11 Philadelphia-Area Gyms With Kids’ Playrooms and Childcare

Life Time Athletic’s playroom at its Fort Washington location | Photo courtesy of Life Time Athletic.

There are periods in life when we simply can’t find the motivation to work out. There are other times when we just can’t find the time. And that becomes even more difficult after kids, when you not only need a free hour to work out — you also need a babysitter.

Fortunately, Philly and the ‘burbs have a bunch of gyms and studios — both boutique and big box — that offer in-house childcare, allowing you to get your sweat on with your little ones just a few yards away — no doubt having the time of their lives with other kids, toys, and childcare attendants. Here’s a few that you can try.

Barre3

Where: Locations in Rittenhouse, Rosemont, Blue Bell, Berwyn, Doylestown
Hours: Scheduling varies for each location; check the schedules here: Blue Bell, Rittenhouse, Rosemont, Berwyn, Doylestown.
Price: $5 for childcare during a single class or $45 for a ten-pack class series

No matter the Barre3 location, you can count on them to look after your little ones while you’re sweating it out. Make a “Play Lounge” reservation for your child online — just as you do when scheduling your own class — under your name, not theirs. With toys, books, and games your kids will be set for the full hour-long workout. All you have to worry about is carrying them out with your freshly sore arms.

Focus Fitness Mainline

Where: 1111 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr 
Hours: Available six days a week (excluding Sundays), but varies depending on the day so check the schedule (and sign up) here.
Price: $7 for childcare during a drop-in or $49 for a ten-visit package

Leave your kids in trustworthy hands at Focus Fitness Mainline’s ultra-comfortable Studio K lounge, where little ones chill while grownups sweat. Kids ages three months to eight years are welcome at Studio K. To keep everyone’s children safe and happy, Studio K has some rules to follow — peruse them here.

LA Fitness

Where: 2425 South 24th Street, South Philly and 24 East City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd
Hours: Scheduling varies for each location, check the schedules here: Bala Cynwyd, South Philly
Price: An additional $10 to $15 per month with membership

Here, not having a sitter isn’t an excuse for skipping a sweat session. LA Fitness’ Kid’s Klub will watch over your little tikes while they tinker around with toys and play games, and you do the grown-up version of playtime — AKA work out.

Life Time Athletic

Where: Locations in Fort Washington, Wayne, Mount Laurel, and coming soon to the new Ardmore location
Hours: Activities offered during morning, midday, and evening time slots. Checkout the schedule here.
Price: Your little ones can get a “junior” membership to the gym, starting at $40, added onto an adult membership.

Life Time does childcare in the most literal sense — rather than just watching your kids, the gym offers a myriad of kids fitness classes in addition to arts, language, homework help, and dance classes. Aside from the 65 -plus kids classes offered weekly, Life Time offers summer camps and school’s out camp as well as Parent’s Night Out, which allows you to drop your children off for up to four hours for $20 per kid. The goal is for Life Time to ease the stress of having to run the kids all over the place for dance, soccer, and piano lessons. Here, you can have them all in one place.

Photo courtesy of REVive Studio.

Philadelphia Sports Club

Where: Childcare is available at Rodin Place, Society Hill, High Point, and Radnor locations only.
Hours: For the Society Hill, Rodin Place and Radnor locations, the schedules vary so contact the location. For the High Point location, you are welcome to two and a half hours of childcare during your workout, no matter the day or time.
Price: A separate contract costing $19.95 per month, no matter the number of kids, or $10 for a one-time drop-in.

Sigh a breath of relief that you can workout worry free at many Philadelphia Sports Club locations with your little ones tucked away safely in the playroom. Rest assured that all attendants have received background checks and the appropriate certifications to properly care for your kids.

Retro Fitness

Where: Locations in Spring Garden and two northeast locations
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $10 for one child, $5 for each additional kid

Drop your brood off at Retro’s playroom on your way into a butt-kicking workout. There will be one attendant there during the available hours to watch your offspring for up to two hours — enough time for a solid workout and maybe even a shower.

REVive Studio

Where: 225 Lancaster Avenue, Frazer
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.; Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.; Saturday, 7:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.; and Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Price: $3 for one child, $5 for two children, $7 for three or more children, or $36 monthly unlimited

Whether you’re popping in for a spin, boxing, TRX, or fusion class, you don’t have to worry about dropping the kids off at Grandma’s first — you can bring them along. Let your little ones mingle with other kiddos in the playroom while you sweat it out in the studio. Rest assured that your kids will be safe in the hands of the CPR and First-Aid-certified staff members. Reserve your kids a spot here.

SWEAT Fitness

Where: Queen Village location only
Hours: Monday through Friday mornings, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Monday and Wednesday evenings, 4 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday mornings, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Price: First visit is free, prices range from $10 to $15 after that.

Kiddos ranging from three months to seven years are welcome at SWEAT for some playtime while you hop in a fitness class or do a workout in the weight room. The littler ones in the group can chill and play while the older kids can get more involved by playing with exercise balls and learning about the benefits of an active lifestyle.

The Sporting Club Main Line

Where: 931 Haverford Road, Bryn Mawr
Hours: Seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Price: Drop-ins are $5 for one kid, for 1.5 hours plus $2.50 for additional children, or you can purchase a ten-visit package for $50 for one child or $25 for two kids.

The Sporting Club Main Line boasts a brand spankin’ new playroom where your kiddos will indulge in a variety of arts and crafts activities while you’re indulging in a sweat session. Kids aged six weeks and up are welcome to join the playroom party.

TORQUE

Where: 328 North Lewis Road, Royersford
Hours: Childcare is available for all classes after 8 a.m.
Price: $2 per child

No matter the time of day (as long as it’s after 8 a.m.) there will be someone available at TORQUE to look after your bundle(s) of joy while you get in one heck of a workout. Games, toys, and activities are available in TORQUE’s bright and happy carpeted playroom to keep your little ones preoccupied.

Y2BFit

Where: 7101 Emlen Street, Mount Airy
Hours: Monday and Thursday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 9 a.m.
Price: $4 for one child, $6 for two, or a ten-visit package for $35

The playroom at Y2BFit’s quaint Mount Airy studio is small and can only host five little ones at a time while you get your butt kicked by one of the studio’s killer instructors. Because of that, only two children per family are allowed in the playroom at one time and pre-registration, which you can find here, is required. The studio also offers a few classes per week that are BYO Baby Barre — no childcare necessary!

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