The Kids’ Castle at Lakeside Mall is a Fairy Tale for both Children and Parents

Disclosure :: this post is sponsored by Lakeside Shopping Center but all opinions are our own. 

The Kids’ Castle at Lakeside Shopping Center opened last year, and it has quickly earned the stamp of approval from New Orleans area families. The fairy tale themed play space was thought up and heralded by a group of moms, and it shows!

When I heard about a new public play space opening up at the mall, I had my concerns. I had an early walker and a crawler,  and I was worried about crowds, germs, and safety. Upon my first visit, I realized that any thought or concern I had envisioned, they had long solved.

They created a dream space for young families, and the best part is that it’s free!

When you enter the Kids’ Castle, you check in with a security guard who gives your child a wrist band that gives you an allotted time to play helping to keep the crowds in check and also helping us parents usher our children out when our turn is over. You can drop your shoes into a cubby before putting on your socks. Then, you visit a state of the art hand washing station before entering the play area. The hand washing station, in addition to the twice a day cleanings of the castle, helps to keep the space clean and inviting. My boys get a kick out of washing their hands when they enter and when they leave, and it helps to keep this mom at ease during high germ seasons.

The play space is so well thought out. The carpet is padded.  The water dispensers are made for filling bottles, not for drinking out of them. There is a play area for the littlest littles to crawl and explore, and another interactive play area that is perfect for older littles with slides and tunnels galore! And there are even Kids’ Castle employees monitoring the areas to keep an eye on kids and make sure everyone is being safe and considerate in the shared space.

And, now let’s talk about my favorite feature, the family spaces available at the Kids’ Castle. There is a family restroom with a full sized toilet and a toddler sized toilet side by side. There are changing areas so that you can change your kiddos in a space designed for families. And the absolute best part is that there are 3 luxurious nursing rooms where you can nurse and feed your baby in a calm, private space. Did I mention this space is free and clean and beautiful to boot?!

There is no dropping your kids off. You must stay with them. But, trust me mommas, you are going to want to, because this space was designed with parents in mind. There is a very comfortable couch area where you can sit and watch your kids play. And there is even seating where you can enjoy a meal and charge your phone at the same time.

We venture to the Kids’ Castle at least once a week as a treat after running errands or to escape the weather outside, and every time I leave, I marvel at the fact that this is a free service provided at no expense to our family. The smiles are omnipresent on my boys’ faces as they slide and climb to their hearts content, and I get to be the fun mom without them knowing that it’s really a treat for me as well!

Summer is heading our way, and the heat is cranking up.  But, don’t worry NOLA parents, Kids’ Castle has you covered!

Kids’ Castle Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 11am to 7pm
Sunday: 12pm to 6pm

Scheduled Cleaning Times:
3:00pm – 3:30pm

FOR CHILDREN UNDER 51″

Located near the Food Court Entrance

Catherine Karas
Catherine followed her college sweetheart (and now wife) Claire to New Orleans after they both graduated from the University of Georgia. She is a twin mom, a stay at home mom, a boy mom, a Disney mom, and a 2 mom family mom...just to name a few. She throws a mean toddler play date and loves to host small humans in her home for themed out events! She is often planning her next great family adventure, and she is never scared to pack her twins up for a trip solo! Her parenting mantra is "embrace the chaos", and there is plenty of that when raising twin boys! You can follow her family adventures on instagram @krewedekaras

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