity and fragility of the San Francisco Bay and Joaquin Delta System.

Visiting these attractions will give you an idea of the importance of hands-on teaching and allowing children to progress at the pace which works best for them.  More than basic child care, we are planting the seeds for a lifetime of learning.  Give your child a lifetime advantage from the very beginning of their education.  To learn more about our Montessori preschool program in Milpitas, please contact us to schedule a tour.