Now that you are the proud parent of a walking toddler, you can really enjoy a lot of things you couldn’t before. For instance, when you’re in a public place, where you’d rather those little hands and bodies not roll and crawl about, picking up a wide variety of germs, you can actually set your toddler down. Hooray! Instead of trying to juggle a baby while you use the toilet and wash your hands, you can be granted a short amount of time to set that little one down on his feet and quickly do what needs doing. I was so happy when my little lady became sturdy on her feet and I could be put down on a bus, in stores, restrooms and more. Careful, though! Those little feet might move quicker than you thought they could when put down.
Here are some ideas for what to do and where to go with those newly toddling footsies.
- Play at a playground – The infant swings may have been just about all you could experience with your little on the playground pre-walking, but now the park is your proverbial oyster. Of course newly developing muscles will still need quite a bit of help from an adult, but you might find some great equipment that’s perfect for building on gross motor skills. Plus, playgrounds are the perfect hangout for meeting new families and making friends.
- Check out the library – I encourage parents to take their littles here even as babes, but now that your munchkin is moving with more ease, the library can be even more enjoyable. As most do, the public library on Salt Spring Island has an intriguing children’s area, equipped with toys, stuffies, puzzles, a train table, and of course children’s books. There are also story times where little ones can listen as a librarian reads stories and experience interactive songs and activies. What does your local library have to offer for visiting children?
- Splash at the pool – Of course the pool is a fantastic place to bring infants, but now your toddler may be able to experience the pool in new ways. If the pool near you has a shallow or gradual entry area, it makes for great stomp-splashing fun. Be aware, though, little feet won’t understand that wet means slippery, and will need some help keeping safe from falling. If you’re visiting the Rainbow Road pool on Salt Spring Island, you’ll find that there is no true shallow area, and the water is a bit chilly for little bodies. Fortunately, there is a small stand-alone kiddie pool available near the hot tub that staff are happy to fill with warmer water to let your little munchkins splash without getting so cold, in shallow water.
- Interact at an Early Learning centre – For us here in BC, there is a province-wide program for families with young children to come and enjoy a preschool-like experience for free. Parents and caregivers are welcome to drop in with their children ages 0-6, at one of the facilities offering this program (usually within a public school). There are toys, games, activities, art supplies, a free healthy snack and – best of all – other children and families to interact and connect with. This is a great place to make local connections with families with children your little ones’ ages. What does your community offer for early learning for families?
- Visit some animals – Animals are a big fascination for my little one, which seems to be fairly common for wee humans. The soft fur, the different colours and body features, and the entertaining noises are just too good to ignore. If you live rurally, there is probably a farm close by that you could take your toddler to explore. Live in the city? Look for a petting zoo in your area, or if you have access to a vehicle and don’t mind a drive, head on out to the country and check out a farm. If a farm’s where you’re headed, calling first may be a good idea to ensure that you’re able to wander around. You may even get a tour!
- Peek into an aquarium – We have an aquarium in our home, and it’s been a go-to for distracting my munchkin from falls, frustrations and bonks. The water, bubbles and fish are just so interesting to look at! Many cities have an aquarium or ocean discovery centre. The Vancouver Aquarium is a family favourite, and I could spend hours not even moving, watching the critters swim around the giant tanks.
Not feeling like dishing out the moola for an aquarium trip that can be quite costly? Never fear! A pet store or aquarium supply shop is often just as enjoyable, but FREE! Yep, for all you thrifty parents on a budget, head on down to your local pet shop and experience the glories of the underwater world (and maybe some fluffy puppies, too) for free! Some stores even have shark tanks, and feed the sharks on a schedule that they welcome visitors to observe. If you live around Burnaby (Vancouver), there is a fantastic aquarium supply store called J & L Aquatics that has an amazing section of row upon row of aquariums full of fish, crabs, corals, seahorses and all manner of aquatic life that you can wander through without paying a cent.
- Pop in to a pet store – Beyond the water-dwelling creatures, pet stores are a great place to spend some time checking out birds, cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, lizards and all manner of domesticated animals. Again, another fantastic idea if you want to get out with the munchkin without spending beyond your budget.
- Spend a day at the zoo – Yet another place to walk around and check out animals, many of which you likely won’t find in a pet store. Zoos generally have picnic areas for munching snacks, and playgrounds for getting out some energy, and some even have trains to ride and other fun extras.
- Spy birds at the sanctuary – Bird sanctuaries are reserves for our feathered friends to roost, roam and relax. Take a pair of binoculars (or make your own out of cardboard tubes – an activity all in it’s own), and head outside to do some bird watching. If you stop in at a library, you can find books (both for children and adults) with the local bird species’ pictures and information, which will be helpful to knowing what to look for and what kind of birds you see. There might even be CDs of bird sounds to listen to. The bird sanctuary will likely have a lot of flying creatures about, but birds can be found just about anywhere. Estuaries (where rivers and streams join the ocean) are often hopping with water foul, and big open fields call to flocks to settle down and find worms and a spot to relax. What can you find in the back yard?
There’s so much to explore and do! Have fun out there and enjoy your time out with your toddler!
What other places do you enjoy spending time with your toddler? Share your ideas in the comments below!
