5 Things to Do with Toddlers in Goldsboro, NC (That Aren’t the Living Room Floor)

If you’ve typed “things to do with toddlers in Goldsboro, NC” into Google more than once this month, you’re not alone — and you’re almost out of living-room floor space. Toddlers have exactly one speed (full on), and Goldsboro doesn’t have a long list of spots built specifically for the 0–2 crowd rather than school-age kids. Play Dates Academy, at 402 N Spence Ave, has two areas designed with your littlest one in mind: Ash St Kiddie Korner and Berkeley Mini Market.

Ash St Kiddie Korner: Soft Play Built for Ages 0–2

Tucked just behind the play bank in Goldsboro’s Tiny Town, Ash St Kiddie Korner is a padded, soft-play space designed specifically for crawlers and early walkers — not a scaled-down version of the big-kid equipment. That matters if you’ve ever watched a one-year-old try to keep up with a pack of eight-year-olds on a trampoline. Here, toddlers can pull up, cruise, and explore at their own pace without dodging bigger kids.

Berkeley Mini Market: Pretend Play for Little Shoppers

Next door, Berkeley Mini Market gives toddlers an imaginative mini-town setup — modeled after Goldsboro favorites — where they can “shop,” stock shelves, and role-play alongside you. Pretend play like this is a well-documented way toddlers build language and social skills, and it gives parents a low-key, unstructured way to interact rather than just supervise from the sidelines.

Why This Beats a One-Size-Fits-All Playground

Most indoor playgrounds in Wayne County are built around big-kid equipment: trampolines, rock walls, ziplines. Play Dates Academy has that too (it’s called Herman’s Playground, on the same main floor), but the point for toddler parents is that your one-year-old and your seven-year-old don’t have to fight over the same space. Herman’s Playground keeps the older kids busy while Kiddie Korner and Berkeley Mini Market give your toddler a zone that’s actually sized for them.

Three Ways for Toddler Families to Play

Toddlers at Play Dates Academy aren’t limited to a single visit type — there are three ways to build them into your routine:

• Family Play (pay-per-visit): the walk-in option covered above — Ash St Kiddie Korner and Berkeley Mini Market, $15/hour or $26 for two hours per child, parent required on the floor.

• Family Play Memberships: if you’re coming weekly, membership turns per-visit pricing into a flat monthly rate. The Basic plan is $80/month (1 child + 1 adult, one 1-hour session per day); the Family Play Membership is $110/month (2 children + 2 adults) and is the most popular tier; a $40/month VIP add-on unlocks Tuesday-only access, a free monthly guest pass, and a party discount. Membership access runs Wednesday–Thursday 8am–8pm, Friday 8am–10pm, and Sunday 10am–6pm (Saturdays are walk-in/pay-per-visit only, and the indoor playground is closed to the public on Mondays). Membership covers accompanied play, not childcare.

• Drop-In Childcare: for parents who need a few hours without staying, hourly childcare is available on the secure top floor — $8.50/hour for the first child, $8/hour for additional siblings, up to a 4-hour stay, no membership required, available all 7 days during business hours. It’s built for errands, appointments, and work meetings. For ages 1-12.

Planning Your Visit: Days, Hours & Pricing

Family Play (the walk-in option that includes both toddler areas) runs Wednesday through Sunday — no reservation needed:

• Wednesday & Thursday: 8am – 8pm

• Friday & Saturday: 8am – 10pm

• Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Pricing is $15 per child for one hour or $26 per child for two hours (discounted rate). One adult is admitted free per paid child; additional adults are $5 each. Grippy socks are required for everyone — bring your own or buy a pair for $3.

Toddler Visit Tips

• Sensory Wednesdays feature dimmed lights and quieter sound levels — worth trying if your toddler is sensitive to noise or crowds. On these days, you can also save 20% on a one‑hour family play session (just $12), the discount is limited to the one‑hour option and can not be combined with other offers.

• Parental presence is required during Family Play, so plan to get on the floor with your toddler rather than drop and go.

• Arrive close to opening on weekends if you want Kiddie Korner to yourself — it’s a popular space.

Ready to get out of the house? Sign your waiver online ahead of time and walk in any Wednesday through Sunday.

402 N Spence Ave, Goldsboro, NC 27534, (919) 429-4222.