Here’s a situation most parents know all too well: the kids want to do something only children could possibly enjoy, and the adults would rather an activity that will most likely be for grown-ups only. At the end of the day, one group will sacrifice for the other. More often than not, the children get what they want and the adult ends up miserable. But, what if there are destinations that offer fun activities that can be engaged in without one group feeling obligated to? A destination both parties will revel in, won’t that be an invaluable option?
Children are incredible balls of energy, and finding ways to entertain them while maintaining sanity is a challenge even for the best of them. Fortunately, Lagos is nothing if not a city of diverse options; more options for how to spend weekends, half-terms and holidays, with children of all ages. Ditch quick-service restaurants, setting up playdates with the same neighbors, or hunting down birthday parties, and discover new, truly engaging fun places for everyone.
FuntasticaLand
25, Olusoji Idowu Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.
House 1, C Close, 1st Avenue, Festac, Lagos.
A family entertainment center, at this fun-intensive venue, expect thrills through an array of facilities. Traverse the Fun Zone, the Play Lounge, the Movie Room, the 3D and 6D cinema, the electrifying dance machine, or the Merry-Go-Round, game arcades, bouncy castles, and be immersed in an indoor world of pure fun. Enter the aptly placed photo booth and create magical memories that could last forever. Enjoy special shows from themed birthday parties to puppet shows. This wonderland offers after-school services, the Saturday club, and school excursions, all to create a holistic package for child development.
FuntasticaLand is designed to provide the maximum fun anyone can enjoy indoors. Imagine children on the play slides while adults try out the dance machine, a ‘funtastic’ experience is guaranteed. Take a seat at the gallery for a break from all the fun, and enjoy a drink or delicious treat as the concession stand is well-stocked with the classic pastries, as well as quick meals, fresh sandwiches, and salad – expect widely-loved treats like pizza, chicken and chips, hot dogs, shawarma… this fun spot ticks all the fast-food boxes if nothing else.
The center is open to the public all day every day, and spending the whole day having a great time – considering all the rides available – will be beyond tempting to all involved. There are a variety of packages to choose from too. Look forward to unlimited access to such arcade games as Street Fighter, Electric Air Hockey, table tennis, miniature cars, PS3 and PS4 Games, and experience great family bonding time.
Funtasticaland is a safe, clean and comfortable environment for children to develop intuitive, analytical, and motor skills while having fun, but it is so much more than that. This surreal land also offers corporate event management, and special holiday parties that feature party packs, face-painting, clowns, music DJs, grottos, mobile swimming pools, trampolines, electric trains, bumper cars, obstacles, mascots…the list is endless. This family scene possesses the perfect energy to create a domestic bond and to promise mirth to both young and old.
Fun factory
Block A10, Plot 4, Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos.
Enter this enchanting place and be overwhelmed with happy colors, laughter, and adrenaline. This ‘factory’ is both an expansive event venue and an amusement park. It comes complete with toys, games, bouncy castles, train rides, carousels, pools, and quite a few other creative, interactive alternatives for children. Neatly laid out over three thousand square meters of colorful Astroturf grass, the Fun Factory provides the ideal ambiance for family recreation; safety and security inclusive.
Visibly, understanding children’s comprehensive needs is the topmost priority here; this family hub offers various societies for kids: basketball club, swimming club, arts & craft club, among others. Event planning packages are available, with decorating and catering vendors on-site to coordinate special ceremonies. Extra-curriculars are also offered, activities like woodwork, bead making, language classes, soccer, swimming, music, and more, as part of a summer school put together to keep children learning and entertained through the long holidays.
At the children’s playground, a swimming pool, football pitch, basketball court, tennis court, and bouncing castle can be found, and after all the fun and games, there are bath and dressing rooms available. Also found at this colorful venue is a conducive child after school center which offers intensive tutorial sessions as well home workgroups, creative writing, and practical IT training.
There are family membership packages that encourage parents to spend more time with their young ones. Enticing adults to not just ‘drop off’ the children, but to stay with them, have fun with them, form closer bonds, is a major goal as adults are actively incorporated in the fun. The Family Membership Program applies to families up to a maximum of four children. It provides families with the opportunity to visit the factory free of charge, in addition to receiving special discounts and benefits.
It will be quite a feat to get enough of the Fun Factory with their consistent additions of new rides and interactive games that keep the children interested. Have the children run around and exert their energy staying active, and share that precious time with them.
