There comes a point in every parent’s life when you realize your child has officially outgrown the playground.
The slides? Babyish.
The swings? Boring.
The indoor play place you used to beg them to go to? Suddenly, “cringe.”
But here’s the thing: They’re not exactly old enough to just wander around Nashville on their own, either.
So what do you do with the kid who still wants to have fun but has officially declared themselves too cool for the playground?
Luckily, Nashville has plenty of options that feel a little more grown-up without requiring your kid to be an actual grown-up.
Try PopStroke
New to the Cane Ridge area, PopStroke is a great option for kids who have outgrown traditional kid activities but aren’t quite ready for a full round of golf.
The concept combines mini golf with a more grown-up atmosphere, making it an easy family outing for tweens, teens and parents. It’s competitive, casual and gives everyone something to do — even if your golf skills leave something to be desired.
And let’s be honest: A little family competition never hurts.
Hit the Arcade
Sometimes you just need to let them loose in an arcade.
Dave & Buster’s is our favorite. It’s a great choice for a bigger, high-energy outing, with tons of games, competition and plenty to keep a group entertained. It’s especially good when you have kids with completely different interests because there’s something for everyone.
For something a little more low-key, check out Pixel Planet. One of the things that makes it nice for families is that you pay by the hour rather than constantly feeding individual games. It’s a more budget-friendly way to let the kids play without watching your wallet disappear one swipe at a time.
Try an Escape Room
If your kid loves puzzles, mysteries or anything that involves figuring things out, an escape room such as The Escape Game, and Escape Experience, can be a surprisingly fun family activity.
You’ll have to work together to solve clues and complete challenges before time runs out — which means it’s also a sneaky way to practice teamwork without anyone realizing they’re practicing anything.
Just be prepared for your child to remind you for the next six months that they solved the hardest clue.
Eat and Learn to Line Dance at Category 10
If you’re looking for something that feels distinctly Nashville, take the kids to Category 10.
It’s family-friendly until 8 p.m., so you can enjoy dinner together and then learn a few Nashville moves on the dance floor. Category 10 offers free line dancing lessons, making it an easy way to introduce your kids to one of the city’s most iconic pastimes.
You don’t have to be a good dancer in fact, that’s probably half the fun. Grab some food, learn the steps and see who in the family picks it up first.
It’s a very Nashville way to spend an evening, and your kids might actually think you’re cool for bringing them.
Listen to Live Music
You live in Nashville, so why not take advantage of it?
Find an all-ages show, check out a local songwriter night or head somewhere with live music and let your kid experience one of the things Nashville does best.
It doesn’t have to be a huge concert. Sometimes grabbing dinner somewhere with live music is enough to make an ordinary night feel like an outing.
And who knows? You might introduce them to their new favorite artist. Here’s some great places to listen to live music.
Take Them to a Nashville Sports Game
You don’t have to wait for a major professional game to make sports an outing.
Depending on the season, check out a Nashville Sounds game, Titans game, Nashville SC match, Predators game or a local college or high school sporting event.
There’s something about being in the crowd, getting snacks and cheering for a team that makes even a kid who claims they “don’t care about sports” suddenly very invested.
Go Thrifting
For the kid who has developed their own opinions about literally everything they wear, thrifting can be a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Give them a small budget and let them hunt for clothes, accessories, room decor or whatever else catches their eye.
You might be surprised how much fun they have when they’re in charge of the plan.
And if you’re lucky, they’ll find something that isn’t completely black. One of my favorites is Music City Thrift.
Make Food the Activity
Sometimes the activity doesn’t have to be complicated.
Pick a neighborhood you’ve been meaning to explore and make an afternoon out of trying somewhere new. Let your kid choose the restaurant, find a new dessert spot or make a list of places you’ve never been.
Give them some ownership of the plan and suddenly “going out to eat” becomes an actual outing.
Having a kid who has outgrown the playground doesn’t mean you’ve run out of things to do.
It just means the activities have to evolve. And honestly? This stage can be pretty fun.
