24 places and programs for kids in and around DUMBO, Brooklyn (4 free): sports, play spaces, art. Includes Adams Street Library and Smack Mellon.
The children's area at Adams Street Library stocks board books, picture books and chapter books for DUMBO kids, with computers and table space for after-school reading and homework. The weekly lineup has recently included Babies and Books lapsit and Toddler Time. Opened in a converted factory building a short walk from Brooklyn Bridge Park, it is the newest branch BPL has built in decades.
A nonprofit gallery in a former DUMBO industrial building that shows large-scale work by emerging and mid-career artists, free of charge. Its Art Ready program offers free art mentorship for NYC public school students.
A restored 1922 wooden carousel housed in a glass pavilion on the DUMBO waterfront. Kids ride hand-carved horses with the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.
Seasonal outdoor skating rink on Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park with two-hour sessions and skate aids for new skaters. A limited number of free tickets go to NYC residents.
Laser tag in an industrial basement arena with several game modes, plus themed mini-bowling lanes and arcade games. A fun group outing for school-age kids and families.
A Dumbo art studio offering toddler, kids and teen classes where students paint, draw and build projects over a semester, with single-class drop-ins available. It also hosts art camps and birthday parties.
Gleason's, the historic DUMBO boxing gym, offers youth programming including Pee Wee Boxing for young children and a Kids Cre8 program. It also runs non-contact boxing for neurodiverse participants.
The Brooklyn studio of Loop of the Loom, where kids weave on floor looms in a free-form style, making textiles in whatever colors they choose. Kids club sessions and workshops run through the year.
Kid-sized ninja playground with obstacle courses, trampolines and a parkour zone for ages 2–12. Open play runs afternoons on weekdays and all day on weekends.
A family club with multi-level jungle gyms, ball pits, trampolines and creative studios, plus free member classes and a monthly movie night.
A small DUMBO ballet studio offering pre-ballet and ballet group classes for kids 3-7 along with private lessons for all ages. Children learn ballet basics, posture and musicality in a Jay Street studio.
Small teams race through a series of puzzle and action challenges before ending in a room where they must disarm a 'bomb' or get blasted with paint, foam or slime. There is also a longer arcade-style battle game for bigger groups, making it a popular pick for older kids' parties.
A DUMBO studio with ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and lyrical classes for tots through teens. Toddlers get short introductory classes while older kids train in technique and choreography.
DUMBO fencing club where kids as young as 4 can try a one-on-one intro lesson, then join group classes held six days a week. All gear is provided and students can progress to competitive fencing.
Gymnastics-centered enrichment classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers built around developmental milestones. Kids graduate from gym babies and tots into leveled gymnastics classes.
High-energy guitar-led music classes for babies and toddlers, split by age, with shakers and other instruments for little hands.
This Brooklyn branch teaches children Italian through playful lessons, role plays and small-group work so kids pick up the language naturally. Families can add Italian cooking classes and seasonal camps.
A free weekly story time and sing-along for babies and preschoolers at an all-day Indian cafe in DUMBO, with drinks and snacks available for caregivers.
Structured, play-based gymnastics classes where babies and parents bond through movement and older kids build strength and skills on bars, beams and mats. The program progresses by age from parent-and-child through grade-school gymnastics.
The DUMBO Tutu School offers gentle introductory ballet for little ones from 6 months to 8 years. Classes incorporate music and imaginative play.
A DUMBO children's store with toys, games, arts and crafts, bath toys and scooters alongside kids' clothing and shoes. It's aimed at kids up to about age 12 and is popular for birthday gifts.
A DUMBO studio focused on middle and high schoolers building portfolios for art high schools and colleges, with after-school classes and summer programs.
A DUMBO music school where preschoolers learn solfege-based music basics and older kids take private or semi-private piano, guitar and voice lessons. Students perform twice a year at professional venues.
A DUMBO martial arts gym with a kids program based on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA fundamentals. Children practice grappling and self-defense moves while working on discipline and confidence.
LittleGotham lists 24 places and programs for kids in DUMBO, Brooklyn. The largest groups are 5 sports programs, 5 play spaces, 3 art classes.
Yes. 4 of 24 are free to attend, including Adams Street Library, Smack Mellon, Story Time at Fontainhas.
23 listings are indoors, such as Adams Street Library, Smack Mellon, Jane's Carousel.