Child care and preschool
Parents’ Night Out: Who Runs Them, Ages and Costs
Who runs kids’ night out programs across the US, what ages they take, what’s included and what one location charges, plus drop-in childcare for other nights and what to ask before you book.
A parents’ night out, also called a kids’ night out, is three to five hours of supervised fun for kids on a Friday or Saturday evening, usually with pizza, games, crafts and a movie or swim. YMCAs, Life Time clubs, kids’ gyms like My Gym, The Little Gym and KidStrong, Code Ninjas, gymnastics gyms, parks departments and churches run them, mostly for potty-trained kids about 3 to 12. Posted prices we found ran from free to $84 a child.
On this page
13 kinds of parents’ night out and drop-in care
Grouped by who runs them. Each program sets its own dates and prices by location, so the prices here are one location’s posted price, with where and when; yours will differ. Facts come from the programs’ own pages and, for some franchise gyms, the local family calendars that post their nights.
YMCA and Life Time parents’ night out
YMCA Parents’ Night Out
- When
- Friday or Saturday evenings, often 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Example: YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, $25 members, $35 others
- Ages
- Varies by Y; some from 8 weeks, many 3 or 4 to 12
Good for Families with babies or a wide spread of ages
Many local Ys run a monthly or weekly parents’ night out with games, crafts, gym time, often a swim and dinner. Each Y sets its own ages, dates and prices. Chattanooga’s runs every Friday, 5 to 9 p.m., rotating among four branches, for ages 8 weeks to 11, dinner included; register by noon the Thursday before. Bloomington-Normal’s (Illinois) is members-only at $45, and Whatcom Family YMCA in Bellingham, Washington, charges $40 for members and $60 for others.
- Dinner often included
- Swim time at many Ys
- Register days ahead
- Member prices lower
Life Time Parents Night Out
- When
- Weekends, up to 3 hours
- Cost
- Included with a Life Time junior membership
- Ages
- Usually 3 or 4 to 13 (varies by club)
Good for Families who are already Life Time members
Life Time clubs run themed Parents Night Out events on weekends for up to three hours, with a pizza party or a healthy dinner. It’s included with an active junior membership, and every child who comes must have one, so non-members can’t book. Kids must be fully potty trained. Life Time posts a ratio of one staff member to 10 children for these nights, and you can leave the club. Reserve on your club’s event schedule.
- Free with junior membership
- Posted ratio 10 kids per adult
- Fully potty trained
- Parents may leave the club
Kids’ gyms, swim schools and coding centers
Franchise locations set their own nights and prices. Check your local gym’s page, app or the family calendar in your area.
My Gym Parents’ Night Out
- When
- Often 5:30–8:30 p.m., Friday or Saturday
- Cost
- Example: My Gym North San Antonio, $49 (May 2026)
- Ages
- Usually 3 to 10 (some gyms 2 to 13)
Good for Preschoolers who love active play
My Gym’s franchise gyms run three-hour parents’ nights of games, rides, songs and relays, a pizza dinner and a show to wind down. My Gym Skokie (Illinois) holds one every third Friday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., for ages 3 to 9. My Gym North San Antonio charged $49 with cheese pizza, and families brought a labeled water bottle and a spare set of clothes. Gyms we saw don’t refund but give credit for another night with 24 hours’ notice.
- Pizza dinner
- Three hours
- Credit, not refunds
The Little Gym Parents’ Survival Night
- When
- Select Friday and Saturday evenings, about 3 hours
- Cost
- Example: The Little Gym Fort Worth Southwest, $47 (June 2026)
- Ages
- Usually 3 to 12, potty independent
Good for Kids who already take classes there
The Little Gym calls its version Parents’ Survival Night: about three hours of themed games, gym time and music with its instructors, a craft and a snack or pizza, then a movie. Schedules vary by gym. Fort Worth Southwest’s was for ages 3 to 10 at $47, with 10% off for children in classes; Boise’s ran 5 to 8 p.m. for ages 3 to 12 at $50, with LEGO building from Snapology after the gym games.
- Themed nights
- Discount for enrolled kids
- Must be potty independent
KidStrong Parents’ Night Out
- When
- Often Friday or Saturday, 5–8 p.m.
- Cost
- Example: KidStrong Creve Coeur, MO, $35 members, $45 others
- Ages
- Usually 4 to 11
Good for Kids who like obstacle courses
KidStrong’s training centers turn their obstacle courses and games into a drop-off night, with pizza and sometimes a craft to take home. Members book in the KidStrong app, and many centers take non-members too. KidStrong Creve Coeur, near St. Louis, listed nights through February 2027, 5 to 8 p.m., for ages 4 to 9 at $35 for members and $45 for others, dinner included.
