Stay at Home Mom/student Looking for New Ideas to Do with My 2 Yr. Old Daughter

Now that winter is almost over there are lots of outside activities zoo, kids museums, going to the pool/water park. You also need to go out and have "mommy time" sounds like you don't get out of the house much. Have family watch her so she can interact with other people or enroll her in a Mother's Day Out program for a few days out of the week. Everything is entertaining to a 2 year old and it won't take much to keep them entertained. So bring a book along or listen to a book on CD.

I think there are some internet sites that have ideas for places to go and things to do around the dfw area with kids.

Hi!
I am not sure what exactly you are looking for in the way of entertainment. If you are looking for classes I would look in to your local recreation center. I took a mommy and me swim class with my son from before the age of one to the age of 3. We also took a mommy and me tumbling class. And we never attended, but I heard great things about kindermusik classes at the rec centers.

We do story time at the library each week.

We go to Cabelas (or Bass Pro)to get out of the house. For us it's right down the street and my son loves to feed the koi and look at the aquarium.

Ridgmar Mall is great. They have a great indoor toddler playground. And this playground far surpasses anything I have seen at other malls. We can make a whole day of this..playground, lunch at the food court(sometimes we buy one, sometimes we bring one), go to the indoor fountains. Occasionally, when my son was younger I would get really lucky, my son would fall asleep and I get some time to browse the mall. Go here in the morning, later in the afternoon the kids get bigger and rowdy.

And the Ft Worth Modern Art Museum is free on Wednesdays. You may want to double check what exhibits they have running before you go - they are not always kid friendly, depending on your comfort level. I have been pleasantly surprised that those visits have gone well. I think and hope my 4 year old is learning how to behave in a museum. Sometimes we bring snacks and go eat outside near the water for a break (you have to cut through the restaurant to get here, but the staff always lets us through). And he loves to hear the echoes in the sculpture out front! We have been doing this trip since he was about a year old.

Glenview Baptist church opens their indoor playground to the public on certain days of the week. Get there early, they fill up quick and may have to turn you away.http://www.glenviewchurch.org/apps/articles/default.asp?a... are going to try paradise pond in Grapevine next week. Many churches open their play areas on certain days of the week.

A Day Out with Thomas is free too. It's Mar. But it is not until March. The train ride does cost and it's a little pricey. Food and souvenirs cost too and (I think they only take cash). But most of the stuff is free!!! We have been three years in a row and managed to leave without spending a penny (we packed snacks and drinks of our own). They have bubble stations, free Thomas tattoos, bounce houses, a kid powered train, a model train exhibit, lego and block building stations and story times. Everything of course has a Thomas the Tank Engine theme. The last two years we did not ride Thomas. We just forewarned my son ahead of time that we wouldn't ride...he didn't seem to be upset by this at all. When he was younger he didn't even notice you could ride it and the two times we went on the train he was in hysterics.

The Botanical gardens is a favorite picnic spot. Lots of neat trails and a little play area. It's especially fun in late October when there is the monarch butterfly migration - butterflies are EVERYWHERE! When my guy was smaller I learned to bring the stroller. It never got used hiking out, but coming back to the car it sure did! It's a lot easier to push that stroller than hike with him on my hip!

We went to The US Treasury off 287 and did that that tour. In all honesty we could have just spent the day riding the shuttle bus from the check-in point to the tour facility and he would have been absolutely thrilled. It's free and close. He did get a little bored with the tour, but he liked the hands on exhibits we played with before and afterward.

The Ft Worth Zoo is half priced on Wednesdays. We always bring a picnic. And admission to the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science costs $9 for adults, but toddlers are free. They have a terrific section just for children that includes water play, dress up, building and nature. But my son was just as fascinated with all the exhibits we saw throughout the museum. They have a dino dig that is especially nice, because it is inside

Hope this helps!

I would try and find a MOPS group. They offer play dates and companionship for Mom as well. It should not all be on your shoulders to entertain your child, they need to be around other children and that is a great way for you both to make friends.

There are lots of church groups around also.

This would be a perfect time for you to take a WaterBugs Class-Parent/Child Learn to swim class. It is great fun.
I would love to have you in our program.
Aqua~Fit is a warm Salt water aquatic center.
We keep the water temperature at 88 with warm air.
You can save money by putting together your own group plus we are running a great Jan/Feb Special.
Please feel free to call me.
M. C.
Aqua~Fit
Swim, Yoga, Pilates and Wellness Center
###-###-####

I'm all for FREE. Definitely check out library events. The petstore is always fun. Check out community centers or your place of worship for groups of moms meeting with their children to make new friends. Start your own group to meet once a week alternating houses. Get out the strollers, grab a friend with a child and walk the mall, white rock or anywhere with a trail. You can do this daily for exercise and, As the weather warms picnics are fun.

You should come try Stroller Strides. It is a fitness program for moms, where you bring your kiddos along for the ride! You get a great workout while you sing to your little one and keep her entertained. We all have a blast and get a great workout at the same time! Go to www.strollerstrides.com for a location near you. I know in Arlington there is a huge registration special for January! :)

Hi,

I am a member of MOMS Club Denton South and it gives us lots of things to do. We have activities throughout the month and weekly playgroups. It is nice to have the interaction with other moms while your child (children)
also gets much needed interaction. Check us out on meetup.com or send me a message if you want more information. I am also a stay at home mom and I know the feeling! My oldest son is almost three and he really enjoys the MOMS Club (and so do I!).

