Yes, the holidays are over in many provinces. But summer still has a long way to go, and Buenos Aires and its surroundings are full of proposals to entertain children. Outdoors or indoors, but always with the slogan of keeping them away from the screens, stimulating them in the game and unloading energy.
Of walks and climbs.
It is a real find. In González Catán, almost 40 years ago, businessman Antonio Campana created Campanópolis. With a diagnosis of cancer that made him decide to turn his life around, in the mid-1980s, this businessman set out to build a medieval village on a 220-hectare plot of land that had known to be Tosquera, the base of the airport runways. and landfill.
For nearly two decades, he erected castles, fairy-tale houses, and the most fascinating buildings, all with demolition materials and old objects put to new uses. The result is an incredible ride that invites you on a journey through time and imagination. There are squares, a lagoon, alleys, museums, little houses immersed in a forest and the most daring architectural dreams, halfway between the spirit of Antonio Gaudí and Walt Disney. Vital fact: it can only be accessed with prior reservation and the visit is with guides.
Towards the area of Tortuguitas, in the North Zone, Alto Parque is another option to spend a day outdoors. Located inside the Tortugas Open Mall, it is a high-rise park for children and young people. “We propose an entertainment that combines physical skills with sensory activities, playing at height and with different effects that awaken the senses”, they describe from the undertaking. Its 700 m2 have covered and uncovered spaces, and in them there are thematic lectures, 60 hanging games, free fall adapted for children (60 meters) and experimental recreational activities with effects such as lighting, sounds and projections to combine technology, exercise and fantasy. From 1.20 meters tall, all children are welcome.
eat and play
In the 2000s they were a classic idolized by many parents: restaurants with games for children were all the rage and allowed adults to eat in peace. And although this model was falling into disuse, in recent times certain spaces recovered the idea.
With outlets in Olivos, Martínez and San Isidro, the Blossom restaurant offers a highly acclaimed Kids Club. While the parents can eat meats, empanadas and pizzas from their clay oven, a nanny takes care of the children throughout their stay. There is an area for tablets, foosball, an art section and a recreational space in an environment decorated like any child’s dream for their room. And the plan can go beyond a lunch: Blossom offers from breakfast to dinner, and its pastries and drinks stand out. In the San Isidro location, they also have an ice cream parlor (called Dolce) on the ground floor, adding points for the plan with the little ones.
In Pilar, Terrazas al Lago Restó, Grill & Bar is another space that contemplates the fun of the children in its premise. Opened last December, it offers international cuisine with Patagonian touches. At the Pilar Patagonia country club, “the place was the inspiration to achieve this menu: it immediately took me to Patagonia, so it was inevitable to derive appetizers, dishes, desserts and products from that region”, illustrates chef Emiliano Cafiso . And in the surroundings of more than three thousand old trees, the Forest Games appear: with a person in charge of supervising them, the children can play among wooden constructions, inflatables, hammocks, blocks and even merry-go-round figures, all meters from their parents.
In the city
And there is also fun within the city. At the Intercontinental Buenos Aires, for example, they offer the Hello Kids program, a family getaway. The package includes six moments: one of rest, with one night’s accommodation in a Premium Twin room for two adults and up to two children under 12 years of age; one of creation, which includes a set to play decorating cookies and cupcakes; one to wake up, with breakfast in the room with a surprise for the little ones; one to paint, where a giant illustrated map to color is given away; one to relax, in which a water pump is delivered to have fun in the bathroom; and one designed to immortalize the experience, since an instant camera is offered at check-in.
The stay also includes a garage, access to the heated indoor pool, late check out and additional games upon request. The value is $20,649 + VAT, although a “dream upgrade” can be made in which accommodation is in a Junior Suite with the addition of a tipi-style Indian tent and a picnic breakfast for the whole family. This costs $29,999 + VAT.
For more options within the city, the @buenosairesparachicos account is ideal. Created in 2015 first on Facebook and then in 2016 on Instagram by Alejandra Campomar, a lawyer and cultural manager, it began as a way to share the interesting programs that she found to do in the city with her young son. Today a mother of three, she has become a reference for her more than 229,000 followers, with whom she shares data, tips and proposals to enjoy with the little ones. Her blog, the other leg of the enterprise, was declared of cultural interest by the Legislature.
When asked about the most successful posts in recent years, she points to those about new places. “The pandemic led us to choose more outdoor plans. In addition, the fact that the squares do not have a schedule and it is a plan that does not involve more expenses than the transfer influenced that putting together neighborhood tours around the game is a great plan, ”he reasons. For these last days of summer, however, he recommends taking advantage of the special cycles of cultural centers such as Usina del Arte, the CCK Children’s Space, the Cultural Center of Science or Tecnópolis. Museums are another point to take into account: “the Moderno, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Sívori, the Carlos Gardel, the Larreta Museum or the Toy Museum in San Isidro offer short and completely free workshops in which they invite kids to play, explore and develop curiosity by learning from a very playful place”, he encourages.
And if what you are looking for is to take advantage of the beautiful temperatures, Alejandra proposes a walk through the Rose Garden with a boat ride included, have a drink at the gastronomic center of Paseo de la Infanta, go to the Ecoparque or the new games of Plaza Germany. March is usually one of the most beautiful months of summer, with a heat that becomes more than bearable. How about taking advantage of it in the company of the little ones?
