Gate 40 in Terminal 1 is where kids can move.
The Children's Play Area sits right by Gate 40 in Terminal 1, past security, so you don't have to backtrack once you clear the TSA line. It's a small space, but it breaks up a 90-minute wait better than another loop past the same three food options at HOU.
This is a basic play zone, not a supervised childcare setup, so you stay with your kids the whole time. Figure on soft surfaces, simple structures, and room for little ones to burn off energy before boarding a 2–3 hour Southwest run. It's a better spot to deal with wiggles than the fixed rows of seats at Gate 38 or Gate 39.
There's no dedicated bathroom inside the play area, so plan on a two-minute walk to the nearest restrooms between Gates 40 and 42. Grab water or snacks from the closest newsstand or café in Terminal 1 first; there are no vending machines inside the play space itself.
If your flight boards from another part of Terminal 1, leave the Children's Play Area about 15–20 minutes before boarding time to wrangle kids, hit the bathroom, and walk back without sprinting through the concourse.