K.

Museums, watching educational TV, local library storytimes, playdates with other 2 yr olds from church can help here.

She's old enough that you can start having her help you in the kitchen and with lots of things around the house. She can certainly help pour the ingredients in after you've measured them. It may take a lot of time for you to get anything made, but it will help her learn so much. Just be as laid back as you can and let her make lots of messes as she helps. She can start learning to set the table, pick up and put away her toys, help with laundry and dusting. She'll learn valuable skills as you enjoy time together -- try to make things fun instead of rigid.

I'm in the same boat. I just bought a book called "The Toddler Busy Book" at Borders - in the parenting section. It has some good ideas for crafts and projects that you can do at home. I think we're headed to the Dallas Zoo today since the weather is nice.

Hi R.!
I second MOMS Club. I'm in Denton, so I can't offer any invitations to you-but I'm sure there is one in your area. It's been so great for us. We plan lost of events (free) and have playgroup at least a couple tiems a month. About once a wekk I take the boys to Chick Fil A or Burger King to play and get some nuggets. It's a cheap outing. We do library events a lot (story time once a week, maybe twice). If you have any extra $ a good investment might be a kindermusik class or a tumbling class. Our parks and rec dept does a ton of super cheap ac tivities like tumbling, intro to sports like t-ball, soccer, etc. Check your parks and rec. Also check out mydallasmommy.com for more ideas and free stuff!!!

Check A. P. at :

www.abbeysplaytown.com

A great place for kids under 5 yrs, read their reviews at:

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/attraction/Abbey-s-P...

Have fun.

Try meetup.com to find playgroups. Story time at the library is always good.

I don't know where you live but I would suggest checking to see if there is a MOMS Club in your area. momsclub.org It is a group for stay at home moms with activities planned during the day, when moms need the most support, for moms and their kiddos.

we visit the library story time so she can play with other kids and sing songs and listen to books. then we have play-doh at home. and stickers and "little people" figurines that she can play house with. we love turning on music and dancing as well. there are also a couple free games on the internet that she plays - sesame street ones, thomas the train matching game, fisher price alphabet. and we sometimes get out my yoga mat and do "exercises". :)

when kids were toddlers/preschoolers and we wanted a cheap activity I would go to animal shelters and stores. Depends on the animal shelter though - ones that are just chain link fences are tool loud, but the Plano shelter has all the dogs behind glass windows in colorfully painted cinderblock walls, so it is quiter. It is kind of like a toddler zoo! Plus it's free and doesn't require a long venture, you can fit it in between meals and snacks. We also liked to hit a bird store where we could see different kinds of birds. Central Market was an adventure in finding all the samples we could (gets a whole toddler meal in!) and seeing what kinds of interesting produce we could find, then visiting our friends in the lobster and crab tanks. Barnes and Noble and Borders both have free story times. It's been a few years, so I'll have to think - I'll add more if I think of any!

Library story times.
I second the MOPS recommendation.
If you don't mind spending a little money, what about a bounce house, esp when there is bad weather.
We also have an Individual membership to the Science Place where they have the children's museum downstairs. DS could spend all day there. Kids under 3 get in free. So, you'd only have to pay the adult price for yourself.

look in fort worth child magazine for lots of ideas. they have storytimes, museums, and lots more. there's also a website: http://www.fortworthchild.com/

My daugher is now 5 but still love to go to http://playhouse.go.com/v1/marketing/ to have fun and also learn. She know most everything on here but since she isn't in school yet, she calls this her Pre-School. I think it cost $50/yr to join but it is worth it. You can be at any computer to access it, even when she is visiting grandma and grandpa, she's have something to do. Also check your local library to see what story times they have. My daughter also loves those. Have a blessed day.

Dear R.:

When my daughter was younger I had a job that involved considerable amounts of work that I could do at home or take with me. I needed different activities that I could play with my daughter and that she could entertain herself on occasions.

A few low cost things I came up with are:
1. Membership to the Science Place or any children's museum. You get to interact with your child and they have play areas that frequently you can sit down and study/work and your child stays there and plays with the other children. (The Science Place used to have a HUGE sand playing area!)
2. Chuck E. Cheese. To keep costs down just go for a snack and a drink. Little kids are far more interested in climbing the tubes than dumping quarters in the games. When your daughter is a little older she can climb around on her own. This one will get you LOTS of exercise climbing the tubes!
3. McDonald's. The same as above.
4. Half Price Books in Dallas (on Northwest Highway by the Northpark mall). This has a large children's area with a little playhouse to read in.
5. The Dallas zoo. The children's area is WONDERFUL! Again, take your own lunch to keep costs down. Ride the train there for another adventure. My daughter used to think the train ride was almost as much fun as the zoo trip! Get a membership so you don't mind half days. My daughter was never cranky for half days. Full days were just too much when she was two.

Enjoy your time with your daughter. They grow up so fast!

L. F., married 23 years, mom to a 14-year-old daughter