- Obstacle courses and games
- Pizza dinner
- Book in the KidStrong app
Code Ninjas Parents’ Night Out
- When
- Evenings, often 3 hours
- Cost
- Example: Code Ninjas Plymouth, MN, $49 (Dec 12, 2026)
- Ages
- 5 to 14 (some centers 5 to 12)
Good for Kids who love Minecraft and Roblox
Code Ninjas centers run nights of coding activities, group challenges, games and STEM projects for kids 5 to 14, with no coding experience needed. Many add pizza and video games such as Minecraft and Roblox. In Plymouth, Minnesota, the city’s recreation site lists the Code Ninjas night on Saturday, Dec 12, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m., for ages 5 to 12 at $49.
- No coding experience needed
- Coding, games and STEM
- Pizza at many centers
Goldfish Swim School Kids Night Out
- When
- Evenings, 2½ hours
- Cost
- Goldfish’s blog: $30 first child, $25 each extra (undated)
- Ages
- Potty-trained kids enrolled in lessons
Good for Swim-school kids who’d rather be in the pool
Goldfish’s Kids Night Out is two and a half hours of a small-group swim lesson, pool play with water toys, a snack such as pizza or popcorn, and crafts, games or a movie. Its blog says kids must be potty trained and enrolled in lessons, and you prepay at your school. Don’t confuse it with Family Night Out, an open family swim you join: at Goldfish Mundelein, Illinois, that’s free for members and $5 a child for others.
- Swim lesson plus pool play
- For enrolled swimmers
- Family Night Out isn’t drop-off
Parents’ night out at gymnastics gyms
Gymnastics gym Kids’ Night Out
- When
- Friday or Saturday, 3 to 4½ hours
- Cost
- Example: Metroplex Gymnastics, Allen, TX, $28 plus tax
- Ages
- Usually 3 or 4 to 12; some to 17
Good for Burning off energy before bed
Local gymnastics and ninja gyms run some of the most frequent nights: open gym on trampolines, foam pits and ninja courses, group games, pizza and a movie, and you usually don’t need to be enrolled. Metroplex in Allen, Texas, runs Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 to 11 p.m., for ages 3 to 12 at $28 plus tax, with curbside pickup by wristband code. San Diego Gymnastics charges members $42 and others $84; Olympia in St. Louis, $36 for a first child and $22 for a second.
- Enrollment often not needed
- Wear gym clothes
- Sibling prices common
Parks and rec and church parents’ nights
Parks and recreation departments
- When
- Example: first Friday of the month, 6–10 p.m.
- Cost
- Example: City of Moore, OK, $20 passholders, $25 others
- Ages
- Example: 3 to 12 (Moore, OK)
Good for The lowest price in town
City recreation centers often run the least expensive nights. Moore, Oklahoma, holds one on the first Friday of the month at The Station, 6 to 10 p.m., with crafts, board and video games, basketball, a movie and pizza; each age group is capped at 15, and late pickup costs $30. New York City Parks ran its first free Parents’ Night Out for ages 6 to 13 in August 2026, with dinner and activities led by Parks staff.
- Often the cheapest
- Small, capped groups
- List allergies at sign-up
Church parents’ nights out
- Cost
- Often free; example: SouthPark Church, Charlotte, free
- Ages
- Varies; example: 1 to 10
Good for Families who want a free night close to home
Many churches host free or low-cost parents’ nights, some for their own families and some open to the neighborhood. SouthPark Church in Charlotte held a free one in February 2026, 6 to 8 p.m., for ages 1 to 10, with care from Babysitters of CLT and limited spots booked through Eventbrite. Who does the caring varies most here, from paid sitters to volunteers, so ask.
- Often free
- Ask who’s watching
- Spots go fast
Drop-in childcare for other nights
For a night that isn’t on anyone’s calendar, or a few hours on a weekday.
Hourly drop-in childcare centers
- When
- By the hour; some open until midnight on weekends
- Cost
- Example: Kids By The Hour, Jacksonville, FL, $13 an hour
- Ages
- Often 6 weeks or older to 12
Good for A night out on your schedule, not theirs
Drop-in centers take kids by the hour with no contract, for errands, appointments or an evening out. Kids By The Hour in Jacksonville is open until 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and midnight Fridays and Saturdays for ages 8 weeks to 12, at $13 an hour for drop-in care; its staff have 40 hours of Florida child care training and CPR. Expect to register your child before the first visit.
- No contract
- Open late at some
- Register before the first visit
Drop-in childcare apps
- Cost
- Set by each center; one Chicago listing: from $60 a session
- Ages
- Varies by center
Good for Same-day care in a big city
Apps like DropIn let you book an hour, a half day, a full day or an evening at a state-licensed daycare center with an open spot, and pay in the app. DropIn is in a handful of states so far, listing centers in New York, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin and Milwaukee, among other cities. Centers set their own prices and ages, shown before you book.
