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Home › Articles › Activities › Tots Out on the Town

Tots Out on the Town

Fun Adventures for Toddlers That Are Easy on Your Wallet

By Laura M. Johnson

Pages:  1  2  3  

When my son gave up his morning nap and began walking, we were both excited about our new freedom. We could actually venture further than a quick run to the grocery store between naps. What's more, my son could start focusing on things off the ground rather than the seemingly fascinating flecks on the ground.

Getting Out of the House
The job of toddlers is to explore, according to Dr. Joy Rittmayer, facilitator for the postpartum program at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in Dallas, Texas. "After they've explored the ground, they start going up," she says. "You can end up with toddlers literally crawling the walls."

Linda Barber, of Wayne, Pa., knows the value of outings once you've hit that point. "I find I'm a more patient mom if I can just get out of the house with my two boys," she says. "It breaks up our day and fuels their creativity."

Mother of three boys, Sarah Layton, of Albany, Calif., says she likes the calming effect of a simple adventure. "It's so good to get them away from the TV, computer and all of their toys," she says. "It makes us all feel better to get away from all of that stimulus."

Activities
Once my son started crawling the walls, we were ready for some outings but were faced with a dilemma. Where could we go without spending money? The bakery and the children's museum were fun, but they weren't easy on my wallet or my waistline.

Beyond the mall and the park (still two of our favorites), my son and I recommend the following ideas when you're looking for fun, free places to go:

  1. Pet Store – Some pet stores are just about as good as the zoo, and you don't have to fight the weather. Look for stores with lots of fish, birds, small critters and, most importantly, a kid-friendly staff.
  2. Plant Nursery – Let your little one carry around a small plant or pull a wagon. Talk about the shapes and colors you see. Morley, author of Linda Morley's Outings & Adventures With Children Ages 1-6 and Beyond

    Pages:  1  2  3  


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