You are all in for a treat today. I have Jennifer over at
Jenuine Happiness guest posting for me today. Jennifer and I became fast friends through blogging and have bonded over our children. She has the most adorable 18 month old boy, Ben. I love watching him grow up and see what I can look forward to with our girls as they get older. Jennifer is a rockstar mom who has beaten cancer and she is an inspiration to me.
Hi, my name is Jennifer and I blog over at
Jenuine Happiness!
I am a huge fan of Danielle, her family and her blog. She is so much
fun to follow along with, and I'm very excited to guest post on her
slice of the internet. A little more about me: I was a journalism major
and worked in corporate communications within the healthcare industry as
well as the food/beverage industry. After the birth of our 18-month old
son, Benjamin (often affectionately referred to as our Benny Boy) I
became a stay-at-home-Momma. About two years ago, with our beloved dog
Otis in tow, we made the move from Charlotte, North Carolina to our
beautiful town of Hudson, Ohio to be closer to family, and we love it!
Obviously, with a one and a half year old, much of our time is spent
filling our days and weekends with activities geared toward Ben. So, I
thought I'd take a moment to share some Spring/Summertime Activities for
Toddlers.
One of the most difficult things is simply finding events in your area, but it doesn't have to be!
- Our town actually has a traditional bi-weekly newspaper (perfectly
quaint and old-school) that lists area activities. If your specific
town doesn't have a newspaper, then it might be worth checking a more
regional paper.
-
Parent magazines are
often a great resource for kid-friendly events. You can usually pick
these up at the front of your local grocery stores. However, rather than
making a trip to find one, just check the website. Our Parent magazine
is
Northeast Ohio Parent.
-
Local events websites are created just to keep you updated on local activities. The website I visit is
Northeast Ohio Family Fun. Honestly, this is where I find most of our upcoming activities.
- Don't be afraid to join community groups either.
We have an organization called Hudson Preschool Parent. For $25 a year
you are granted access to countless free events in town, discounts for
local activities, group field trips and probably most importantly a
monthly hard copy newsletter (with a calendar of events included).
- And, if those options don't work, then social media to
the rescue! Your town and/or region is bound to have a Facebook group
dedicated to kid-friendly events in your area. Just try typing your town
and Mom's group or something to that effect in the "Search" box.
Hopefully you'll be connected to some families that live close to you
too. And, while you're at it, follow some of your local organizations on
Facebook because they are bound to share upcoming activities that they
will be participating in.
Spring/Summertime Activities
- PARKS! This
one seems fairly obvious, but your parent website magazine probably has
a list compiled of the best parks in a certain mile radius. Our town is
filled with parks, and without the website I would probably not know
that half of them existed. As the weather warms up, you can't beat a
free spot to let your toddler(s) blow off some energy.
- Parades. These
are often forgotten about or overlooked, but they are some of my
favorite summertime activities. Don't let Memorial Day pass by with at
least looking up local parades. Grab a Popsicle or ice cream cone and
watch your little ones eyes light up as the local high school marching
band comes by.
- Swimming. Most
kids, toddlers included, want to play in the water during the summer.
Memberships to local pools/country clubs can be costly, but most of them
offer days where you can come for a reduced rate to check them out.
Look for these discounts and give a few a try this summer. That way you
don't have to make a financial commitment while your little one is still
too young to really swim. Also, if you aren't comfortable letting your
baby in the pool quite yet, then invest in a water table or sprinkler
for your own yard. Countless hours of outdoor fun will ensue.
- Zoos. You
would be hard pressed to find a kid that doesn't love the zoo. Between
the lions, tigers and bears, oh my is there a lot to do at the zoo! We
were gifted a membership to the Akron Zoo. If you do have a zoo
membership, be sure to check what discounts that membership gets you at
other zoos. You often get half price tickets at other zoos, so if you
are visiting family somewhere, it is worth looking into. If your little
one is big enough, check the zoo website because they often have
scavenger hunts or other activities available for your visit.
- Themed/Holiday Events. Trust
me, if there is a holiday or theme for communities/companies to
capitalize on, then they probably will be doing so. Mother's Day,
Memorial Day, Father's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, etc. are all
reasons for places to celebrate. For example, our town does a sweet
Mother's Day event in our town square. Kids are invited to do crafts and
celebrate Mom. You can do some shopping while your there too!
- Weekend Music Nights. Summer
is the perfect excuse to get outside! Most shopping developments and/or
community commons will host music on the green (or something to that
effect). Pack a picnic, and sit outside in the summer breeze to some
cover jams. The best part is that these are typically fairly
family-oriented, so little ones running around like hooligans is totally
acceptable.
- Drive-in Movies. This
was our secret date night last summer/fall. If you have a good sleeper
on your hands, then this is a definite possibility for you. We're lucky
enough to have a drive-in not too far away, and Ben will usually just
sleep in the back. If your kids are a little older, then they will love
getting to watch a movie in the car. Also, it's the perfect compromise
because if they have a mid-movie breakdown...you're not bother anyone.
- Library Events. Your
local/regional library probably is very tapped into the community and
might on occasion even host events. Our library has some great outdoor
activities, including a "touch-a-truck" event that invites all the BIG
trucks in town to a nearby parking lot for kids to explore and literally
touch all of the vehicles. If you aren't a library member, then you
should check yours out!
- Baseball Games. Take
your family out to a ball game! You probably have a Major or Minor
League team in your area (or somewhat close by). Between the game,
mascot, seventh inning stretch, hot dogs and ice cream...baseball is fun
for the whole family.
- Berry Picking. The
local farms are the perfect backdrop to sunshine-filled days of berry
picking. Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries all have a season, so
make sure to look up the fruit of your choice.
A highlight of our activities last summer.
Although
you might not have a baby bag anymore, you still need to be prepared
for summer outings. Here are a few things you should make sure you have:
- Food! Even
if you are going to get food. Bring food. If you bring something that
you know your little one likes, then you have a safe backup.
- A diaper. Whether
you think it's going to be a quick trip, or your going to a
pool...still bring an extra diaper and wet wipes. You'll probably need
them.
- A life-jacket. If you are going somewhere with water, whether it is a pool or on a boat ride, bring a life-jacket.
- A change of clothes for baby (and yourself). It's
always good to have an extra outfit in the car in case your toddler
makes a mess. Summer is fun, but often brings mud, ice cream spills and
grass stains with it ;) That also means you might need a change of
clothes too.
- Your camera! If
you're anything like me, then capturing these special moments is
critical. At the end of the summer you can put together a photo book and
remember all the awesome events you participated in during the Summer
of 2016.
No
matter what summer activities you choose to tackle, remember that you
have a toddler in tow, so plans may not go exactly as planned. If you're
able to make it work, then great! However, if you need to come back
another day, then don't be afraid to change up your plans a bit. If you
have any activities that have worked well for you and your little one(s)
please make sure to share!
Thank you Jennifer for sharing these amazing Spring and Summer activities. I can't wait to do these with my girls!
