Mom's with Young Toddlers

Updated on May 06, 2011
K.P. asks from Tacoma, WA
21 answers

Hello ladies :)

I have a 13 month old son, and I am trying to figure out places that my husband and I can go for fun with him. We live in Washington and unfortunately as everyone knows it's the rainy state so sadly options for outside are limited sometimes.

Where do you all take your young children on weekends? I really wanted to go to the zoo but its supposed to rain :/

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

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J.G.

answers from Springfield on

Is there a mall near you with a soft-play area? That was a huge hit for my boys at that age. They could practice their crawling and/or walking skills. Everything has extra padding, including the carpet. We loved it.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Seattle on

Pacific Science Center is AMAZING for young kids - lots to explore!
Zoo, Children's Museum, boat locks, any park (even in the light rain - why not!), Snoqualmie Falls and Railroad Museum in Snoqualmie, Pike's Market, Alki Beach, try some classes

1 mom found this helpful

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

When the park is off limits due to weather or anything like that, we will go to the mall. Ours has a play place for little kids (free), as well as a video arcade. The arcade is only fun when it's less crowded... but she loves to run around and look at all the blinking lights.

Sometimes we will also go to places like McDonalds, and just order a couple things off the dollar menu so she can play in their playscape. The one in our town has a toddler area, and if it's empty we can play on the main toy with her. :)

2 moms found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Rain coat, rain boots, and an umbrella. Rain would not keep me indoors with a child. We live in MN, if we let weather keep us indoors....

1 mom found this helpful
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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Rain rain what a pain.

Really, though-- I live in Portland, and have made my peace with it. We LOVE going to the zoo on rainy days. There are far less people. Invest in some rain pants and a rain coat, and a 'bubble' for the stroller (a cover).

My preschool, as well as the one my son attends, has a "rain or shine" outdoor playtime every day. I'd just encourage you to find nice places to walk and get out as much as you can.

If you are really feeling like the weather is too much, take him out to the mall or another place where there's some good people-watching. Have fun.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from New York on

I live in NY so there a few things to do for kids around that age. So far we went to the circus, when they were in town. I plan to go to the zoo, horse back riding (pony for him) amusement park, beach and have the family take swimming lessons, and to a petting zoo. Hope some of those ideas helped.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Seattle on

Children's museum all the way!! We have a 7 month old who enjoys going and a now 4 year old who we have taken since he was a wee one and he still LOVES it! (my hubby tries to take him a couple times a month - or once a week if the weather is yucky) Also the Pacific Science Center is great - we just recently purchased memberships to both and they have paid off! Also a cheap family friendly outdoor summer deal is going to the Everett AquaSox (Minor League Baseball) totally family friendly and fun for all ages. Super affordable - they have fun kid nights and inflatables, lots of room for kids to run around if they get too wiggly in the seats. My family actually prefers to go see the AquaSox vs the Mariners! This year they are defending champs! Go AquaSox!!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Seattle on

There are indoor playgrounds all over the place. The businesses are usually great big rooms with great big toys that kids don't get to see very often. I've only been to the one in Pt. Orchard, but we loved it.

Also, consider, it will always be raining. Rain can be an adventure too. Just pack dry clothes, boots, the umbrella, and something warm to drink, and go. A little damp isn't going to make anyone sick, and little kids often don't even notice it. The parents are the ones who feel uncomfortable, and if you regard the rain as part of the outing, it doesn't seem so bad. Try something like a park first just to see how your child handles the rain, and if he has no problem with it, hit the zoo. You'll enjoy it, and they have lots of covered areas for waiting out cloudbursts.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.N.

answers from Seattle on

The Children's Museum in Everett is great (little drive for you though :) )!!! Otherwise, you can take a little drive north to Deception Pass (play on the beach), Bellingham has some fun things to do, Burlington has Jungle Playland....I know these are a drive for you but it's a mini-road trip which is fun also :)

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from San Francisco on

On rainy days, I take my son to story times at the library and just to the library in general. We read and I teach him the mouse on the computer. I also take him to area nature centers.

Local craft stores might also have toddler activities as well as local pottery stores/studios.

We also don our rain gear and go to the park anyway.

Have fun!

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

We lived in Juneau for 7 years - much more rainy there! We still went and did outdoor things. We invested in really good warm outdoor clothes/outerwear. Here are some ideas for you:

Indoor butterfly garden
Indoor exhibits at the zoo (wear rain gear!)
Children's museum
Science museum (they often have a young child area where you can do water play or bubbles)
Swim at the pool
Aquarium (even babies love it!)
Family time at local ymca (kick ball around)
Short hike with raingear on, then hot cocoa at a coffee shop
Nature center
Indoor play area (sometimes malls have these) for young children
Any festival going on in your area?
Indoor water park (we have a great on nearby with a slide you can hold your little one on your lap, a lazy river, a shallow area, etc). you have to be with you little one constantly but they love it!)
Pick your own fruit place (later in the summer)
Botanical gardens
Pet store (our 18 month old LOVES it. I think she thinks it's a mini zoo!)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Seattle on

The aquarium and children's museum are indoor. Most community centers have "tot' gym for $2 in Seattle. Really-just get some rain boots and go splash some puddles and dance in the rain!

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

Your local zoo is probably set up for rainy weather isnt it?
Just remember, you dont always have to do somewhere on wknds, sometimes its the best place just to chill and relax and stay in pj's all day and be silly.

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P.S.

answers from Houston on

Can you drive somewhere where it doesn't rain? Maybe take him on a camping trip?

Do you have any home improvement stores nearby? That place is awesome for little boys. Lots of knobs to pull & turn, tractors to climb, sliding doors and windows to open and walk through, model kitchens and baths w/cabinets to open and close - it was truly a place of discovery for my son when he was that age on a rainy day.

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S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

to the library, a childrens museum, a relatives house that has a child of similar age (or even a little older or younger), a McD's (or somewhere) playplace. i do and did a lot of crafts with my kids when they were little like that. i went online and just typed in free craft ideas, and there was a ton of stuff that is fun for kids. my kids still love to draw and write stories. you can also use chalk in your garage and draw pictures or on your sidewalk when it's not raining. blow bubbles in the garage for him to pop. kids that age are very easily entertained.

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H.C.

answers from Seattle on

the funny thing about skin...doesn't melt when wet and is super extra waterproof when Goretex is added! Buy rainjackets, don't let the weather here get ya down!

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

We got to museums, malls with play areas, parks, other people's houses, libraries, bookstores, shopping areas where they might have some cover. Our issue is summer heat when you sizzle and don't want to go out. :(

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W.C.

answers from Seattle on

If you want to go places on weekends in Washington and it is raining go anyway....sorry. There is also the aquarium, the Science Center, the Children's Museum, the YWCA (some have climbing walls in addition to pools), the library, and I know that you will have many other suggestions.

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N.D.

answers from Portland on

try a family or open swim at an indoor pool at a community center

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C.R.

answers from Anchorage on

Get some rain gear for you and your kiddo and go out and enjoy the rain!
There is a great website, wildernessforkids.com, that has info about what gear would work best for you. If cost is an issue, look on craigslist for used stuff. There's so much fun to be had in the rain :)

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