It's raining, or maybe it's just too doggone hot to be outdoors. Or maybe it's too cold (who knows – it IS Texas, after all). Or - the air quality (pollen) is just too outrageous.

Either way, the Woodlands Mall can be a great alternative to your usual kid-friendly spots around town. After you find a parking space and unload the kids, the rest is golden.

There is plenty for a child ages 2 to 12 years old to explore and enjoy at our mall! And for you, mom, there are nursing lounges, family bathrooms, stroller rentals, and an abundance of stores and goodies to make the visit with kids pleasant for everyone.

Exploring The Woodlands Mall with kids:

Before we get into all the stores your child is sure to adore, let's talk about some of the exploratory parts of the mall that little ones typically appreciate:

Car Buggies

Located at the Acorn Entrance near Macy's and the Pine Cone Entrance near Dillard's, these cute little cars were recently updated and are fun for imaginative play while zipping around the mall with mom. Cost is $10, and you can pay cash or card.

Children's Play Area

Located on the 1st floor in front of JC Penney, the play area is a small area set aside for your busy little tyke to hop, crawl, and jump while you sit along the sidelines (bench seating) and supervise.

The Lawn

Located outside the main mall entrance in the central courtyard area adjacent to Shake Shack and Pottery Barn. Little ones from tots to teens run, do cartwheels, and have fun on the turf lawn. On designated days, there's a family-friendly movie showing on the big screen or special seasonal lawn activities.

Elevators & Escalators

Seems silly to add this to the list? Well, riding an elevator or escalator is a bit different when you're a kid versus being an adult. Many kids enjoy the kinda-scary, kinda-fun experience. Let them press the floor button on the elevator, and it could make all the difference in the world!

Kiddie Rides

There area only a handful of coin-operated kiddie rides, but that's enough to delight any child! The kiddie rides are located in front of the Forever 21 entrance, adjacent to Starbucks. Four quarters ($1) per ride, and a change machine is on site.

Food Court Samples

The court isn't just for buying food. Most days if you get the timing right, you can walk through the food court upstairs and sample (for free) nuggets, orange chicken, healthy wraps, cookie bites, and more. The restaurants will gladly hand a sample to your kiddos with your permission. What a treat, to enjoy all these new flavors just by passing through!

Carousel

Kids can't resist a ride on the zebra! Ride the carousel. It costs only $2 per ride. The Woodlands Mall carousel hours 11:00am – 8:00pm Mondays – Thursdays, and 11:00am – 8:00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:00pm – 6:00pm on Sundays.

Animal Tour

Hop on the Animal Tour on the 1st floor, near the Children’s play area, and go for a ride around The Woodlands Mall. Animals are motorized, easy to maneuver, & scoot along at a perfect walking pace. Safe for children ages 6 and up. Prices vary depending on ride time, but most recent (April 2023) the posted price was $12.99 for 10 minutes.

Store Racks and Corridors

If you're intent on letting your child have a fun time at the mall, you have to relax a bit. Let him/her out of the stroller to hide within the racks of clothes (safely and without creating a disturbance for other visitors or a mess for the store). Hiding in the clothing racks of a department store is one of the many joys of childhood.

Swan Boat rentals

On Saturdays and Sundays (or weekdays, depending on the season), swan boats can be rented directly from The Woodlands Mall. The boats are a fabulous way to leisurely explore the Woodlands Waterway. CLICK HERE to learn more about the pop-up kiosk where you can rent swan pedal boats at the mall.

Immersive Gamebox

With motion tracking, projection mapping, touch screens, and surround sound, Immersive Gamebox is a fun gaming experience for ages 5 and up

Seasonal Displays

Usually situated near the 1st floor Macy’s entrance, special seasonal displays for kids include photos with the Easter Bunny in the spring, Santa visits in the late fall / early winter, and other fun happenings.

Stores for Kids at The Woodlands Mall:

Lolli and Pops

What's better than a candy store? Lolli and Pops has all kinds of candy treats – including truffles and gourmet chocolates - by the ounce, and some by the pack.

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Your child can customize his own furry friend in just a few minutes! Step on the pedal to magically fill the animal with cotton stuffing, participate in a cute ritual for the animal’s heart, choose an optional scent and/or sound, and dress the new friend in a hand-picked getup.

Children's Place

Mainly clothing items (BOOOOORING!), but slightly older kids enjoy the accessories and fun graphic t-shirts in this store.

Macys (Toy Dept.)

During the Christmas season, Macy's partners with Toys R’ Us to bring you a complete toy department in the second level of their store.

Lego Store

The Lego Store is not currently offering the monthly build events, but they do have occasionally in-store events that you can sign up for. Additionally, pop in at any time to build something cool with the LEGOS on display.

Barnes & Noble

The kid's department at Barnes & Noble is a goldmine! Explore new picture book and activity sets, play with toys, games, and stuffed animals, or sit around the mini stage to conduct an impromptu storytime with your little one.

Apple Store

Your little gadget lover will enjoy having creative playtime on the latest apps loaded to the computers and iPads at the Apple Store. There’s even an Arcade demo on display that they can test drive. The store also occasionally offers fun, educational classes for kids, so check the schedule.

Claire’s

Bracelets, colorful hair extensions, and stuffies, oh my! Girly girls adore Claire’s for all their irresistible accessories.

Game Stop

Stop here with your video game enthusiast so he can check out the latest and greatest games and equipment.

Pet Fair

The pet store at the mall is a crowd pleaser. Sometimes the staff will take out the animals so you can show them some TLC, which is a favorite with many kids! Seasonal pets such as bunny rabbits and chicks during Easter are a delight to see.

Snip-Its

If it's time for a haircut, Snip-Its will provide a kid-friendly atmosphere with games and movies, kid styling chairs, and magic box prizes.

Bath & Body Works

Another crowd pleaser. While it's usually the moms who adore this store the most, little ones enjoy sampling lotions and smelling all the interesting fragrances (especially the candles - but be careful because they're made of glass)

Places to Eat with Kids at The Woodlands Mall:

You don't have to leave the mall when it's time for a meal or a treat. The mall is full of treat places that are great for the kids. If they’re craving something sweet, here’s a quick list: Cinnabon, Marble Slab, Great American Cookie Company, Dippin Dots, Creamistry.

Crowd-pleasing favorites for meals:

• Shake Shake – burgers, fries, shakes, and patio seating with easy access to The Lawn.
• Urban Bricks - fully customizable and premade pizza and pastas as well as desserts and salads
• Chick-fil-A – Nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and salads
• Auntie Anne’s, Wetzel’s Pretzels, PretzelMaker – Soft baked pretzels, pretzel dogs, and cold drinks
• Cheesecake Factory – The restaurant has a good kid’s menu, cool vibe, and kids enjoy look through the glass case at all the cheesecake confections.