Post by kristhegirl on Apr 26, 2017 9:59:13 GMT -5
I just realized I only have 3 more weeks of preschool before the long summer of endless days with Elena.
Tell me how to fill my days. Indoor and outdoor activities welcome. We have a water table for her and some yard toys. It will be a million degrees out, though, so I'll need indoor stuff, too.
Challenge level: 1.) Obviously, I also have a newborn to consider. 2.) There is no children's museum, zoo, or water park here. Closest is an outdoor water park that is 30 minutes away, but I don't know if she could do much there. 3.) Parks range from "eh" to "blah" for a kid her age and the good ones are overrun by much larger children all summer, because there's nothing else to do here.
The good: 1.) Both of my sisters in law have pools. 2.) She's pretty easygoing so I don't need, like, team sports level activity for her, just stuff to do. 3.) There are now two (2) splash pads in town. This could be fun, if there's a time they aren't covered in big kids (because again, stupid town has nothing for kids.) 4.) There's an indoor play place that's okay. A little expensive for regular attendance, but okay.
I'm drawing a blank on other things to do. Help a girl out!
Chalk for outside time in the morning before it gets too hot? LO loves to scribble with chalk right now. He loves to do it with me too. So maybe baby could be in stroller outside and it could be a fun activity to do together.
Does she like to color yet? Sidewalk chalk. I also do this now for O- make a line for him to walk on, circles for him to jump, etc out of chalk and he loves it (you can do this inside with painters tape)
From randoms Monday - balance bike
You can take water outside with a paint brush and "paint" the driveway
buckets/measuring cups and hard sided baby pool (similar yet different to a toddler than a water table)
Toy wash outside - wash all plastic toys, high chair, learning tower, anything that can get wet.
Post by nutmeg8484 on Apr 26, 2017 10:17:20 GMT -5
Molly's favorite indoor activity is coloring. We have a giant roll of paper (4'X 200') from amazon that we cut a piece off, put on the floor, and let her go to town. We have all hardwood floors and she pretty much never goes off the paper.
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Molly's favorite indoor activity is coloring. We have a giant roll of paper (4'X 200') from amazon that we cut a piece off, put on the floor, and let her go to town. We have all hardwood floors and she pretty much never goes off the paper.
This is a huge go to in our house too! Best purchase ever - a roll of butcher paper at sams club. I bought one when DS1 was 2 and I just bought my second one this year. Waaay cheaper than the kid art rolls they sell!
Molly's favorite indoor activity is coloring. We have a giant roll of paper (4'X 200') from amazon that we cut a piece off, put on the floor, and let her go to town. We have all hardwood floors and she pretty much never goes off the paper.
Library story time? Every fast food restaurant you can find with an enclosed play space that isn't too icky? Fly east and hang out with the Philly/nj crew where it will be slightly cooler?
This would be a dream. Plus I'd need a DC leg because I miss that crazy place. I could meet half the board that way!
We do story times at the library. They also have STEM activities and other free play times too. Before P was in school we did this at least once a week.
We also plan on hitting up our pool. Is there a y or an outdoor pool nearby? I'm not sure about a toddler with a newborn, but you could probably sit in the kiddie pool and hold baby while E explores in there. If there's no pool, a cheap kiddie pool in your yard is tons of fun and wastes less water than a sprinkler.
Chalk and bubbles are a big hit.
We plan on hitting up local zoos too, but I know you said there weren't any near you.
Post by lovemyirishtwins on Apr 26, 2017 10:41:09 GMT -5
There have been a lot of good suggestions so far. We love the library and such.
Have you looked into joining a moms group or a play group?
What about a tent she could put in the yard or a play house? I think Target or Walmart carry little kid tents that are cheap. I am not talking about the indoor teepees but an actual tent. She could make it 'her' space and you could fill it with books or safe activities where she can play somewhat independently. Viv loves when she thinks she is playing independent from me.
Another game we started playing is restaurant. I make a list of the things in our fridge or such I can make. It's anything from pb&j to left overs. Then my kids pick what they want. We have been eating outside on the kids picnic table as much as possible.
Oh I also was going to suggest mommy and me yoga? Do you have anything like this in your area.
I did a few videos on youtube with E and she loved it - if you don't have the classes maybe that would work? I just searched "toddler yoga" on Youtube.
Do you have a mall nearby with a playspace? Our nearest mall has a little play center by the food court, and it's great (and free!) for when there's crummy weather.
Post by lonegalathome on Apr 26, 2017 11:06:35 GMT -5
@traceyos, yes! a farm. Berry picking is a favorite of toddler ages - it messy and you eat more than you buy - but its easy to wear the babe and go. Or farmer/outdoor markets? Give Elena a bag and let her "help" you shop. Often there are samples too!
Do you have a mall nearby with a playspace? Our nearest mall has a little play center by the food court, and it's great (and free!) for when there's crummy weather.
No, our mall is the WORST. No play spaces! Such a disappointment. There's a coin op ride area at one end with 4 rides. That's it. Like the little airplanes often seen outside of grocery stores.
I creeped a bit and think you may have some indoor play spaces near you. Ours all have "toddler only" hours. We also have a sky zone with toddler hours and HH loves it. So many moms with babies go and just chill on the side lines. If I was a SAHM I'd go just to make friends. We also have a season pass to the local PYO farm with a large play space and friendly farm animals (sheep, llamas, bunnies, etc).
There's one that I've been to that is not at all conducive to sitting on the sidelines. There are several rooms beyond the biggest play space and no special toddler hours. Elena loved it, but I basically had to follow her closely for the hour we were there.
Also, I picked up after her because I felt weird leaving a mess in her wake? No idea what protocol is.
There's one other place that is opening soon. Fingers crossed it's a better setup.
Libraries will probably be posting their summer reading program info soon, and I know that both our county/city systems do lots of fun events (extra story times, magicians, petting zoos, etc). So, keep watch on their website!
I definitely agree with @traceyos that afternoons are the best time to do outdoors. Yeah, it'll be hot, but even a good hour will leave you with a kid super agreeable to some chill time afterwards.
+1 to sidewalk chalk, bubble machine, water table or kiddie pool with lots of kitchen tools (measuring cups, ladles, strainers, etc.), painting with fingerpaint outside (hose off after).
also +1 to following kids art sites on facebook for ideas. here are a bunch more:
also, don't feel like you have to entertain her every second. and let her do whatever random, bizarre toddler things that keep her busy. for instance, DS2 likes to take all the oil and vinegar in and out of a low cabinet in the kitchen-- whatever, dude, it keeps him occupied.
My toddler is currently obsessed with taking credit cards in and out of wallets. So we have all our expired cards and used gift cards in a special wallet for him.
(He's currently been doing this for a good 10 min which is the only reason it occurred to me.)
AB loves to get wet. She washes her push cars with MH. Plays in the cheap plastic kiddie pool. Loves her water table.
Any rec centers? The one in our old city had a toddler room.
Do you have a gym with child watch? AB loves seeing her friends there and H loves the kid free workout. Bonus - we do the Y so that's extra pools, etc in the summer.
Fast food play areas are perfect for this age. I buy drinks or fries.
What about a garden? You could get a planter and have Elena help you plant and take care of a tomato or pepper plant or something. It would be just a few minutes a day, but a fun thing to have in her daily routine.
Do you have places you can go for walks? It doesn't have to be anywhere special. My kid enjoys just getting out and walking around the neighbourhood pointing out birds and cats and rocks and whatever else we come across.
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