Tickle Bay
44, Alexander road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
A purpose-built indoor and outdoor party venue wittingly called Tickle Bay serves and delivers fun for everyone. An exclusive setup, this venue is perfect for baby showers or even first birthday celebrations. The establishment is home to One77 restaurant and rooftop lounge, Table Setters, Palpy Chandelier Indoor Hall, a playground and swimming pool, and a custom party and souvenir store.
This playground is a haven for both adults and kids, a unique party venue with magical props. The bay is so sort-after, prior reservation is required. Find available a refined game room with a wide collection for children and adults alike, beautiful party rentals with over twenty-six bouncy castles to choose from, and highly recommended event planning services for in-house and outdoor celebrations. A family play arena where parents and their children can have a great time together, located within the serene Ikoyi. At this vibrant location, kids can have fun, make new friends and learn new things.
Dreamworld Africana
14 Dreamworld Africana Way, Km 20 Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.
One of the most engaging family parks Lagos has to offer, Dreamworld is an amusement and theme park which provides the entire family with a day filled with fun, leisure, and adventure with bumper cars, roller coaster rides, and toddler play areas. At this family-targeted destination, there is something available for every age group. Still, some rides have an age limit attached – for safety, of course. This arena possesses an uber-vibrant characteristic, with an exciting variety of options.
Established in 2010, Dreamworld covers over ten acres – four hectares; a major city family park. Visit this full-capacity wonderland and explore such attractions as carousels, trains, merry-go-rounds, all the classic park features in colorful glory. Dreamworld was initiated by private sector investors based on economic development funding from the Lagos State Government, with continuous plans to expand the facilities and attractions.
From the bouncing castles to the bumper cars, the games arcade to the drop tower and the roller coaster, Dreamworld Africana just might be one of the best things that ever happened for children and families in Lagos, designed to keep the whole family entertained. There is a Family Coaster’s thrill which is a favorite for patrons. The Toddler Play Zone is safe, educative, and as intriguing for toddlers as it can get. On a year-round calendar, Dreamworld’s gates are always open. However, the best time to visit this destination is during the holidays.
Take a ride on the roller coaster with the kids or let them play around in the Kiddies Playland designed for young children. Organize picnics and group hangouts with friends and enjoy the different types of games and fun equipment available at this thrilling park.
Klub de lag
10a Babafemi Osoba Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Klub De Lag literally translates to ‘Club of Lagos,’ or ‘Lagos Club,’ and it is a wholly family-friendly location; one of the first spots to offer wall climbing and ice skating activities in Lagos. It offers a wide range of pursuits including bowling, mini-golf, and kids play station. Also available at this club are a toddler’s arena, a safe swimming pool area, and a VIP Lounge. Visit the in-house Klub Mart for exotic gifts for every age, or the karaoke room for laidback family bonding while belting out everyone’s favorite songs.
Here, the theme appears to be ‘for the entire family.’ Even adults will enjoy the variety of options here, so plan for a visit for the whole family! Miniature golf is suitable for everyone. It is great for parents with small children and one of the few activities that teens find acceptable to do with their parents as well as with peers and dates. The bowling arena is modeled to suit the needs of all ages, and bowling is a safe way to exercise while having fun. With wall climbing, the feel of scaling a hypothetical mountain is the thrill; safety materials are well provided. The indoor skating ring is another big catch with patrons, mostly because this activity is quite uncommon in the city.
Inside the Time Freak game room, players are immersed in a vibrant UV-themed room with 3D props and facades for simulation games. Heart-pumping music, sound effects, and voice prompts add to the excitement. Each session is shown on a big screen monitor mounted outside the room so that other guests can watch the action, cheer on the players, and be entertained too. When the game is complete, players exiting the game room will see their scores displayed on a scoring monitor and receive a printed scorecard to compare with other players and see how they stack up against the daily, monthly, and all-time high scores – something to look forward too for the competitive. This is an appropriate club for the entire family to experience together, with options for all.
Mindscapes Children’s Museum
Plot 1A, Block 3, Michael Olawale-Cole Drive, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
This is sub-Saharan Africa’s premier children’s museum; a not-for-profit institution, Mindscapes is an indoor play space intended to provide innovative learning experiences for children. Here, young minds can explore, role-play and get truly creative and artistic. Each section of this unique museum is designed to engage children through the exploration of their five senses.
The three-floor building has different spaces which represent places children can relate to: a restaurant with toy foodstuff, a construction site with toy tools, a bank with customized ATMs and money, and so on. This fun spot is aimed at engaging children and creating special experiences, so instead of regular ancient relics seen at the usual museum, find life-like models and exhibits created for children to touch and play with. The environment is set up for free choice and to maximize child intuition.
