Welcome parents of toddlers. Finding things to do with young children can be tough going, especially if you’re new to an area or it’s your first child! So I’ve come up with a few ideas for things to do with preschoolers in Mayo to get you started.

Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.

The great thing about when you have a toddler and are not tied to school times is you have a bit more flexibility to visit places during the day and at less busy times. If you’re looking for ideas for things to do with preschoolers in Mayo, we’ve got a few suggestions for you:

Things To Do With Preschoolers In Mayo

Soft Play Centres in Mayo

Visit one of the play centres in Mayo, with dedicated soft play areas for preschoolers, this is a great way to spend a couple of hours and burn off some energy!

Here are some soft play places in Mayo:

• Tumble Jungle in Ballina offers soft play and also caters for children with special needs with soft play areas and brightly coloured environment.
• Funster Playcentre in Castlebar has separate Tiny Tots and Toddlers areas.

Storytime in Mayo Libraries

Visit one of the many great libraries in Mayo. Storytime takes place in Castlebar, and Westport Libraries every week with occasional storytime sessions in Claremorris Library. Check out your local Mayo library to see upcoming events and news.

The junior section of the Library is also a fun way to spend an hour or two reading and choosing books. Your preschooler can join the library and choose their own books to borrow.

Parent Toddler Swimming in Mayo

Go swimming! Some swimming pools in Mayo have dedicated times for Parent and Toddler swims and/or specific swimming areas for smaller children.

Turtle Tots have baby swimming classes at Grand National Hotel, Ballina while Water Babies run dedicated baby swim classes in Breaffy House near Castlebar and Hotel Westport

Music and Other Fun Classes

Sign up for a class. Music, movement, dance, drama, play labs, swimming or football! Check out preschool classes, it’s a great way to meet people and make friends too.

Playgrounds in Mayo

Visit the playground! Here are playgrounds in Mayo. Several of the playgrounds in Mayo have dedicated sections for smaller children. Here are some of our favourites to go to:

• Ballina Playground at Tom Ruane Park is located on the Sligo Road. There is a lovely playground with a large slide, small slide, swings, toddler swings, wooden beam, monkey bars, maze and climbing structure. There are picnic tables and car parking available. The playground is also beside a river so don’t forget to bring some bread for the ducks and swans.
• Claremorris playground is located at the entrance to McMahon Park. It is enclosed and right beside the car park. There is something for all ages with climbing frames, swings and slides. There are also benches for the parents.
• Located beside the church, Foxford playground is an enclosed playground. It is very colourful and has lots of equipment to keep kids of all ages busy. There are plenty of benches too for the adults.
• Tir na nOg playground in Kiltimagh is located at the rear of Aiden Street. It is a very large state of the art outdoor play area with areas for the younger children and older children, and benches for parents.
• In Brabazon Park in Swinford, on the road towards Kilkelly, there is a very nice enclosed playground with a good variety of equipment to keep kids happy. There are benches available and a car park at the entrance to the playground.

You May Also Enjoy – The Best Playgrounds In Ireland Recommended by Parents

Parent and Toddler Groups

Join a local Parent and Toddler Group. There are many local groups throughout Mayo that meet weekly. Parent and Toddler groups are a lovely way for young children to mix with children their own age and for parents to meet other local parents.

Attractions in Mayo

If you have a free day mid week a big advantage with getting out and about with preschoolers is that you can visit places at “off peak” times when older children are at school and popular places aren’t as busy!

Some places to visit in Mayo with preschoolers:

• The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life in Castlebar, now open 7 days, is free to visit and has lots of activities for young kids. They also run free events throughout the year for families, so check their What’s On before you visit.
• Graune Pet Farm at Cloonfad has a wide range of animals to view as well as an indoor play centre.
• Belleek Woods, near Ballina has lots of natural forest pathways which are great for adventures with your smallies. There is a lovely picnic area where you can relax and watch the boats on the river. And don’t forget to hunt for the fairies on the fairy trail!
• The Clare Lake Loop Walk, Claremorris has a tree canopied path with lots of berries to pick, a lovely picnic area, benches to rest tired feet, 2 bridges to cross and lots of ducks to feed. The park is also home to Land of Giants, where you’ll find fun giant art installations dotted along the way.

Events for Preschoolers in Mayo

Keep an eye on our events pages as there are regular workshops and events for younger children in the city’s galleries, museums, parks and more.

You May Also Enjoy Our Pick of What’s On This Month

Go For A Walk

There are many lovely places for a walk in Mayo – perfect for preschoolers to run, collect leaves, stones, etc. and play hide and seek.

Mayo Beaches

Anywhere along the coast in Mayo you will find fantastic beaches. Long sandy beaches are great in winter and summer. Stony beaches are ideal for rock pooling and crabbing. Pick a different one to explore. Buckets and spades are optional but make sure you have some pocket room for shells and stones.

• The beach on Clare Island surrounds the harbour and is a good spot for exploring as well as a nice place for a picnic.
• Mullaghroe Beach is a sheltered, sandy and secluded beach overlooking Blacksod Bay, ideal for splashing and paddling. There is a small car park with toilets nearby.
• Old Head Beach near Westport town is a long, crescent-shaped sandy beach. At low tide, kids will enjoy the rock pools. There’s a small harbour and a nearby woodland walk. There are ramps to access the beach, good access also for those with mobility problems.
• Mulranny Beach has a number of spectacular coves with soft golden sand and sand dunes. Toilets available.
• Ross Beach, north of Killala Town, is a sandy beach, perfect for a family walk or for a day at the beach.

You might also enjoy reading our ideas for entertaining preschoolers at home.

If you have other suggestions for fun things to do with preschoolers in Mayo, please let us know in the comments box below.