- State-licensed centers
- Same-day booking
- Pay in the app
Gym childcare while you work out
- Cost
- Varies by gym and membership
- Ages
- Example: from 3 months (Life Time)
Good for An hour or two while you’re in the building
A gym’s child watch is cheaper than a night out, but it isn’t drop-off care: you stay on site. Life Time’s Kids Academy, for example, takes children from 3 months for up to 2½ hours (2 for infants) while parents use the club, with posted ratios of 4 infants, 8 toddlers or 12 older kids per staff member. Time limits vary by club.
- You stay on site
- Short visits only
- Ratios posted at Life Time
Parents’ night out at a glance: ages, hours and prices
Prices change by town and by year. Each price below is one location’s posted price, named, so you know what you’re comparing against.
| Program | Typical ages | Typical length | One posted price |
|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA | Varies; 8 weeks to 11 in Chattanooga | 4–5 hours | $25 members, $35 others (Chattanooga, TN) |
| Life Time | 3 or 4 to 13 | Up to 3 hours | Included with a junior membership |
| My Gym | About 3 to 10 | 3 hours | $49 (North San Antonio, TX) |
| The Little Gym | 3 to 12 | About 3 hours | $47 (Fort Worth Southwest, TX) |
| KidStrong | 4 to 11 | 3 hours | $35 members, $45 others (Creve Coeur, MO) |
| Code Ninjas | 5 to 14 | 3 hours | $49 (Plymouth, MN) |
| Goldfish Kids Night Out | Enrolled swimmers | 2½ hours | $30, $25 each extra child (Goldfish blog, undated) |
| Gymnastics gyms | 3 or 4 to 12 | 3 to 4½ hours | $28 plus tax (Metroplex, Allen, TX) |
| Parks and rec | 3 to 12 in Moore | 4 hours | $20–$25 (Moore, OK); free (NYC Parks) |
| Churches | Varies | 2 to 3 hours | Free (SouthPark Church, Charlotte, NC) |
| Drop-in center | 8 weeks to 12 | By the hour | $13 an hour (Kids By The Hour, Jacksonville, FL) |
Most programs knock a few dollars off for members, siblings or booking early. AGA Gymnastics, for one, charges $32 in advance and $37 on the day, and Olympia in St. Louis drops to $22 for a second child and $14 for a third.
How to find a parents’ night out near you
There’s no national list, because every Y, gym and rec center sets its own dates. These are the fastest places to look:
- Your YMCA. Search your local Y’s website for “Parents’ Night Out” or ask at the front desk. Many post a year’s dates at once.
- Kids’ gyms and swim schools. My Gym, The Little Gym, KidStrong, Code Ninjas and Goldfish locations post their nights on their own location pages or apps.
- Gymnastics and ninja gyms. Search “kids night out” with your town’s name. Some gyms only list the night in their parent portal the month it happens.
- Your city’s parks and rec site. Look under youth programs or special events. Groups are usually small and capped, so sign up early.
- Local family calendars. Macaroni KID, the Fun 4 Kids sites and Kids Out and About post local nights every week.
- Churches near you. Check their events pages; some are open to the whole neighborhood, not just members.
What to ask before you book
A parents’ night out is a group of kids you don’t know with staff you haven’t met. Ask:
- How many kids per adult? Caring for Our Children, the national health and safety standards, recommends no more than 10 children ages 6 to 8 per adult in a center, and 12 for ages 9 to 12, with fewer for younger kids. Life Time posts 10 to 1 for its nights.
- Who’s watching, and are they checked? Ask about background checks and CPR and first aid. Monroe County YMCA says its staff are CPR certified; AGA Gymnastics says its staff are background-checked and SafeSport-certified.
- Is it licensed? States regulate hourly and drop-in care differently. For a drop-in center, ask whether it holds a state child care license, then look it up through your state’s page on Childcare.gov.
- What’s for dinner, and how do you handle allergies? Most serve pizza. Foothills Area YMCA bans snacks with peanuts, Moore’s rec center asks for allergies at sign-up, and some gyms let kids bring their own food.
- Must my child be potty trained? Nearly every program here requires it; a few Ys take babies in diapers if you bring supplies.
- Is there swimming, and who can swim? Bring a suit and towel to a Y; Bloomington-Normal’s keeps kids under 3 out of the pool.
- Who can pick up, and what if I’m late? Ask about ID checks or pickup codes (Metroplex uses wristband codes) and late fees ($30 in Moore).
- What if we cancel? Some refund with 48 hours’ notice; many franchise gyms give credit instead.
- Can you support my child’s needs? Foothills Area YMCA asks families of children with disabilities or medical needs to meet the childcare director first.
