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Great Decision to bring the kids.
My wife and I came to the (410) Nationals alone our first time in 2005 and made the decision right away that we were bringing the kids the next year. What followed became a family tradition that my kids (and us) have cherished. High School football got in our way for a couple of years, but he's graduated now, and we're back this year.
As you can already see, this site, and the locals and Knoxville veterans will be hugely valuable giving you ideas for things to do, and advice. Everything we did recreation-wise, came from Hoser advice one year or another.
We found the key with small kids was to mix it up. During the day, we would do some fun stuff around Des Moines, lounge at the hotel pool, and then night time was for racing. To that end, we always chose to stay in West Des Moines in the Jordan Creek area. There is a nice hotel/restaurant cluster there, and a mall. The Movie Theater and Mall came in handy on rain-out nights over the years. The Residence Inn is the best location. It's on a small lake/pond. Restauants all around, and you can walk around the pond to the mall.
I would trade the 45 min (easy) commute back from the track at night to locate us near the daytime activities for the kids. I am usually keyed up after a race for at least an hour anyway, so the drive back to the hotel was never an issue. Wife and kids would pass out in the car, and I would generally listen to the guys on KNIA and get excited for the next night.
You will be surprised at the number of things to do around the Des Moines area that are perfect for young kids. Just be careful to strike a balance. We learned the hard way not to tire the little ones out too much during the day. Just get them back to the hotel in time to rest a little, feed 'em, and head for the track late.
The other thing I wouldn't do is worry about getting to the track too early. If I am alone, watching mud packing is mandatory, but with the kids, we would generally roll into the track 7:15ish and never miss anything but hot laps.
Here are some of the things we loved doing with the kids over the years:
Living History Farms.
Might seem boring at first glance but a very cool place and they do a great job with the kids.
https://www.lhf.org/
Adventureland:
https://www.adventurelandresort.com/
Doing this on race day probably not a good idea. Will tire them out and make for a grumpy 7 year old. We actually used to stay over an extra day and Sunday was always our Adventureland day.
The Bass Pro in Altoona has a bowling alley and grill. Between this, and everything else that is a Bass Pro, you can kill a few hours.
https://www.unclebucksfishbowlandgrill.com/bowling/
The Marina at Saylorville Reservoir used to have some rental bikes and there is a great riding trail that goes north for many miles. I cannot recall how far north it is, but I recall one year, we stopped at a nice beach at a park.
Same goes downtown. We rented bikes there once as well at the Grays Lake (I think) concession area?
Blank Park Zoo was fun.
https://www.blankparkzoo.com/
If your kid like trains this is a worthy road trip. About an hour north as I recall.
https://bsvrr.com/wp/
Iowa State Fair is a no brainer if you can ever make it for the 410 Nationals. Great fun...but same warning as Adventureland. Careful with tiring the little guys out on a race day.
https://www.iowastatefair.org/entertainment/
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