Seeking Fun Outings for 2-Year Old

Updated on August 03, 2008
N.B. asks from Plano, TX
13 answers

I recently retired from a demanding job outside the home to stay at home with my 2 children. We had a terrific nanny who gave me lots of good ideas for fun activities in the home. What I am looking for is fun outings for my 2-year old son. We live in Plano and do our trips to the mall and to the park on a fairly regular basis, and we've done the children's museum and the zoo, but I'm sure there are a lot of other fun things to do with little ones that I just haven't been exposed to yet. Since I also have a 4-month old, I am looking for things to do where I could also bring the baby.

3 moms found this helpful

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T.J.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Planet Pizza at Parker and Custer is a fun place for little kids. They have indoor carnival rides and a "soft play" area for 2 and unders.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

N.,

We're nature people, so we like outdoors stuff, especially as the weather cools down into the fall.

The Dallas Arboretum is lovely. If you find a friend, it makes a great day for you and the kids. Especially in the fall, it is very nice, with all the pumpkins. The have special Mommy and Me Mondays and Tiny Tots Tuesdays, with special activities for the kids. A membership gets you a year of entry. Spring Blooms is a nice festival too. We think it is worth the drive.

There is a farm in Collinsville that sells fresh milk, eggs, cheese. Your 2 year old would enjoy feeding the goats and chickens. www.randcdairy.com You go north on the Tollway to the end, take a left on Route 380, then North on 377. Farm is on the left BEFORE you get to the town of Collinsville. This trip is FREE! But the regular public hours are afternoons on Fri and Sat, which may interfere with naps.

A little further, but really lovely is the Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. It's lovely there and the kids like to feed the koi fish.

Have fun!

3 moms found this helpful
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R.R.

answers from Dallas on

A few things I do with my kids are Going Bonkers in Lewisville which is a huge indoor jungle gym. It has a smaller toddler area that would be perfect for your little guy. Also Planet Pizza in Plano has a jungle gym, and they just opened a new toddler area. We haven't been since they opened that, so I don't know what it's like. In Grapevine Mills they have a store called Choo Choo Station that has a jungle gym and train rides inside. I haven't been inside, but from the outside it looks really cool. Also check into the library to see about doing story time. That's about all the suggestions I have! I hope that helps. I have a 21 month old son, and he loves Going Bonkers and Planet Pizza. He loves climbing and slides.

R.

3 moms found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

Hi
I don't do field trips any longer but when I was doing the field trips for my inhome daycare, we always liked to go for story time and puppet shows.
You could contact your local library or book stores for their story time schedule.
You could check out these sites for puppet shows
www.kathyburkspuppets.com or www.puppetry.org
I hope this gives you some ideas
J.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Dallas on

When my kids were little we had a membership to both the zoo and Dallas World Aquarium. Dallas World Aquarium was great on rainy and hot days because it is all in side and they have animals other than fish (jaguars,monkeys,sloths, ect). Since I had memberships we could do last min day trips. Some times we would go down to both of them on the train. Owens farm is close and the kids like that. We would go to Plano Senor High and feed the ducks. I also use to pick up Dallas Child to see what is in town we would also go to a lot of festivals (depending on ages I would have a double jogging stroller or a wagon)

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S.N.

answers from Dallas on

Try a small water park in the area. Carrollton has the Rainforest Water Park on Rosemeade. I have an active son so for indoor play, check out Pump It Up Jr. on Los Rios, Jump Town on Independence, and The Wiggles Play Center in Frisco. If your 2 y.o. likes big machines, take a drive to Addison where they're building new apartments. The construction zone is pretty busy with bulldozers, cranes, and trucks- stuff that impresses boys.

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

You have been given some great ideas already. Going Bonkers in Lewisville is definitely worth the drive. The Wiggly Play Center in Frisco is also great. Planet Pizza and Chuck E Cheese are also favorites with my 2 year old. Don't discount simple things. One of my 2 year old's favorite places to go is Target! No one believes me until they see for themselves his little face light up at the mention of going to Target! Costco is another favorite with toddlers we know. You might also check out www.meetup.com for a local playgroup. If nothing else you can see the types of places they go to give you ideas.

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K.G.

answers from Dallas on

for the Fall The Plano Libraries have GREAT story time program for 2 year olds. Barnes & Noble does too.
Heritage Farm in Plano
In October there is an awesome pumpkin patch in celina www.bigorangepumpkinfarm.com There is also a neat one in flowermound.
Pump it up Jr. for little ones in Preschool. in Plano
Dallas Arboretum in the Fall has Mommy& me days on Mon. and Tues. w/ pumpkin patch/crafts/petting zoo.
Dallas World Aquarium-- might be fun as a family outing w/ Daddy too.
Heard Museum in McKinney
Oh-- I forgot there is Wiggle town in Frisco (theme: The Wiggles)
Have Fun-- the Fall time is filled w/ great stuff.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Our two standards are storytime at the public library (or even going to the library without storytime, since the children's room has toys and kids), and our church's playgroup on Thursday mornings--sometimes it's actually at the church, but we also meet at local parks and other locations, which can give you an idea of places you might like to go back to. So if you go to a church, check out what they have going on. I also second the nomination for the Heard Museum in McKinney--we were just there last weekend, and my DD LOVED it. They have live animals, and a butterfly exhibit where you can go in the screen structure with the butterflies, plus exhibits inside, all geared for kids. Once it gets a little cooler out, they have nice nature trails, too, if your kids, like ours, love anything outside. You might also check to see if you town has public pools--we LOVE Old Settler's pool in McKinney, which is only $2 for adults and $1.25 for kids. The whole thing is really set up for little ones, with one end of the pool being a gradual slope like a beach, fountains and spurts, plus a waterslide for older kids. And like the other mom said, don't discount the simple stuff--my DD also loves Target, and one of her all-time faves is going to the coffee shop and eating a muffin while I drink my coffee! Enjoy!

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

You might also try your city rec center and see what they have available. There are usually several classes for that age (cheap!) where you could also bring your 4-month old. Classes like Kindermusik are also fun, but storytime at the library is great and free. My kids also like going to PetsMart to look at all the animals and it is perfect for their short attention spans. Most Chick-fil-As have indoor play areas great for toddlers -- sometimes I just get a Coke and watch them play for a cool break during the off hours so it isn't busy.

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I am a member of the Allen Early Childhood PTA. (YOu don't have to live in Allen to join, though I do believe Plano also has a similar organization.) We have field trips, play groups, activities for Dads & kids, community service projects, adult socials, evening book club for moms, a babysitting co-op, all sorts of things! It is a great way to meet other mommies & children and find out about fun things to do in our area. Here is the website, or you can contact me for more information: www.aecpta.com
Warmly,
A.

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H.

answers from Dallas on

Pottery Barn Kids at Stonebriar has a storytime also! Then you have lunch in the food court and play in the play area!

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

I'd definitely join a local mom's club that has play groups and activities. One of them is www.momsclub.org but I'm sure Plano has many more. Look in kid's magazines like Dallas Child and North Texas Kids. They have tons of ideas and information. Other activities are Planet Pizza, Peter Piper Pizza, or Chuck E Cheese and open jump times at Jump Town, Bounce Town, Pump It Up Jr., or Bounce U. Good luck!

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