Mindscapes is a place that shows learning can be fun for people of various ages, by providing thoughtfully designed and dynamic spaces, exhibits, and programs in science, the arts, history, and culture, for children, their families, and schools to explore, discover, learn and create; it is truly all-encompassing. This is a social center that offers a culturally sensitive forum to help stimulate the imagination of children from their formative years and beyond. Ever been worried children these days aren't having as much social interaction as is healthy? Mindscapes is the ideal panacea for that, an avenue for a child’s natural curiosity to be cultivated.
In a formal school, children constantly work on a schedule, moving from one activity to the other without really having the time to explore concepts they find fascinating. At this children’s museum, the environment is set up for free-choice learning to emphasize children’s true interests. It provides a safe personal haven and an opportunity for children to explore concepts in a hands-on way through play! Mindscapes Children’s Museum is set up as a social enterprise, to serve both private and public sectors. Access Programs are dedicated to the underprivileged, in partnership with philanthropic individuals and corporations to provide an amazing trip to the museum, complete with fun and learning.
Where most other children centers offer mainly entertainment. Mindscapes is a healthy blend of learning and fun, providing a safe environment to nurture creativity and help children develop essential foundational skills. The first years of life are essential to future learning, and so, grounded in well-established pedagogy, children’s museums are leading a movement that combines specific learning objectives with play in informal learning environments appropriate for ages two to twelve. Also, this is a unique environment where families play and connect in meaningful ways. With today’s workplace demands, adults have less time to spend with children. A special place like this, away from work and household distractions, is perfect for quality time with children.
At this unique ‘fun’ destination, stop by the ‘Book Nook,’ an inviting space designed to spark or reinforce each child’s love of books and reading. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of ‘Mini Town’ to snuggle up with your little one and read through the ton of books available, including books relating to the exhibits. Read a story, act out a story, or listen to a story during storytime held several times a day. Next, visit the ‘Food Rite’ to check out the colorful representations of seafood, dairy, baked and a wide range of other produce. There are opportunities for visitors to explore different play roles while learning how to make healthy food choices. The grocery store also provides a platform for children and their parents to engage in a shopping and purchasing experience. Children can have fun creating shopping lists and shopping on a budget, picking out ingredients for a meal, weighing produce on a scale, restocking shelves, treasure hunting, and running the cash register.
In ‘The Bistro,’ learn the names of diverse meals, learn about calories, order meals, mix and match orders on the menu, and make healthy combinations. The ‘Culture Scape’ section is a one-of-a-kind child-sized theater designed to introduce children to the wondrous world of the performing arts. Children are given the opportunity to express themselves through music, dance, and drama-related activities. The professional theater staff guides the children on their performances, giving them the edge to work the stage and the platform to possibly become budding entertainers. They can sing karaoke, dress up using stage props and costumes, do dance routines, watch educational videos, or perform drama skits.
The ‘Energy Lab’ is the ultimate workshop that provides space and resources for children to learn how electricity is generated and distributed. Children can learn about the different sources of energy as well as the pioneers of energy discovery. Participate in a circuit challenge, learn all about energy and electricity, calculate power consumption on home appliances, and explore gadgets using real tools. The ‘Mini Bank’ gives children an opportunity to explore financial management. From managing a budget to saving and spending, while enjoying the fun of role-playing daily bank operations, patrons get engaged learning financial planning and money management skills. Children learn to open a bank account, deposit and withdraw play money, cash a check, and use the ATM. They are taught about foreign currencies too!
The ‘Nature Scape’ learning space is filled with intriguing sites to maintain a sense of wonder about nature, and reduce stress and anxiety for children and their families. It features themed gardens such as the alphabet garden, edible garden, economy garden, rock garden, and healing garden, as well as a pond, and several activity areas; a beautiful space to stroll through and engage in a number of activities including Outdoor Chess, Wazobia Village, Tire Mountain, Weather Station, Science in the Garden, the possibilities are endless.
From toddlers to teenagers, young visitors will find lots of interesting things to do and experience in the city. Wherever interests lie, from the culinary arts to science, music to art and craft, day trips to farms, play centers to shopping, there are plenty of activities to choose from. A number of activities combine fun with learning, others just allow kids to be kids and do their own thing, ensuring that they thoroughly enjoy themselves. Entertainment holds a dear place in the hearts of Lagosians, and children are very much included.
Are you a Lagosian looking for places to take your young kids, where you can actually relax and not feel like it's another day at work? You're welcome. Next Sunday we explore Sports in Lagos!
The outline of this series was curated by Favour Umanah