Kids need to play every day to help them stay fit and healthy. In addition, when youngsters can burn off energy, they are happier and often calmer than when cooped up all the time. Whether your youngster enjoys playing outside or inside, you can enjoy exploring these six places where kids can burn off energy in the Westerville, Ohio, area.

Fun in the Jungle

There’s something exciting for everyone in the family at Fun in the Jungle. This family-entertainment center offers visitors putt-putt golf, mini bowling, a jungle play area, and an arcade room. When the weather is clear, the family can play the outdoor nine-hole putt-putt golf course and on days with poor weather, go inside and play on the smaller nine-hole course.

Kids 11 months to 10 years can go to Jungle Play Place with a large kids’ area, a toddler soft play zone, and the safari kid car area. Kids of all ages can play in the arcade with 15 different gaming units or try their hand at mini bowling. Fun in the Jungle has comfortable seating for parents watching their youngsters romp, jump, climb, and slide in the Jungle Play Place.

Location: 345 McGill St. in Sunbury.

Contact: 740-913-0692.

Westerville Community Center

The Westerville Community Center is the perfect place for kids, teens, and adults to burn off energy, especially on a cold and wet day. The 145,000-square-foot space has playgrounds for youngsters, fitness classes for every level, and even an indoor swimming pool. You’ll find over 45 cardiovascular machines, rows of free weights, and strength training machines on the upper level of the building in the fitness area. There’s even an indoor track for walking or jogging for those 14 and older.

During drop-in times, you can play basketball or volleyball inside the gymnasium, and those who want to defy gravity can use the climbing wall. In order to use the climbing wall, you must weigh at least 40 pounds and wear closed-toe shoes. If you and your older kids want to use the Westerville Community Center and need child care, they offer on-site child care for kids 6 months to 9 years of age.

After a busy day burning off energy at the Westerville Community Center, stop at any of the delicious restaurants in the Westerville area to refuel your body.

Location: 350 N. Cleveland Ave.

Contact: 614-901-6500.

Magic Mountain Fun Center

With so many thrilling things to do at Magic Mountain Fun Center, you’ll want to bring the family often. Let the youngsters run around and get exercise in the KidsGym Climbing Playland section of this family-fun center. They’ll enjoy all the interactive elements found in this part of Magic Mountain Fun Center. The older kids and adults will get a thrill bashing into each other when they use the bumper cars in the Krazy Kar Arena.

How about mini golf? When the weather is nice, you and your family can play on two of the challenging outdoor courses with beautiful landscaping, cascading streams, and even waterfalls. Magic Mountain Fun Center also has a large arcade where friends and families can play against each other, batting cages to enhance your hitting skills, and go-karts to feel the rush of wind in your hair.

Location: 5890 Scarborough Blvd. in Columbus.

Contact: 614-490-5071.

The Naz Cafe and Playplace

Imagine having coffee and snacks with friends while your youngsters play close by, all under one roof. You can do just that at The Naz Commons by The Naz Church. Naz Playplace is a wonderful space for young kids to interact with their peers while engaging their minds and bodies with interactive play elements. While your child is playing or being read to, enjoy a snack from the cafe with offerings such as personal pizzas, refreshing salads, or a make-your-own wrap.

Location: 4770 Hoover Road in Grove City.

Contact: 614-875-2551.

Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods is delightful to visit any time of the year and is the perfect place for kids to burn energy, especially after staying indoors for extended periods of time. This 761-acre park has an 11-acre lake surrounded by mixed forests of oak, hickory, and beech trees. Kids of all ages can stroll, walk, or jog along the 3.7-mile multipurpose trail complete with various fitness stations.

During the spring, you can enjoy seeing the trees bud out and flowers bloom, and in the summer, the kids can go fishing in the lake. Come to Sharon Woods in the fall to witness the stunning changing of the leaves, and in the winter, everyone can go sledding on the two sledding hills. You’ll also find a 7.5-acre natural play area where youngsters can climb trees, dig in the mud, and go off-trail to get a deeper connection to nature.

Location: 6911 Cleveland Ave.

Contact: 614-315-5520.

Bubly Tubing Park at Mad River Mountain

Once the snow falls and Mad River Mountain opens for the winter season, take the family for outdoor fun at Bubly Tubing Park. Tubing requires no previous skills and everyone in the family can enjoy sliding down the tubing hill.

You’ll get extra exercise climbing back up to the top of the tubing hill to swoosh back down again and again. If you don’t feel like hiking back to the top of the hill, ride one of the conveyor belts that transport you to the top. You’ll need to be at least 42-inches tall to ride tubes down Bubly Tubing Park.

Location: 1000 Snow Valley Road in Zanesfield.

Contact: 800-231-7669.

Kids love running and jumping and playing to burn off energy. Take advantage of these cool places where your youngsters can burn off energy in the Westerville, Ohio, area. Which place do your kids love going to time and again? Is there a place you can recommend taking your kids for fun and exercise that we missed? If so, let us know. We always enjoy learning about new places to take your kids to burn off energy in our area.