Know where your kids can build a skeleton, design a “roller coaster”, play guitar under rock star lights, work on a construction site, and enjoy water play, all under one roof? We do! At KidSpark, the Ontario Science Centre’s custom designed play zone for the curious and creative eight and under crowd.

Since opening in 2003, KidSpark has been a safe and fun play centre for kids to enjoy and learn. During a recent visit, our two-year-old play tester spent the first five minutes running around in circles, squealing with excitement. It’s a little like kid heaven in there. Some of the more popular (busy) areas were The Market, where kids can shop for vegetables, dry goods, meat and bread, and visit the fishmonger, and the “Build Your Own Coaster” section.

At The Market, the play food can be loaded into carts or baskets, weighed, and run through real cash registers where kids press buttons and scan items. The roller coaster area was packed with all ages (including adults, who must accompany their wee ones throughout KidSpark) as they designed coasters with swooping tracks and flying balls. Kids can play doctor with the body “puzzle”, where the goal is to fit things like the liver and heart back in the right places, and build a skeleton bone by bone. There’s also music-making stations, with everything from pots and pans to bang, as well as play guitars to jam out with in true rock star style.

KidSpark has thought of everything, including orange construction vests for the building area, waterproof jackets and hand washing stations for the water play zones, and separate toddler areas for the three and under set. They also have staff wearing white lab coats and big smiles at the entrance to make sure there are no wanderers outside the play zone.

While intended for kids eight and under, we found much of the park was better suited for those four and above in terms of attention span and abilities. Also, excited kids (as we all know) are loud, so be sure not to visit with a headache or with the hopes of catching up with another adult while the kids play. But if you’re looking for an indoor activity in T.O. with cool, science related stuff to tire your kids’ brains and bodies, then KidSpark is a must-do.

KidSpark: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca