A role-playing paradise for kids – become a farmer or little shopkeeper in seconds

Text & Photos /Viviyu

Taipei City really takes good care of its residents. During my visit to Sishisan South Village, I unexpectedly discovered the Xinyi Parent-Child Center here, where children under six can play with toys and educational tools for free. It’s a great way to help with their development. I wish I’d known about this earlier – I’m rushing to recommend it to everyone.

Address of Xinyi Civic Center: No. 50, Songqin St., Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Target Audience: Children under 6 years old and their caregivers.

Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays – First session 9:30–12:00; Second session 14:00–17:00.
Saturdays to Sundays – First session 9:30–11:00; Second session 13:00–14:30; Third session 15:30–17:00.
(Admission closes 30 minutes before the end of each session to maintain play quality for children.)
Closed on Mondays and public holidays as announced by the government.
You must complete the membership application process on the “Taipei City Parent-Child Centers and Childcare-Friendly Parks website” (http://taipei.parent-child.org.tw) to reserve and use the play area, parent-child activities, courses, and related services at this center.

This is also a great spot to take photos of Taipei 101, especially when there’s green grass and blue skies.

At first, we had no idea there were so many toys inside – we only spotted a cute little bumper car through the windows of the old building.

Once we saw this adorable heart-shaped dragon, we knew we’d found the right place. Just go in from here.

Each session has 5 walk-in spots available. Thanks to a kind mom’s tip, we managed to get the very last walk-in number. Wow, we’re actually getting to go into the parent-child center and play.

Upon entry, you’ll receive a clear plastic bag to store your camera or phone. Other items like backpacks must be stored in lockers and cannot be brought inside. Also, both adults and children must wear socks to enter.

Without any expectations, stepping inside felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden – every game seemed so unique and amazing.

0–2 Years Old Infant Zone: This area features a giant exploration dome for babies’ first crawls, offering a space where crawlers can freely explore. It also provides exclusive areas tailored to infants’ developmental needs, ensuring a comfortable, safe, and enjoyable space for pre-walkers and early walkers. The entire zone is decorated with natural, non-toxic, and antibacterial materials like wood, fabric, and fruit, allowing children to happily explore a new world in a cozy, rustic environment with warm, personal service.

0–6 Years Old Themed Play Area: This area features flexible thematic setups that change regularly, using plenty of natural and eco-friendly materials for toys, decorations, and activities. Each section has its own unique play table and incorporates cultural creativity elements into the themes, letting every child freely explore in a world of imagination.

Mysterious Air Raid Shelter
You can’t see what’s inside from the outside, encouraging kids to explore and discover what another world has to offer. There are actually many different toys to play with inside.

The stringing activity helps train children’s hand coordination through beading. My kid is a bit older and found it easy to do.

When you come to the scarecrow’s home, of course you should farm and pull up radishes. I’ve been doing farm tours lately and am no stranger to fieldwork.

Little farmers harvest time – pull up the radishes Up！
After pulling them up, remember to plant them back so the next child can enjoy the fun too, and to teach kids to put things back where they belong.

What does your ideal scarecrow look like? Does this one look a bit like Vinent? His eyes are smiling so wide they’ve turned into crescent moons~

Here you can be the owner of many shops. Start with the spicy chicken shop and the mulberry shop, then move on to the grilled meat skewers. Choose your role and get started.

Before long, a skewer of grilled meatballs is ready Up. Boss, how much for a skewer of meatballs?

This painting area is really wonderful. We came on short notice without extra clothes and didn’t have much time, so we didn’t let our kid join. But being able to paint freely here is amazing. Remember to bring an extra set of clothes for your child – that way you won’t have to worry about them getting messy Up！

They only sell grilled squid here, but there's also a dessert shop, Long Ji Dumpling Shop, and a pinball machine at Sisi South Village — the whole place is bustling!

At this point, you can play interactively with the kids, acting out pretend family games. I volunteered to be the customer getting ready to go shopping Up~

The boss asked me how much I wanted to buy. I said, "Can I buy everything all at once?" The boss said the scale couldn't handle it — can't be that greedy... haha

There are also toy tables that help train hand-eye coordination. Kids will find their own fun here without any need for adults to worry, and there’s also crowd control for entry so every child gets a turn to play.

Inside the small house at Sisi South Village, there’s a pinball machine. However, because marbles pose a choking hazard for toddlers, they need to be borrowed separately from the service desk, and it’s safer if an adult supervises.

Where should apples grow? Using an apple-throwing game to train kids’ throwing skills is also a great idea.

And of course, at the end, there’s the car zone that little boys love Up. You could really spend a whole afternoon here, and it’s free to enter — it’s just amazing. If you have kids under 6, hurry up and book online to bring them for some playtime~
 

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