Swimming at Parkway
No. 113, Mao Tse Tung (St. 245), Parkway Square
Inside the Parkway Square Shopping Center lies one of the most easily accessible swimming pools in Phnom Penh. The indoor pool is accompanied with a large kiddies pool, which offers a shallow area where small kids and toddlers can play in relative safety.
Roller Skating at Sorya
Corner Street 63 & 142
On the top floor of the Sorya Shopping Center sits one of the cornerstones of almost everyone's childhood past times - the roller rink. Only these days, awkward leather and two-axle skates have given way to the much cooler inline models made from the latest space-age plastics. The fun is still the same, though, and ramps and jumps add to the skating excitement. Next door is a video arcade and jungle gym (see below).
The Sandbox at Le Jardin
16 Street 360, Tel: 011 815 525
Tucked away in the quiet area of Boeung Keng Kang, Le Jardin remains an old standby for many Phnom Penh parents. Set in a large, tranquil garden, Le Jardin's tree house and magnificent sandbox remain the backyard envy of kids and parents across the capital. Coffee, crapes and ice cream for the kids round out the experience.
The Kids Room at Cafe Fresco BKK
Corner of St 51 and St. 206; Tel: 023 224 891
Cafe Fresco in Boeung Keng Kang was built with kids in mind. The air-conditioned playroom offers a big-screen television and a stack of the latest movie releases in addition to dozens of toys and games for small children. New Zealand Ice Cream and treats from the bakery are a hit with everyone.
Phnom Penh Water Park
No. 50, Confederation de la Russie; Tel: 023 881 008
The Phnom Penh Water Park is located a bit out of the way, but it's well worth the trip. With three large water slides and several smaller ones, the water park offers fun for the whole family. There's a large jungle gym and lots of shallow areas for smaller kids to enjoy, too. Weekends are best, as the largest slides are typically turned off during the week.
Elephant Rides at Wat Phnom
Phnom Penh's favorite elephant, Sambo, works seven days a week at Wat Phnom. A gentle old girl, she is available for languid walks around the temple. In addition to the other sites at Wat Phnom - the museum, the monkeys and the wat -- the elephant rides cap a uniquely Phnom Penh experience.
Sports at the Olympic Stadium
From dawn until dusk, the athletic set packs the capital's Olympic Stadium and sports complex. The crowds swell in the cool morning hours and again at sunset, and while football is the overwhelming favorite, nearly every game on Earth is available, including swimming, tennis, basketball, volleyball, karate, tae-kwon-do, wrestling, boxing, aerobics and dozens of others. And if you don't find what you're looking for, there's plenty of space to do your own thing, too.
Jungle Gyms and Video Arcades
Sovanna Shopping Center
No. 307-309, St. 271, Golden City (Next to Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital)
A staple at shopping malls throughout the world, video game arcades can be found at Phnom Penh's two main shopping malls. The newest and biggest resides on the fourth floor at Sovanna, and includes air hockey, basketball throws and dozens of video games. A huge jungle gym is also available for younger kids.
Sorya Shopping Center
#13-61 Street 63
In addition to the roller rink listed above, the top floor at Sorya ia also home to a video arcade and children's jungle gym. While neither are as large nor as new as their cross-town counterparts at Sovanna, both provide a welcome distraction for restless kids.
Pencil Supercenter Riverside
The original Pencil Supermarket on Street 214 once operated a massive jungle gym on the top floor. But the space is now slated to house the supermarket's business offices, and the playground has been dismantled. Instead, Pencil staff point fun-seekers to Pencil Riverfront, opposite the Cambodiana, where there is a large jungle gym in the food court on the first floor. Additionally, on the third floor is WarpZone, Pencil's own video arcade. WarpZone is far better than the arcade at Sorya, and while not as large as the one at Sovanna, it offers a newer selection of video games, bumper cars, a ski ball, and several games designed for smaller children.
Monument Books
111 Norodom Bvd, Tel: 023 217 617
Monument Bookstore often hosts magic shows and reading hours for kids. Check with the bookstore for the latest events.