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Canadian winters are beautiful, but long. When cold weather keeps you inside and your little one still needs stimulation, it can feel like every day is a waiting game until spring. That’s why finding indoor spots that are low‑cost (or free), baby/toddler‑friendly, and offer a change of scenery can make a huge difference in your week.

Below are five great places in Toronto where you and your child can spend time together without spending too much (or anything at all). These spots aren’t just warm. They’re social, fun, and give you a reason to get out of the house.

1. EarlyON: Free Play and Parental Social Time

Toronto has over 200 EarlyON Child and Family Centres, one of the best free drop‑in options in Toronto. With toys, books, and trained staff leading circle time and music, young children from birth to 6 years of age get sensory play and social interaction, while parents get a warm place to connect. Many locations also host caregiver supports or parent chats, making it feel less like a chore and more like community.

2. Toronto Public Library: Storytime & Socializing

Toronto Public Libraries offer Baby/Toddler Time programs that are free to attend. Similar to the EarlyON Centres, you don’t need to sign up for these activities. Just drop in and read or sing along with your baby/toddler. If you love books, it’s a great environment to immerse your child in. You can check out specific branches and times on the Toronto Public Library website.

3. tpl:map Passes to Museums, Galleries, and Cultural Attractions

If you have a Toronto Public Library card, you can reserve passes covered by your library card to two dozen city attractions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Railway Museum, and others.

Passes get released once a month and go on a first-come-first-serve basis, so expect the most popular attractions to run out quickly. You are allowed to reserve one pass per attraction per year. Each pass is reserved for a specific date and on average allows entry to two adults and two children, but please check the details on the Toronto Public Library website.

4. City of Toronto Recreation Programs

You can sign up for swimming with the guardian classes starting at 6 months of age. The weekly classes are 30 minutes long and the program usually runs for about two months at a time. These are not drop-in classes. You need to sign up for them and pay upfront. The cost comes to either less than $8 per class or free, depending on the specific centre and your home address. (Some centres also have drop-in swimming time that you do not need to sign up for in advance.)

In addition to swimming classes, you can sign up for crafts, gardening, music, dance or sports at the City’s recreation centres. Classes for younger than 4 years old tend to be “with Caregiver”, so you will be doing these activities together under staff supervision and guidance. You can check out the programming on the City of Toronto website.

Have a favourite budget‑friendly indoor spot in Toronto I didn’t mention? Drop it in the comments — and if you try one of these, let me know how it went!