Summer Activities for You and Your Toddler

I work as a teacher and I am so happy to say that I am able to spend the whole summer with my 2 year old son. By this summer he will be 2 and a half. What an exciting age for us. He will be able to do so much more than last summer. I found myself trying to find activities to keep him busy. As a one and a half year old it wasn't easy to keep him busy. I work all year long looking forward to spending this quality time with him. Now I just needed to figure out what we were going to do. It can be a very long summer if you don't have any activities planned for you and your little one.

Here is a list of things that I came up with last summer. Not all of these ideas are going to work for you. Some will be better than other s depending on your child's age. I happen to live on the Eastern end of long island, New York so some of these ideas might not be feasible depending on where you live. You can adapt them to what you have available to you.

McDonald's or Burger King - You can pretty much find a fast food restaurant that will have an indoor (for rainy days) or an outdoor (for sunny days) playground. You can call your local fast food chain and ask them where your one is and if they have a playground. This first time I took my son to the McDonald's with the playground he was so excited. We decided to go every Monday with a neighbor and her little boy for dinner. They would have their Happy Meals, desert, and then play on the playground. They even got a free toy with the Happy Meal!

Chuck E Cheese - If you haven't heard of this place it is an indoor play arcade for children. I took my son and his little pal over the summer and they had a blast. They have rides of all different kinds. You can play with the arcade machines and get tokens to go on the rides. This is geared for children a little bit older than my son but he still had a great time. You can have lunch there too. It is also a great place to have a birthday party. When you first walk in the door they stamp your hand and your child's hand with an invisible number. Before you leave they put your hand under a light to make sure it matches the number on your child's hand. What a great security feature. I felt so safe when we were there.

Gymboree / Little Gym - These are two different places but I am putting them in the same category because they are very similar. This is where you bring your little one to play on toddler sized toys. These are extremely safe for your little one. I had my son's 1st birthday party at the Gymboree near my house. All of the kids had fun playing on the floor mats and listening to music. You can take classes where there is an instructor or you can sign up for free play. The activities include slides, climbing little ladders, throwing balls through hoops, dancing, jumping, music, art, imaginary play, and so much more. I found Gymboree to be a lot less expensive than Little Gym. If you don't have either in your town you can call around to see if there is something similar. My sister had my niece's 4th birthday party at the local one near here under a different name. Just look in the yellow pages. I am sure you will find something. They are popping up all over the place.

Wood Kingdom - I just discovered this activity place a few months ago. I was invited to a 2 year old boy's birthday party and loved it. I booked my son's 2nd birthday party there too. It is a place full of slides, climbing, tubes, etc. These are much bigger than the ones you will find at Gymboree and Little Gym. These are the ones you buy for your backyard for your kids to play. They are very expensive to purchase so it's nice to be able to go to the store and play for free. During the week they open up for the public to bring their children to play for free.

Laser Kingdom - Attached to Wood Kingdom is Laser Kingdom. This is an arcade for older children. I have never been to this one but I see the kids running in and out and they look like they are having a blast. The older siblings usually go there while the younger ones go to Wood Kingdom.

Neighborhood Playground - I am sure that everyone can find a neighborhood playground for your children to run around and play. The one by me has a huge play set and swing set. The ice cream truck stops by a few times a day so you can purchase ice cream, water, etc. Your child gets to have fun and you get to socialize with other moms and dads. It also helps run the energy out of your little one so they can have a nice nap when they get home. This of course means a little down time for you as well.

Beach - I am fortunate to live on the eastern south shore of Long Island where there are a ton of beautiful beaches. I am only a few miles away from the Hampton's. Over the summer I went and got a summer pass. it only cost me $15, I couldn't believe it, how cheap! I was able to bring my son the whole summer. Since he was so young we didn't last very long but even an hour was enough to have a nice time. He played in the water and made a mess with the sand. I am hoping this summer he will understand it more and have even more fun.

Community Pool - I am sad to say that we don't have a community pool. I wish we did. That is the one thing I didn't research before moving to my new neighborhood. My sister tells me that she takes her three girls to the community pool every day. I am so jealous. Well it turns out that my sister in law has a community pool where she lives. She was able to bring my son and I as guests. That was great. They even had a kiddie pool for my son to waddle around in. Then we we got courageous enough we took him in to the adult pool. What fun! I can't wait to do that again this summer.

Free Library Problems - Every town has library or at least a neighboring town with a library. Call them and see if they have any free programs for your little one. Last summer I brought my son to Kidnastics. It was great except way too crowded. He enjoyed playing and running and spending time with children his own age. Another friend of mine brings her son to the library for a reading program. They also offer free music programs. This is a great way to get your child to interact with others and get familiar with your local library. They will be visiting a lot in the future.

Local Y - Your local Y also has programs for your little one. My cousin takes her son 2x a week for a reading program. I am not sure what the cost is but it is not expensive. Another great way for your child to socialize with others.

Pre-School Summer program - A lot of day care centers or preschool.nursery school will offer a mini summer session. This you would actually drop your child off for a few hours without you. Some centers will require a minimum of days and hours and it might get costly. This might not be for everyone but just another option.

Town Sprinklers - Similar to the town pool my sister takes my three nieces to the town sprinklers. Unfortunately my town does not have this. If you have a friend or relative maybe they have one in their town.

Local Gym - If you want to get some exercise you can join a local gym that provides a day care service. Most gyms will only charge you a dollar to watch your child for you to take one class. Lucille Roberts offered this service in my town.

Movie - If your child is a little bit older you can take him or her to see a movie. I wouldn't suggest picking a long one because they probably won't be able to sit for too long.

Local Mall - Put your little one in his favorite stroller and take a walk around the local mall. If it is raining this is a way for you to get out of the house and stretch your legs. Your little one will love getting out as well. Stop at the food court for some lunch and maybe even a little ice cream.

Play dates - Schedule some play dates with friends. My son had a ton of these over the summer. It was great. Some came to our house and some we went to their house.

Ecology Center - Where I live we have this Ecology Center where they rescue animals. You get to see them and feed them. It's like a mini zoo.

Petting Zoo - We also have a petting zoo near our house. You can get up and see the animals to pet them.

Long Island Game Farm - Another place where your child can see, pet, and feed the animals. I think my son is really going to love going here this summer.

Aquarium - A little expensive for adults but a wonderful experience for you and your little one. I wasn't able to bring my son last summer he was a little too young but I look forward to bringing him this summer.

Sat T Swim - This is where your child can take swim lessons. Some classes you have to go in the water with them but some you don't. Last summer I took my son and we went for Mommy and Me classes. This is a good way to get your child used to the water. It will help with baths later on. They won't fear the water.

Kiddie Pool - For $15 you can buy a little kiddie pool and put it right in your own backyard. Never leave your child unattended even if you only have it filled with a few inches of water. Always keep a close eye and an arms reach. Especially if you have other little ones visiting.

I hope you enjoy and find my ideas useful. Have a great summer!