Parents’ night out ideas
For kids, the theme is the draw. Nights we saw included The Floor Is Lava, parkour, pirates and mermaids, Mad Scientist, glow nights, pajama parties, Boo Bash at Halloween and Pajama Jingle Jam at the holidays. Pool parties are a favorite at Ys with pools.
For December, look for shopping nights. Foothills Area YMCA runs a Saturday afternoon pool party with Christmas crafts on Dec 12, 2026, from noon to 4:30, and a Tulsa Y branch has a four-hour Cookies & Cocoa drop-off from 11 a.m. on Dec 19. Life Time clubs run holiday drop-offs, like a Gingerbread Hunt, so parents can finish holiday plans.
For you, plan around the window. Most nights are three hours, so pick something close by: dinner within 15 minutes of pickup, a movie, or a quiet night at home. Keep your phone on in case staff call.
- No program nearby? Trade nights with another family: one couple hosts both families’ kids for a pizza and movie night, then you swap next month.
- Several kids? Ask about sibling prices before you book. The second child often costs less.
- Want it for a birthday? Many of the same gyms rent their space for parties; see our guide to kids’ birthday party places.
Questions parents ask
What is a parents’ night out?
A drop-off evening for kids, usually three to five hours on a Friday or Saturday, run by a YMCA, gym, rec center, church or kids’ activity business. Kids play games, do crafts, often swim or use the gym, eat dinner (usually pizza) and wind down with a movie, while parents go out or rest at home. You book a spot ahead and pay per child. The Little Gym calls it Parents’ Survival Night; gymnastics gyms often call it Kids’ Night Out.
How much does a parents’ night out cost?
It depends on the program and town. Posted prices we found in 2026 ran from free (some churches and New York City Parks’ first night) to $84 a child for non-members at San Diego Gymnastics. Many land between $25 and $50 a child: Chattanooga’s YMCA charges $25 for members and $35 for others, My Gym North San Antonio $49, and KidStrong Creve Coeur $35 to $45. Life Time’s is included with a junior membership. Siblings often cost less.
Does the YMCA do parents’ night out?
Many local YMCAs do, but each Y runs its own, so dates, ages and prices differ. Chattanooga’s Y holds one every Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. for ages 8 weeks to 11, with dinner, at $25 for members and $35 for others. Bloomington-Normal’s in Illinois is members-only at $45, and Whatcom Family YMCA in Washington charges $40 and $60. Check your local Y’s site or front desk, and bring a swimsuit if there’s pool time.
Is Life Time parents’ night out free?
It’s included with an active Life Time junior membership, so there’s no separate charge, but each child who attends must hold one; non-members can’t book. Nights run on weekends for up to three hours with a theme and dinner, for kids roughly 3 or 4 to 13 depending on the club, who must be fully potty trained. Reserve through your club’s event schedule. Life Time posts a ratio of 10 children per staff member for these events.
What age is parents’ night out for?
Most programs take kids about 3 to 12 who are fully potty trained. Some YMCAs take babies: Chattanooga’s from 8 weeks and Bloomington-Normal’s from 3 months, if you send diapers and food. Code Ninjas goes up to 14, and one gymnastics gym, AGA, takes kids up to 17. Drop-in childcare centers often take babies from 6 or 8 weeks. Check the age range for your child’s exact night, since some split kids into age groups.
What is drop-in daycare?
Childcare you book by the hour or day, with no contract or enrollment. Drop-in centers take kids for errands, appointments, work or a night out; some, like Kids By The Hour in Jacksonville, Florida, stay open until midnight on weekends, at $13 an hour there. Apps such as DropIn sell open spots at state-licensed daycare centers in some cities. Ask whether a drop-in center is licensed, since states regulate short-term care differently.
What should my child bring to parents’ night out?
Check your program’s list, but commonly: a labeled water bottle, a change of clothes, a swimsuit and towel if there’s pool time, gym clothes for a gymnastics gym, and their own food if they have allergies or the program doesn’t serve dinner. Monroe County YMCA asks for a sack dinner; most others serve pizza. Babies and toddlers need diapers, wipes and food. Write down who will pick up and how staff can reach you.
How we made this list
We ran Exa searches for parents’ night out programs at national chains, YMCAs, gymnastics gyms, parks departments and churches, and for drop-in childcare, then read the programs’ own pages in October 2026. Several franchise gyms post their nights only on local family calendars, so a few prices come from those listings, named in each entry. Prices are one location’s, with its name and the year where given; we left out programs we couldn’t confirm.
No one paid to be on it. It’s information to start from, not medical or legal advice: check services, costs and coverage with each provider before you book. Spotted something out of date, or run a place that belongs here? Write to hello@summerground.com.