Life Beyond the School Gate: 35 Essential Activities for Families in South Jakarta
If nothing else relocating to Jakarta is an adventure! For some of our international families, the logistics can initially feel a little overwhelming. We often tell parents that thriving in this city relies on two pillars: securing the right education and building a fulfilling weekend lifestyle.
Once you have found your home, navigated the admissions process, and settled into your new routine, the question quickly shifts from "Which school?" and “Where to live?” to "What shall we do this weekend?"
While we are proud to be the leading British school in South Jakarta with rigorous academic standards, we also believe that play, exploration, and family time are vital for a child's development. Whether you are new to the city or a long-term resident looking for fresh inspiration, here is our curated guide to the best activities for children aged 2 to 10.
In This Guide:
Indoor Playgrounds & Theme Parks
Outdoor, Nature & Animals
Creative, Educational & Cultural
Sports & Skill Development
Quick Parents' Tips
Located in Pondok Indah Mall (PIM), SuperPark is a favourite for families living in South Jakarta to burn energy during the rainy season.
🎢 Indoor Playgrounds & Theme Parks
Perfect for rainy days or beating the Jakarta heat.
| Venue & Location | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| KidZania Jakarta SCBD (Pacific Place) | An immersive mini-city where children "work" over 100 different jobs to earn currency. Essential Jakarta experience. |
| SuperPark Indonesia Pondok Indah (PIM 2) | Finnish indoor activity park focusing on movement: trampolines, climbing walls, pedal cars, and obstacle courses. |
| Houbii Spot Pondok Indah (PIM 3) | A high-energy urban adventure park featuring ropes courses, massive trampolines, and deep foam pits. |
| Edokko Kota Kasablanka | A beautiful Japanese-themed playground featuring a massive ball pit, wooden structures, and pretend sushi shops. |
| Pororo Park Pondok Indah (PIM) | Based on the Korean cartoon, this park is perfect for toddlers with soft play areas, a train ride, and live shows. |
| Kidzooona Kemang (Lippo Mall) | Excellent for younger children (2-6), focusing on imaginative role-play (markets, fire stations) and a large ball pit. |
| Buumi Playscape Pacific Place / Plaza Senayan | Aesthetics-focused playground blending active play with guided sensory activities and reading nooks. |
| Miniapolis Plaza Indonesia | A premium, clean, and safe soft-play area specifically designed for toddlers and younger children. |
| Cocoland Gandaria City | Standard indoor playground with slides and climbing structures, conveniently located for shoppers. |
| Moja Museum Senayan (GBK) | Retro roller-skating rink combined with interactive art installations. Great for older kids (5+) and photos. |
The Wave Water Park Pondok Indah swimming pool South Jakarta
🌳 Outdoor, Nature & Animals
Fresh air, green parks, and animal encounters.
| Venue & Location | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Ragunan Zoo Pasar Minggu | Massive green space. Go at 7 AM to beat the heat and visit the world-class Schmutzer Primate Center. |
| Habitat Park SCBD | A compact, interactive mini-zoo nestled in the city where kids can feed and pet gentle animals. |
| The Wave Water Park Pondok Indah | Clean, well-maintained outdoor waterpark with a lazy river and flow rider directly next to the mall. |
| Playparq Kemang Kemang | A walled garden containing a wet splash pad and dry playground equipment. Features an on-site cafe. |
| The Playground Kemang | A classic outdoor play area with sandpits, swings, and water play. Very popular for playdates. |
| Cat Cabin Kemang | A quiet cafe filled with rescue cats. Teaches children how to interact gently with animals. |
| Urban Forest Cipete Cipete | A trendy, open-air green space with wide walking paths surrounded by excellent family-friendly restaurants. |
| Hutan Kota GBK Senayan | Jakarta's "Central Park." Vast grass fields perfect for picnics, running, and kite flying. |
| Tebet Eco Park Tebet | A modern public park with massive slides, sandpits, and bridges. *Requires registration via JAKI app.* |
| Taman Menteng / Langsat Menteng / Kebayoran Baru | Well-maintained public parks with walking tracks and basic playground equipment. Good for morning walks. |
With studios in Pondok Indah, Kemang and Ashta, Ganara Art is the go-to spot for creative weekends. Their sensory play and pottery classes are fantastic for developing fine motor skills outside the classroom
🎨 Creative, Educational & Cultural
Museums, science, art, and cooking classes.
| Venue & Location | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Youreka Science Kuningan | Interactive science center using role-play to teach biology, physics, and chemistry concepts. |
| Youreka Kids Farm Kuningan | Indoor edutainment center teaching kids about farming, animal care, and food processing. |
| Ganara Art PIM 2 / Kemang / Ashta | The premier art hub in Jakarta offering pottery (wheel/hand), painting, and messy sensory classes. |
| ABC Cooking Studio Senayan City | Structured Japanese cooking classes where children make full meals or desserts from scratch. |
| Dapur Anak Kemang | A dedicated cooking school designed specifically for children to learn basic culinary skills. |
| Museum Layang-Layang Pondok Labu | The Kite Museum. A cultural gem where kids learn kite history and make their own to take home. |
| Museum MACAN Kebon Jeruk | Modern art museum. Check their schedule for the "Children's Art Space" and family workshops. |
| National Museum Central Jakarta | "Museum Gajah." Vast archeological collection. Great for introducing older kids to Indonesian history. |
| Rimba Baca Cilandak | A beautiful, cozy children's library with a vast collection of English and Indonesian books. |
Launching this January, the new Saturday Football Club at ISJ is open to the entire South Jakarta community. We welcome players from all schools to train on our premium pitch and enjoy world-class coaching.
⚽ Sports & Skill Development
Structured academies and physical skills.
| Venue & Location | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Football at ISJ Pondok Indah (ISJ) | Brazilian Soccer Schools football academy. Unique community access to premium facilities at The Independent School. |
| RockStar Academy Plaza Indonesia / Gandaria | A comprehensive academy offering gymnastics, dance, ballet, and martial arts all in one membership. |
| The Funtastic Gym Pondok Indah (PIM 2) | Structured gymnastics classes excellent for building gross motor skills in toddlers and young kids. |
| IndoClimb Kemang (Lippo Mall) | Indoor rock climbing gym with a dedicated colorful "fun wall" section for beginners. |
| Jungle Padel Lebak Bulus (Adhyaksa) | Padel tennis courts with a dedicated Kids Academy. Easier than tennis for young beginners. |
| Anak Air Swim School Pondok Indah / Fatmawati | Specialized swim lessons focusing on water safety and stroke correction, starting from babies. |
- Socks: Always carry grip socks for kids and regular socks for adults; almost all indoor venues (especially trampoline parks) require them.
- Traffic: For SCBD/Senayan locations, try to travel against the rush hour flow (e.g., leave South Jakarta after 9 AM) or use the MRT where possible.
- Booking: Places like Tebet Eco Park often require pre-registration via the JAKI app for entry.
ISJ is Jakarta's leading British international school for children aged 2–13, delivering the gold-standard English National Curriculum. Driven by our hand-picked teachers from top UK independent schools, our pupils consistently achieve remarkably high academic results. To see how Jakarta’s leading British school for children aged 2 to 13 uses singing to enrich learning, build confidence, and create a joyful, connected school community book a school tour.