Spacious triple play zone for families – safe and fun for little ones to run and jump

Concerned your little crawler or walker might get bumps and bruises? Don’t worry. At the Sanchong Zhongxin Public Childcare Center’s Parent-Child Picture Book Library, the super spacious area lets tiny tots move about freely without any hazard. Toys and picture books for babies are all concentrated in the four corners of the room, leaving an exceptionally wide open space in the center. It turns out that every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 AM, this space transforms into storytelling time with Sister Bear, and the large adjacent room, which is only open on Saturdays, serves as a venue for parent-child physical activities. The generous sense of space makes playtime extra fun for both kids and parents.

Located just a 2-minute walk from Xianse Temple Station on Taipei Metro’s Xinzhu Line, the Sanchong Zhongxin Public Childcare Center’s Parent-Child Picture Book Library is free and does not require reservations on weekdays, making it a play paradise for toddlers under 2. Opened in December 2011, in addition to offering public childcare services, it is also open to the general public. Its biggest highlight? “No big toys!” — yet it boasts a rare large space in the city. After taking your child’s temperature and completing disinfection, a staff member will give you a tour of the environment, including the non-public childcare center, picture book area, restrooms, and nursing room. Plus, there are at least 30 surveillance cameras keeping an eye on the children, giving parents peace of mind.

Upon entering the main activity space — the picture book area — you might initially feel the space is too big and a bit empty with not much to do. But you’ll soon discover the advantages of the large space. With no support beams, plenty of windows, and spotless floors, the air circulation here is especially refreshing compared to typical parent-child centers. Also, babies just learning to crawl have lots of room to practice, and moms don’t need to worry about bigger kids accidentally stepping on them. New walkers also don’t have to fear falling and can even practice crawling or walking all around the space. Weekday visits mean even fewer people, so you can enjoy it even more!

Aside from the central area with plenty of room for movement, there are also some small toys and teaching aids along the walls, such as a wooden maze to help develop fine motor skills, and special flooring that stimulates infant tactile senses. Additionally, there are picture book shelves, toy cars, mini slides, and a “big bowl” designed to train balance and vestibular development. But don’t think that’s all the toys available — parents can show ID and check with the front desk staff to browse and rent toys from the toy catalog. Popular items include play kitchens loved by little girls, construction vehicles and wooden instruments favored by little boys!

This rarely seen large space is well utilized. Every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 AM, it becomes storytelling time with Sister Bear, with sessions lasting about 15 minutes. Both kids and adults can enjoy the stories lying down or sitting up. And here’s a little secret — the normally closed adjacent room also offers a huge space where the center occasionally hosts parent-child physical activity sessions led by professional fitness instructors. These fun sessions have both parents and kids laughing non-stop, often exclaiming, “We want to come back again next time!”

Sanchong Zhongxin Public Childcare Center
Address: 2F, No. 511-515, Section 5, Zhongxin Road, Sanchong District, New Taipei City (Take the elevator to the 2nd floor from Exit 1 of Xianse Temple Station on the Xinzhu Line of Taipei Metro)
Phone: (02) 2995-3933
Business Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00, 18:00–20:00; Saturday 10:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00