Kids First Sports Center
Rating
Family of 4
Pricing here is per child and per program rather than a family gate admission, so the number depends entirely on whether you are booking a single open play session, a multi-week class session, a camp week, or a birthday party.
Duration
45-90 minutes for a class or open play session, about 2 hours for a birthday party
Best Ages
2 to 14 for the bulk of the programming, with competitive team tracks extending into the teen years. Preschool and parent-participation classes anchor the youngest end, recreational gymnastics and skill classes carry the elementary crowd, and older kids move into more advanced levels, teams, and camps. Confirm the minimum age for the specific class or open play session you want at kidsfirstsports.com, because age cutoffs differ by program.
About
Kids First Sports Center on E Kemper Road is one of the larger dedicated youth activity facilities on Cincinnati's northeast side, sitting in the Symmes and Loveland corridor within easy reach of Blue Ash, Montgomery, Mason, and Fields Ertel. It is a private, program-driven facility rather than a drop-in playspace, which is the single most important thing for a parent to understand before planning a visit. You are booking a class, an open play window, a camp week, or a birthday party, and the schedule is the thing that determines whether you can walk through the door on a given afternoon.
What draws families is the sheer amount of real equipment and floor space. Gymnastics is the anchor here, and the range runs from tumbling-for-the-first-time recreational classes through more advanced levels, with additional sport and skill programming layered on through the year. Because the levels are separated, a cautious 5 year old is not sharing the floor with kids working on back handsprings, which is exactly what makes the difference between a kid who quits after two weeks and one who asks to sign up again.
A practical rhythm that works well for local families: weekday mornings for preschool-age programming, when the school-age crowd is not there and the place is calmer, and weekday evenings or Saturday mornings for everyone else. That second window is the peak, so expect a full parking lot, a busy lobby, and limited viewing area seating between roughly 4:30 and 7 pm. If you have a younger sibling tagging along to watch, bring something for them to do.
On cost, treat this as per-child and per-program rather than a family admission. Open play, a multi-week class session, a camp week, and a party package are all priced differently, and all of them shift by season. Kids First posts current rates and the full schedule at kidsfirstsports.com, and calling (513) 489-7575 is the fastest way to confirm age minimums, whether a parent is expected on the floor for the youngest classes, and what is actually running that week.
What to expect on amenities: this is a working sports facility, so plan on functional restrooms and a viewing area rather than a cafe. Whether there is dedicated nursing or changing space is not something to assume, so call ahead if you are bringing a baby along to a sibling's class. Eat before or after at one of the many family-friendly options along Kemper Road and Fields Ertel.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
Unknown
Kid Meals
N/A
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings if you have a preschooler, since school-age classes are not running and the floor is calmer. Avoid the late afternoon changeover if crowds bother you
Wait Times
No admission line, since most activities run on registration or scheduled sessions. Expect a full parking lot and a busy lobby at the weekday evening peak, roughly 4:30 to 7 pm, and on Saturday mornings
Nearby Food
There is no full restaurant on site, so plan food around the visit. THE WOODEN BARREL is the closest sit-down option. The wider E Kemper Road, Fields Ertel, and Montgomery area is dense with family-friendly chains, fast casual spots, and coffee, so you are never more than a few minutes from a kid-approved meal. Summit Park in Blue Ash is also close if you want to turn a class into a longer outing with a playground stop and food nearby.
Why Kids Love It
Big open floor space with real gymnastics equipment gives kids a chance to flip, swing, and climb in ways no living room allows, and the payoff is immediate. Coaches here work with kids at every level from wobbly first-timers to competitive team athletes, so a nervous 5 year old is not thrown in with kids who already know how to do a back handspring.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Check kidsfirstsports.com for the current schedule before you drive out. Class times, open play windows, and camp weeks rotate through the year, and this is not a place you can reliably walk into unannounced.
- Confirm the age minimum and any parent-participation requirement for your specific class. The youngest programs often expect an adult on the floor, which changes what you wear and whether a second parent needs to come along for a sibling.
- Arrive early at the weekday evening peak between roughly 4:30 and 7 pm. That window is the busiest for both parking and lobby seating.
- Bring an activity for any sibling who is not participating. Viewing areas get crowded during peak class times and a bored 4 year old is a long 60 minutes.
- Ask about the birthday party packages well ahead of time if that is your plan. Weekend party slots at popular Cincinnati gymnastics facilities book out further than most parents expect.
What to Bring
- Fitted athletic clothes with no zippers, buttons, or snaps, which is standard for gymnastics floors
- Hair tie for longer hair
- Water bottle for each participating kid
- Socks or slip-on shoes for getting on and off the floor
- Something quiet for a non-participating sibling to do in the viewing area
- Swim gear if you have booked a water-based program, confirmed in advance with the front desk
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
Pricing here is per child and per program rather than a family gate admission, so the number depends entirely on whether you are booking a single open play session, a multi-week class session, a camp week, or a birthday party.
Kids First lists current rates for each of those on kidsfirstsports.
com, and rates change by season, so price your specific activity before you commit.
For an afternoon that includes a session plus a meal out afterward, most families land somewhere in the $40 to $80 range for a party of four, with camps and full class sessions running meaningfully higher because they are multi-day commitments.
Tips to Save
- Ask about sibling discounts and multi-class or session pricing when you register, since per-visit drop-in rates are almost always the most expensive way to use a facility like this.
- If you are testing whether your kid actually likes gymnastics or ninja before committing to a full session, look for a trial class or open play option rather than paying for a whole term up front.
- Camps often have early registration pricing, and party packages tend to bundle things you would otherwise pay for separately.
- Eat before you come, because there is no reason to buy food here when the Kemper Road and Montgomery corridors are minutes away.
Hours & Contact
Have a Question?
Frequently Asked Questions
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