The Directory
Kid friendly businesses, organizations and services in the Des Moines area.
Whether you live in Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines or beyond, find the local resources your family needs in in the dsm4kids Directory!
While all submissions are considered, inclusion in the Directory is based on relevance. Businesses or organizations outside of Central Iowa or primarily geared toward adults may not be listed.
Indoor public swimming pool managed by Johnston Community School District. Offers swim lessons, open lap swim, swim team and other aquatic activities.
Admission and Open Swim
Please check the monthly schedules for daily dates and times for open swim and lap swim. The pool may be shared with other activities during these times.
Daily admission, punch cards and season passes are good for open swim, lap swim and some special events. Season passes are good for one year from the date of purchase.
2 & under
Youth (3-18)
Adult
Family
Daily Admission
Free
$2
$3
—
Punch Cards
—
$30 for 20 punches
$50 for 20 punches
—
Season Pass
—
$150
$200
$250
Season Pass Descriptions
Youth=For ages 3-18.
Adult=For people out of high school.
Family=For children (ages 0-18) and parent(s) living in the same household.
Retail - Toys - Stuffed Animals
Iowa's Historic Governor's Mansion
Terrace Hill is open for the season as of March 3, 2015.
Terrace Hill is open for tours Tuesday-Saturday. Guided tours are given at 10:30 a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m. and 1:30p.m. Reservations are not required for groups under 10 people. Groups over 10 are required to make reservations. All tours are guided.
Check or cash only.
$5.00 for adults
$2.00 for children (ages 6-12)
Students with a school group are free
To make a tour reservation or for questions regarding volunteering, contact Karen Engel at 515-281-3604 or email Karen Engel.
For all other inquiries, please call Lisa Schneider at 515-281-7205 or email Lisa Schneider.
The Park and Recreation department is responsible for the management of 76 parks across Des Moines. Besides the special features found in some of the signature parks (Ewing, Union, Greenwood, Gray’s Lake and Pappajohn Sculpture Park) patrons can enjoy a variety of amenities such as, basketball courts, BMX track, boat and bicycle rentals, disc golf, enclosed and open-air shelters, equipment rental and concessions, horseshoe, ice skating, nature trails, picnic areas with tables and grills, playgrounds, ponds and fishing, sledding hills, soap box derby track, soccer fields, softball fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, wading pools, skateboarding, dog parks and more.
The Des Moines Civic Center is a 2,744-seat performing arts center belonging to Des Moines Performing Arts. It has been Iowa's largest theater since it opened and is used for concerts, Broadway shows, ballets and other special events. The Civic Center building is also home to the 200-seat Stoner Theater, used for smaller theatrical shows and lectures, located on street level. Cowles Commons, formerly Nollen Plaza, is the one square block space located west of the Civic Center. Cowles Commons is currently under renovation and is slated to open late 2014.
With more than 300 locations across the globe, The Little Gym is the worldʼs premier experiential learning and child physical development center for kids ages four months through 12 years. Each week, progressively structured classes and a positive learning environment create opportunities for your child to try new things and build self-confidence, all with a grin that stretches from ear to ear.
The Playground for Kids, located in Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines. Giant inflatable rides, food, and drinks at affordable prices. Enjoy your kid's birthday party here, or you can take advantage of our inflatable rentals.
The State Historical Museum is an exciting adventure: its exhibits tell the stories of Iowa’s growth and development through the exhibition of a rich collection of historic artifacts and documents. Central to the history of Iowa are its people. Some found fame here. Others grew rich, some achieved notoriety. Iowa’s rich heritage is found not only in the stories of the rich, but also in the lives of ordinary people remembered only by family and friends. The State Historical Museum celebrates Iowans, their ambitions, accomplishments, disappointments, and their contributions – often unrecognized and unrecorded- creating a state-wide ethos that Iowans come to share.
State Historical Museum
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday
Noon - 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Closed official state holidays
Admission is FREE
The Varsity provides a home for the Des Moines film community — both film lovers and aspiring filmmakers — to connect face-to-face, highlight diverse voices and challenging topics, and provide a space for deeper engagement. Varsity Cinema also acts as an inclusive space that sparks discussion and meaningful dialogue — where the broader community can experience new, sometimes challenging, ideas on screen.
Empowering young women through STEM tutoring, classes, mentoring & leadership development.
WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDY SKILLS? NEED A DIFFERENT TEACHING METHOD? WANT TO GET AHEAD?
WE'RE HERE TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE, PERSONALIZED TUTORING IN WEST DES MOINES!
WE OFFER TUTORING IN ALL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH SUBJECTS,
FOR GRADES K-12, INCLUDING AP CLASSES!
WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HOMEWORK HELP, INDIVIDUAL TUTORING OR WOULD LIKE TO GET AHEAD, WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU!
INDIVIDUAL TUTORING PLANS
PERSONALIZED ATTENTION YOU WON'T RECEIVE ANYWHERE ELSE
ALL TUTORS ARE FROM STEM FIELDS
AFFORDABLE & FLEXIBLE PACKAGES (EVEN IF YOU ONLY NEED A HANDFUL OF SESSIONS)
NO CONTRACT AGREEMENT
PROVEN RESULTS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL (INCLUDING AP)
WE MAKE LEARNING FUN!